Health Program Specialist I

Job Description and Duties
Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented in response to the status of the State budget. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit R01, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 hours of PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes.

Limited Term 12 months; may be extended up to 24 months or become permanent.
Under the direction of the Health Program Manager III or designee in licensed facilities, the Health Program Specialist (HPS) I acts as a highly skilled technical and subject matter expert in discrete areas of The Incarcerated Dental Services Program (IDSP), such as policies and procedures (P&P) development, IDSP related data applications, performance trends, and local activities to ensure Departmental compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, and P&Ps governing the IDSP. In addition, the HPS I serves a leadership role within a unit of staff tasked with establishment of a well-functioning health care performance management system at an institution, including a network of quality improvement committees that oversee improvement activities, a performance measurement and evaluation system, an annual improvement plan that incorporates the highest-priority improvement initiatives, and application of quality improvement tools and techniques to achieve performance objectives.

Minimum Qualifications
Either I
One year of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to Associate Health Program Adviser. (Applicants who have completed six months of service performing the duties as specified above will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of this experience before they can be eligible for appointment.)

Or II
Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience in health program administration, at least one year of which shall have been with major responsibility for a significant program such as is normally found in a complex or departmentalized medical care delivery setting or health institution or organization. (Possession of a Doctoral Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field may be substituted for up to one year of the required general experience.) and
Education: Possession of a Master's Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Hospital Administration, Comprehensive Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field. (One year of additional specialized qualifying experience may be substituted for the required master's degree.)

To obtain list eligibility for the Health Program Specialist I, before applying for the position, you must first take and pass the examination:
Exam Bulletin - Health Program Specialist I

Position Details
Job Code #:
JC-518343
Position #(s):
674-214-8338-XXX
Working Title:
Health Program Specialist I - Dental
Classification:
HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I
# of Positions:
1
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
12 Month Limited Term - Full Time
Facility:
California State Prison, Solano
Department Information
This advertisement is for a Health Program Specialist I position located at Solano State Prison (SOL) in Vacaville.
Vision
We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.
Mission
To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.
CDCR and CCHCS are committed to transforming the correctional landscape to create safer, more professional, and more fulfilling environments for our employees, the incarcerated population, and those supervised in our communities. Through systemwide improvements grounded in proven and emerging practices, we aim to strengthen rehabilitation, enhance workplace satisfaction, and support successful reentry into the community through our institutions, parole, and community partnerships. Our shared mission is to promote safety, wellness, and human dignity while fostering positive change for all those who live and work within our institutions and communities.
CDCR and CCHCS are committed to building an inclusive respectful workplace. We are determined to attract and hire candidates from all communities and empower employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts at all levels of the Department.
Across our organization, our programs work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR and CCHCS mission.
Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
  Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your State application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver’s license number will automatically be redacted upon submission.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board.
Candidates new to CCHCS are required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan Fingerprinting.
Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for candidates new to CCHCS prior to appointment followed by department annual TB testing/evaluation thereafter.
Applicants who completed their education outside of the US (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of U.S. course/degree equivalency. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at NACES | National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
Desirable Qualifications
In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
Willingness to create and promote an equitable and inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated and valued.
Benefits
Information on benefits afforded by membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System Benefit can be found on the CalHR website.
Information on the benefits and protections provided to public employees by the State Civil Service Act can be found on the CalHR website.
This webpage is intended to provide general information. Benefit eligibility may be based on job classification, bargaining unit, time base and length of appointment.
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.
Final Filing Date: 5/28/2026
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.