Human Services Specialist I - Community Resources and Services, Office on Aging and Independence

Howard County:

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County:

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record\-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards out of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 136 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county\-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Assists in the overall operation of the Kindred Spirits Social Club and Social Day Program(s). Duties include planning, implementation and evaluation of in person and virtual programs, community outreach, marketing, administrative functions, including participant registrations, data entry, document management, file maintenance of secure and confidential records; preparing vouchers for payment; documenting and depositing cash receipts.

STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:

$27\.37 \- $29\.97

$56,925 \- $62,327

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Performs professional level human services work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes human service, administrative, and counseling work; providing counseling and programmatic services to the special populations; and providing assistance in identifying the population at risk, its needs and how to meet those needs. Organizes and publicizes large events for citizens or special groups. Work also includes providing services needed to carry out human service programs or the operation of a medium sized center with extensive regional responsibility and concurrent programming.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Plans, coordinates, implements and evaluates programming including planning monthly calendar, preparing newsletters, recruiting and coordinating schedules with instructors/contractors and hosting programs.
• Works and cooperates with coworkers and supervisors at all levels.
• Follows the established policies and procedures as needed to ensure that a high quality, therapeutic service is delivered to adults and their families.
• Collaborates and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate effective and integrative service delivery and outreach. This includes but not limited to the Connections Program Director, Caregiver Program Manager and the Dementia Care Coordinator to ensure a continuum of care and coordination of services.
• Adheres to program, department and county policies and procedures.
• Performs timely and accurate execution of administrative, clerical and fiscal tasks to include data collection, registration and money handling. Maintains appropriate records and complete any necessary documentation. Oversee the daily operation of the Kindred Spirits Social Club.
• Provide additional information, assistance and support to navigate services, through development of support plans. Plans may include identifying assistance and/or supervision with activities and/or instrumental activities of daily living as determined by individuals’ functional status.
• Completes, reviews and submits Incident, Injury, Accident, or other related reports to the Center Director, Division Manager, Administrator Risk Management, and Department.
• Complies with department and fiscal policies.
• Assists with the development and management of the operating budget. Completes fiscal and financial reports as required.
• Maintains an active, working knowledge of DCRS programs, trends, and needs. Works as a team member across OAI divisions, projects, and programs.
• Coordinates and submits information for the Office’s digital newsletters and publications.
• Responsible for scheduling, leading, and coordinating concurrent programs.
• Welcomes and orients participants and caregivers to include providing tours, leading orientation presentations, conducting outreach to increase program and/or 50\+ Center participation.
• Conduct community outreach activities.
• Refer participants to appropriate services and resources in the community.
• Drafts written marketing materials for programs.
• Accurately learns and performs all essential duties and functions to include the highest standards of customer service.
• Coordinate the transportation for participants.
• Coordinate and schedule programs and outings and serve as a trip leader.
• Attends staff meetings and trainings as directed by supervisor.
• May require work some evening and weekends.
• Participates in activities related to Emergency Management as requested, including work outside normal business hours.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

May supervise contingent and/or benefitted staff. Assists with managing service provider contracts on an annual basis. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

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Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Serv\-Safe Food Sanitation Certification.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Creative thinker and self\-starter with an ability to envision, develop, and implement innovative programming.
• Experience and working knowledge of program planning and development.
• Basic math and accounting skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work well with an ethnically diverse population.
• Strong computer proficiency especially with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), database management and spreadsheet applications necessary.
• Proficiency in virtual platforms and use of technology for human services delivery.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS

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Class C Maryland Driver's License or equivalent issued by state of residence.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.

Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.

At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).

Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H\-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H\-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986\.

Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.