CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, DEPARTMENT OF CAREER EXECUTIVE ASSIGNMENT EXAMINATION ANNOUNCEMENT

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DEPARTMENT:	CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, DEPARTMENT OF	RELEASE DATE:	Thursday, January 15, 2015
POSITION TITLE:	Special Assistant to the Secretary	FINAL FILING DATE:	Wednesday, January 28, 2015
CEA LEVEL:	CEA A	EXTENDED FINAL FILING DATE:
SALARY RANGE:	$ 6,296.00 - $ 9,051.00 / Month	BULLETIN ID:	01122015_3

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Special Assistant serves as the primary policy advisor to the Secretary, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR/Department), on a wide variety of departmental policies and may act independently on behalf of the Secretary, CDCR, in a multitude of situations regarding sensitive issues such as, but not limited to: litigation, policies, procedures, and program direction relative to the Department’s primary mission. The Special Assistant will be proactive in presenting and addressing issues of policy to the Secretary, CDCR while providing guidance to programs on up-coming issues, providing and making recommendations on policy formulation and implementation, and evaluating the impact of policies that cross program lines throughout the Department to ensure consistency with departmental goals and objectives. The Special Assistant is responsible for determining and articulating the Department’s position in several areas of concern with local government officials and the public such as; the establishment of Reentry Facilities, parolee placement, sex offender management, infill construction, juvenile justice, medical federal receivership and numerous other highly sensitive policy issues that directly effect local communities. The Special Assistant to the Secretary is a member of the Department’s Executive Staff and is a key member of the Secretary’s Office.

40% Develops, interprets, and implements policies, crossing program lines within various programs, to ensure consistency with existing departmental policies and objectives in furtherance of the Department’s mission; reviews, formulates, interprets and implements departmental policy for high level projects, having broad impact, across multiple programmatic areas; makes program and policy recommendations that have department-wide impact in a wide variety of areas such as organizational structure, and program enhancements related to the functionality of CDCR necessary to assure adherence with the Secretary’s vision and the Department’s mission; provides guidance to multifaceted programs regarding a variety of public policy issues, court mandates, and cross-programmatic policies which are critical to the daily operation of the Department; develops strategic approaches to assess program effectiveness to improve program performance and control overall program costs; on behalf of the Secretary, CDCR.

20% Works collaboratively with internal and external management and executive staff to understand and convey policy needs for the Department; ensures that the Department’s programs and policies reflect best practices and consider departmental needs. On behalf of the Secretary, CDCR, attends and participates in selected internal and external advisory committee, local government, and departmental divisional meetings, as needed.

20% Ensures the mission of the Department is reflected in work projects; represents the Secretary and acts as a liaison with executive management, legislative, and Governor’s Office staff; and has direct responsibility for building relationships on behalf of the Secretary, CDCR, with stakeholders, constituency groups, and third party advocates; works collaboratively with executive management in the formation, coordination, and implementation of departmental and programmatic policies; coordinates study efforts to determine policy needs throughout the Department to promote the Department’s mission, policies, and objectives.

20% Formulates high level responses, consistent with the mission, goals, and objectives of the Department, and analyzes reported findings for Departmental implications; makes recommendations to the Secretary regarding the impact and potential outcomes of efforts undertaken.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Either I
Must be a current State civil service employee with permanent civil service status, as defined in Government Code Section 18546.

Or II
Must be a current or former employee of the Legislature, who resigned or was released from service within the last 12 months, and with two or more consecutive years of service as defined in Government Code Section 18990.

Or III
Must be a current or former nonelected exempt employee of the Executive Branch of government who resigned or was released from service within the last 12 months, and with two or more consecutive years of service (excluding those positions for which the salaries are set by statute) as defined by Government Code Section 18992.

Or IV
Must be a person retired from the United States military, honorably discharged from active military duty with a service-connected disability, or honorably discharged from active duty as defined in Government Code Section 18991.

(1) Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; and personnel management techniques; the department’s or agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager’s role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.

(2) Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department’s or agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

CEA Level A Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level B Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level C Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.

2. Demonstrated ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, and work collaboratively with the Governor’s Office, legislative staff, high level officials within state and federal government, control agencies, special interest groups, the public, the courts, and departmental staff.

3. Ability to advise executive staff and the Secretary on a wide range of sensitive and controversial issues and make sound decisions that will uphold the integrity of the Department.

4. Experience in, and knowledge of, the development, implementation, formulation, and coordination of policies and procedures.

5. Knowledge of budget management including the principles, practices, and methods of fiscal accountability.

6. Experience in public administration, personnel management, leadership and knowledge of the Department’s equal employment opportunity program objectives and a manager’s role in achieving an equal employment opportunity workplace.

Supervisory/administrative experience in a managerial capacity at least equivalent to a Staff Services Manager II, Correctional Administrator, Department of Corrections, Parole Administrator I, Adult Parole, Program Administrator, Correctional School, or Youth Authority Administrator, including the implementation and/or evaluation of program policies. Experience which shall have demonstrated the ability to communicate with legislators, local governmental jurisdictions, and community and civic leaders. Experience in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION
A minimum rating of 70% must be attained to obtain list eligibility. Hiring interviews may be conducted with the most qualified candidates. All candidates will receive written notification of their examination results. The result of this examination will be used only to fill the position of Special Assistant to the Secretary, with the CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, DEPARTMENT OF . Applications will be retained for twelve months.

The results of this examination will be used only to fill this position.

FILING INSTRUCTIONS
Effective January 1, 2009, Government Code Section 18991 was enacted which permits persons retired from the United States military, honorably discharged from active military duty with a service-connected disability, or honorably discharged from active duty to apply for Career Executive Assignment (CEA) examinations, for which he/she meets the minimum qualifications. Person’s applying who qualify as a Veteran under Government Code Section 18991 must submit a copy of his/her DD214 with their Standard State Application (Form 678).

Interested applicants must submit:

• A completed Standard State Application (Form 678).
• A "Statement of Qualifications". The Statement is a narrative discussion of how the candidate's education, training, experience, and skills meet the minimum and desirable qualifications and qualify them for the position. The Statement of Qualifications serves as a documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing and should be typed and no more than four pages in length and not less than size 12 font.
• Resumes do not take the place of the Statement of Qualifications.
• APPLICANTS WHO FAIL TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE EXAMINATION.
• A Resume that clearly addresses your experience with job titles, names and addresses of employers, periods of employment, and education relevant to the minimum qualifications listed above.
• The desirable qualifications on the Statement of Qualifications MUST be addressed and numbered in the same order as is listed on the bulletin. You must provide specific examples.
• The Statement of Qualifications will also serve as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing since this is a critical factor to successful job performance.
• Information regarding the completion of a "Statement of Qualifications" may be obtained via the CDCR internet website at: www.cdcr.ca.gov/Career_Opportunities/HR/OPS/Exams/Exams_Executive/index.html

Applications must be submitted by the final filing date to:

CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, DEPARTMENT OF , Office of the Secretary
1515 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
Christina Acosta-Hoshall | (916) 445-9061 | Christina.Acosta-Hoshall@cdcr.ca.gov

SPECIAL TESTING
If you have a disability and need special testing arrangements, mark the appropriate box in Part 2 of the "Examination Application." You will be contacted to make specific arrangements.

GENERAL INFORMATION
If you meet the requirements stated in this bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described on this bulletin will be compared with the performance of others who take this test, and all candidates who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

The CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, DEPARTMENT OF reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified.

General Qualifications: Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.

Class specs:  CEA and Exempt Appointees