Human Services Director

Human Services Director – Regular Exempt.

Position:
Human Services Director – Regular Exempt. Pay: $114,000-$150,000 per year. Job Type: Full‑time.

Location:

Yakima County Human Services Department. Employment classification: exempt, ineligible for overtime.

Job opens until filled with weekly reviews starting June 30, 2026. The department’s role has evolved from operating programs to providing strategic leadership, system coordination, community planning, and oversight of public investments. The director will serve as Yakima County’s lead strategist, systems coordinator, and executive project manager for homelessness, housing, behavioral health, and community well‑being. The director leads implementation of the Five‑Year Homeless Housing Strategic Plan, Yakima County HOME Consortium Annual Plan and coordinates cross‑sector initiatives beyond direct departmental authority.

The position provides direct assistance to the Board of County Commissioners and plans, develops, organizes and administers a long‑range program to implement the Board’s policies, goals and objectives. The director is responsible for all reporting requirements, ensures contract compliance of sub‑recipients, performance measures of the programs, audits of sub‑recipients using public funds and the overall success of the program.

• Develops and implements public information and participation strategies; funding strategies; and interagency communication strategies.
• Coordinates operations and services with other local, state, and federal agencies, community groups and citizens at‑large; provides technical advice and promotes program services awareness.
• Plans, develops and implements strategies to accomplish the goals, priorities and objectives described in the current and future initiatives associated within the programs of the Human Services Department.
• Provides oversight for the staffing of the Yakima County Homeless Coalition and Yakima County Mental Health Coalition.
• Works with respective Program Coordinators, Coalitions, and State representatives to develop annual drafts of Yakima County 5‑Year Homelessness Plan and Yakima County Mental Health Plan for Commissioner approval.
• Acts as an advisor/member to state, regional and local committees as assigned by the Board of County Commissioners.
• Determines implications for the immediate welfare and future of the agency/committee and prepares recommendations on regional‑wide policies and agency procedures related to all Human Services programs.
• Serves as countywide convener and systems leader for homelessness, housing, behavioral health, healthcare, criminal justice, and community well‑being initiatives.
• Provides strategic oversight of system performance, project implementation, partner accountability, and outcome measurement.
• Provides direct management and supervision of all Community Services staff and functions including: employee supervision, public relations, policy development, budget preparation, grant and contract administration, financial and meeting record keeping and legal compliance.
• Provides overall management and direction to all programs that fall under the authority of the Human Services Program.
• Ensures that critical services are being provided to the Community as outlined by charters, contracts and/or service level agreements.
• Focuses on strategic outcomes and implementation.
• Researches grant revenues, requests applications, works with County departments to complete application, inventories all grants, monitors progress and performs fiscal reviews.

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Human Services or any Human Services related discipline AND seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience related to public agency administration, including one year of supervision/management experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience to perform the essential duties of the job.
• Preferred:
  Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in homelessness, housing, behavioral health, community development, public…