Program Specialist I

Job Description

Position: Program Specialist I

Department

MHID

Location

Erie County Department of Human Services

Status

Full Time

Starting Pay Rate

$24.32 Hourly

Hours Per Week

37.5

Exemption Status

Exempt

Posting Date

07/06/2026

Closing Date

07/20/2026

Pay Grade

NB15

Bargaining Unit

NON-BARGAINING

Posting Number

5792

Posting Notice: Erie County offers a generous fringe benefit package including low-cost medical, dental, and vision; fourteen paid holidays; up to eleven combined personal and vacation days in the first year of employment.

Nature of Work

• This is professional work of an administrative nature involving program planning, analysis and coordination of mental health services. The employee is responsible for the review, analysis, monitoring, and coordination of assigned mental health and housing services and assisting in administering the mental health and housing programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Participates in the planning and development of mental health and housing service delivery systems and assists with contracting for mental health and housing services.
• Participates in the planning and development of the homelessness system.
• Facilitates the planning and implementation of a recovery and resiliency culture throughout the mental health and housing system.
• Interprets rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and provides technical assistance to service providers.
• Assures that contracted services are delivered in conformity to the contract, including quantity, quality, client population, expenses and outcomes.
• Assists in writing and submitting applications for State and Federal housing grants including the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care grant.
• Participates in internal and external meetings, work committees, task forces and advisory boards.
• Liaison to other service delivery systems.
• Prepares proposals and various reports and surveys for funding sources.
• Assists the Housing Program Director with monitoring visits PA Department of Human Services and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
• Monitors all HAP providers annually for compliance.
• Attends staff meetings and participates in in-service training.
• Represents Erie County MH/ID&A Office at various local and statewide meetings.
• Performs monitoring of contracted providers for compliance, fraud, mismanagement, and utilization of funds which includes reviewing client files, services and programs.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of principles and practices of mental health program planning and development as they relate to implementation of direct services and operational procedures in County Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities Programs.
• Knowledge of current social, economic and health problems and resources as they relate to the field of mental health.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods applied to collecting and analyzing statistical data.
• Ability to aid in the development and coordination of mental health programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years of Professional Experience in the field of Mental Health
• Bachelor's Degree in a related field OR any equivalent combination of experience and training

Supervision Received

• Within specific areas of responsibility, considerable independence and initiative are expected in achieving objectives within established regulations, policies and procedures. Work is reviewed by supervisor through conference and evaluation of reports.

Conditions Of Employment

• Required to provide and are subject to Pennsylvania criminal and child abuse clearances as well as an FBI fingerprint clearance prior to the start of employment.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Erie County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Erie County Government values the power of diversity in our workforce. Our goal is to continue developing inclusive workforce policies that require individual equality, support the diversity of employee experiences, and include unique perspectives.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.