Serves as the designated specialist on federal and state social service programs and is responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and evaluating training, instructional design, leadership consultation, and technical assistance. This class focuses on teaching, tracking and trending program goals and objectives within an assigned region, program, division, residential setting, or within a statewide functional administrative group to facilitate ongoing success.

Examples of federal and state financial and/or social service programs include those administered by a social service agency.

Reviews policy and provides procedure clarification and consultation;

Prepares all materials for training;

Maintains and shares accurate documentation regarding attendance and participation;

Provides feedback and information to local WSLC Coordinators for their records and entry into WSLC;

Participates, as requested, in giving input for future changes to training curriculum;

Coordinates with internal and external parties to ensure opportunities for continuing education training curriculum for staff, utilizing both class and computer training technology;

Develops, updates, and assigns learning plans to staff in the WSLC Center;

Advises and assists administrators in planning and conducting local training programs; develops recommendations for management on training needs, assessments, and issues;

Develops, schedules, and conducts orientation programs for new employees on department regulations and procedures, casework principles and methods, caseload management, community resources, individual and group behavior;

Develops, schedules, and conducts training statewide on new policies and procedures and new state or federal regulations or requirements for public assistance programs;

Develops and secures training materials, maintains training library;

Keeps informed of current training and social service trends, practices, and materials, analyzes results of training and identifies curriculum updates as needed; adjusts curriculum based on results of feedback, audit/visit results;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: current working or mastery-level knowledge of federal and state laws, policies, rules, and regulations related to social, financial, and health programs; principles and practices of program planning and evaluation; understand and interpret the program mission; standard operating procedures; supervision policy, procedures, methods, and the collective bargaining agreement; principles and practices of employee training; principles and techniques of teaching; principles of individual and group behavior; community organizations and resources; use of training aids.

Ability to: analyze and compile data to develop online, webinar, and classroom training courses and materials, presentations, and workshops; present complex concepts, changes, databases, rules, processes, procedures, and updates in a seamless, cohesive, intelligible manner consistently and repeatedly; conduct training courses, presentations, and workshops in a variety of settings for various audiences, to include staff, community partners, stakeholders; facilitate groups; secure and maintain employee and student participant interest and cooperation; speak in public and write clearly and effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees, students, community partners, supervisory staff, and line staff; adapt to changing programs and work environments; work independently, prioritize work, and meet multiple conflicting deadlines; navigate electronic systems currently in use by the organization; and utilize assigned computer software.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A Bachelor’s degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field;


Four years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, or health services programs;


Two years’ experience as a WorkFirst Program Specialist or equivalent work experience with automated eligibility systems;


One year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 2, Social Service Specialist 3, or Public Benefit Specialist 4 or above.

Note: Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for the required education except for positions that require a degree in social work. A degree in Social Work must be from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Equivalent education/experience.

Revised, effective June 1, 1964
New class code: (formerly 18320) effective July 1, 2007
Title change (formerly Social Service Training Specialist 2); adopted May 14, 2009, effective May 15, 2009.
Revises desirable qualifications, effective December 23, 2011
Revised definition; Adopted August 8, 2013, effective August 9, 2013
Class revisions to definition, typical work, and salary range; adopted August 8, 2013, effective August 9, 2013.
Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.
Revised definition, typical work, knowledge and abilities, and desired qualifications; adopted June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.