Program Specialist

Job Description and Duties

THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE. THE AMOUNT OF TELEWORK IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS BUSINESS NEEDS ARISE.

DISABILITY INSURANCE SPECIALIST I

Under close supervision of the Disability Insurance Field Office Manager or Field Operations Division Manager, the incumbent develops analytical skills; participates in policy and procedure formulation; gathers and analyzes data; consults with field and other departmental personnel in securing and disseminating necessary information; prepares reports and correspondence on technical Disability Insurance issues, problems and concerns; works on the development of guidelines, training courses, and other tools and materials to assist Disability Insurance office management in the administration of the Department's Disability Insurance program; and may serve as a specialist in analyzing performance measurements and recommending solutions to performance issues.

The incumbent may be used in the field offices (FO) to act in a lead capacity and train, monitor, and advise staff on office operations.

DISABILITY INSURANCE SPECIALIST II

Summary Statement (Briefly describe the position’s organizational setting and major functions):
Under minimal supervision of the Disability Insurance Field Office Manager or Field Operations Division Manager, the incumbent performs the more difficult and complex technical work and analysis; may be assigned total responsibility for a specific project having regional or statewide impact; formulate policies and procedures and make recommendations to management on the full range of Disability Insurance issues, problems, and concerns, and prepare reports and correspondence in these same areas. As a technical expert in a particular program area, may act in a consulting capacity to the field and other departmental staff by providing problem-solving advice and program information; and may have regional or statewide responsibility for coordinating activities in a particular program or program area ensuring consistent application of policies, procedures, and standards.

The incumbent provides support and guidance to Field Office staff as a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for all new IT applications deployed for Field Office use. As a program specialist, may provide assistance to lower level specialists by responding to technical questions; providing feedback on assignments, and instructing them on data collection, information gathering and dissemination, report and correspondence preparation, and other aspects of program support work.

This position allows for a hybrid telework schedule, which is subject to change under EDD’s telework policy. California Government Code Section 14200 requires employees to reside in California in order to telework. Employees may be required to report to their headquarters office as needed for operational needs, required scheduled in office days associated with the hybrid schedule, and other activities including but not limited to new employee training.

Position exists at: 2 MacArthur Place, Suite 400, Santa Ana, CA 92707.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click here to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

Office (in cubicle)

Special Requirements

It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at .

Please only submit ONE application. Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the “Application Instructions’ section below and ensure the following:

• Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Classification Title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment STD Form 678.

• Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (list, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the “Explanations” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.

• Remove and do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (Page 10) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678. This page is for examination use only.

• Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.

Examination/Assessment

If selected for hire , you must obtain list eligibility by taking and passing the examination. If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination unless your list eligibility has expired.

The Disability Insurance Specialist I/II is a Departmental Promotional exam for EDD employees only.
The next administration of the Disability Insurance Specialist I exam is tentatively scheduled for November, 2026.
The next administration of the Disability Insurance Specialist II exam is tentatively scheduled for January, 2027.

For more information about the State hiring process, click here . To watch tutorials on how to apply for a State job, click here .

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website, , and the CalPERS website, .

Statement of Qualifications Requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required . The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. The SOQ is not a resume or cover letter. Resumes and/or Cover Letters DO NOT take the place of the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ or an SOQ submitted without following instructions may not receive further consideration and may be excluded from the hiring process.

The SOQ should be typed, not more than one page in length, size 12 point font, single-spaced, with margins not less than one inch, including your first and last name at the top of the page, and must include a response to the statement below, including specific examples:

Question: Describe a situation that required you to use fact finding skills. What steps did you take and what were the results?

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required. Please see “Statement of Qualifications Requirements” section for more information about the SOQ.