Clinic / Admin Change Management Specialist

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for 50 years.

Extensive research has found WIC to be a cost-effective investment that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets, health care for children, and subsequently higher academic achievement for students. WIC helps families receive healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.

Like other divisions within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), WIC builds its program by addressing social determinants of health. WIC impacts the life course by promoting health practices that can ultimately improve life outcomes often experienced by vulnerable communities.

WIC serves babies and children up to age five, pregnant women, and new mothers. Dads, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC too!

Monthly, nearly one million WIC participants can find support at one of 83 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers that are authorized to serve WIC families.

In 2019 - 2020, the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system known as WIC WISE, that allows WIC participants to be served more efficiently. The CDPH WIC Division works continuously to improve its operations and system to better support families and their partners.

About the CDPH/WIC Family

Over 200 state staff work at CDPH’s WIC Division, headquartered at the Natomas campus in Sacramento. WIC is committed to a hybrid workforce and the state provides a modest stipend for those who fully and partially work from home. Staff are provided with a computer or laptop, camera, and large screen to conduct their work. We build our unit teams virtually and maintain contact with stakeholders by being on camera to solidify our relationships.

The WIC Division is led by senior managers administering the Data and Integrity Branch, WIC Systems Integration Branch, Operations, Local Policy and Health Programs Branch, Local Services Branch, Vendor Management Branch, and the Communications, Food, and Vendor Policy Branch. Through these branches, our support staff, analysts, specialists, researchers, and nutritionists serve the needs of WIC families, support our program partners, and ensure the California WIC program is administered appropriately and effectively.

Job Description and Duties

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by advancing the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. As a member of the WIC Change Management Section, the incumbent serves as part of a team that provides support to users of the WIC Web Information System Exchange (WIC WISE) program, the WIC Electronic Benefit Transaction (EBT) Card, and the California WIC Application as well as other auxiliary systems and services.

The incumbent works under the direction of the Supervisor II, Chief of the WIC Change Management Section. The Health Program Specialist I (HPS I) serves as a skilled expert who consults in areas regarding the Clinic and Admin functionality of WIC WISE as well as the California WIC Application, requiring in-depth expertise of how WIC Local Agency clinic flow, business practices, and state and federal regulations and policies impact system functionality needs. The HPS I works collaboratively with the change management team, other subject matter experts (SMEs) from the WIC Division, Local Agency staff, and the system contractor to improve and enhance the technical tools used to provide WIC services and comply with regulations. This is accomplished by participating in various components of the Software Development Lifecycle, primarily business requirements gathering, user acceptance testing, documentation and investigating defects.

If new to California state service, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. If you are a current state employee, but do not have transfer eligibility or list eligibility, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. Please go to CalHR’s website to review the exam bulletin: https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1192

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:

1. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
2. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues
3. Ability to communicate effectively with staff at various levels, external agencies, and the general public
4. Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills including reviewing and editing documents

Experience In:

1. Working with Management Information Systems to document program enrollment, participant characteristics, services provided and outcomes 
2. Using Microsoft Excel to organize and track tasks 
3. Coordinating with others to accomplish work-related assignments
4. Managing, prioritizing, and meeting multiple deadlines in a fast-paced work environment
5. Working with a public assistance program

Knowledge Of:

1. State and federal policies and regulations related to the WIC program or other public assistance programs
2. Completed staff work methodology
3. Project management methodology

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=8338

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 at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. 

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=517809

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.