DHS Principal Program Specialist (EID Community Assistance)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services is currently seeking a Principal Program Specialist to be part of the Economic Independence Division (EID) to be responsible for supervising a team of Human Services specialists who provide crisis intervention and intensive short-term assistance to clients with linkages to community resources and public assistance benefits. With a focus on equity and a mission to strengthen, protect, and empower the most vulnerable in Arlington, this position will oversee a team of Human Service specialists who primarily work at various community, school and property sites. They collaborate on multidisciplinary teams to coordinate service delivery, administer eviction prevention, food distribution, and emergency assistance programs, and partner with community resources to support residents. To learn more about our services, please visit EID.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Specific duties include:

• Providing administrative oversight to staff to ensure quality service in the provision of crisis support services; 
• Monitoring the delivery of services to a culturally diverse population and providing immediate emergency assistance to vulnerable populations; 
• Providing oversight and technical assistance to staff regarding implementation of new programs; 
• Providing on-site support at multiple community locations throughout the week and assisting staff and clients as needed; 
• Participating in community programs, including evening and weekend events, to support and collaborate with safety-net organizations;
• Hiring, orienting and training new staff and interns, and appraising staff performance; 
• Ensuring team productivity, staff development and appropriate budget planning and fiscal accountability; 
• Coordinating data collection and the production of financial reports; 
• Planning and maintaining a daily schedule for day-to-day operations of the unit;
• Presenting to community groups, conducting meetings and representing EID on a variety of committees; and
• Developing new processes and procedures by which to collect and analyze data and trends in data for increased efficiency in service provision.

The ideal candidate will have strong skills in the field of community resources, crisis management, supervision, and data collection and analysis. To be successful in this position, the candidate must be knowledgeable regarding mental health services and working in multidisciplinary teams, crisis management, and case management services with vulnerable populations. The candidate will report directly to the Community Assistance Bureau Director and work collaboratively with a variety of community partners.

Minimum: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or in a Human Services discipline such as Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or Nursing; and
• Significant experience supervising human services staff in the social services field

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year for year basis.

Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Master's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or in a Human Services discipline such as Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or Nursing;
• Experience managing programs with fiscal and administrative components, collecting data, and reporting to multiple grantors and stakeholders; 

• Demonstrated experience working with diverse client groups, homeless populations, and with community partners;

   

• Experience using Microsoft Excel and case management software applications for data collection, reporting, and analysis; and/or
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or the applicant must have the ability or willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide, copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Completion of a state of Virginia Central Registry Check. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

The official title for this position is DHS Principal Program Specialist (NB)

The salary list above is effective July 1, 2026.

Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

#LI-Onsite