Public Authority Payroll/Personnel Services Specialist – Spanish-Speaking Required (Open) (20742635)

San Mateo County Health is seeking well-qualified individuals for the position of Public Authority Payroll/Personnel Services Specialist. The current vacancy is in the Public Authority.  NOTE: This is not a County position.

This is a full-time position working Monday–Friday. A hybrid schedule may be available; however, approximately four on-site workdays per week are anticipated based on operational needs and County requirements. The position is currently located in San Mateo, CA, but will relocate to South San Francisco, CA, planned for December 2026. This role requires travel throughout the County and periodic travel within the State of California.

There is currently one vacancy that requires Spanish bilingual fluency.  

 

Public Authority
The Public Authority (PA) was established by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 1993 for the purpose of administering the provider components of the County of San Mateo's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. The IHSS Program provides homecare services to Medi-Cal eligible individuals who are aged, blind or disabled to assist them to remain safely in their homes as an alternative to out-of-home care. The Public Authority provides personnel and payroll services for IHSS caregivers, and Registry caregiver services for IHSS recipients.
  
 The Public Authority Payroll/Personnel Services Specialist duties include:

• Performing technical and specialized office support work, relating specifically to employer-of-record, payroll, and benefits administration, which may require the use of independent judgment and the application of technical skills.
• Serving as Officer of the Day according to an established schedule.
• Performing related duties as assigned.

 

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Written and Verbal Communication Skills in Spanish and English – Guide sensitive conversations with caregivers regarding payroll-related issues in person, over the phone, or via email.
• Public Speaking – Present program information during new caregiver orientation.
• Organizational Skills - Maintain a caseload and provide payroll, benefit, and personnel services for caregivers. Maintain case notes on work performed.
• Interpersonal Skills – Manage a high call volume and support lobby visitors with responsiveness and efficiency. Build cohesive working relationships with program staff within Aging and Disability Services. Strong customer service skills.
• Judgement and Decision Making - Perform quality assurance oversight on payroll, case, and provider management activities and make appropriate referrals to the Program Integrity Unit. Evaluate timesheet errors and manage corrections according to State program regulations.
• Basic Business Data Processing – Create and/or update caregiver profiles in the State’s computer system.
• Experience with Microsoft Office – Maintain Outlook calendar, communicate with staff via Teams, create and edit Excel spreadsheets to log and track phone calls/messages.
• Administrative - Accurately process and scan documents. Ability to utilize multiple IT systems seamlessly.
• Collaboration and Teamwork – Work collaboratively with program staff, caregivers, and community partners to ensure efficient service delivery and maintain positive working relationships across teams.

 

 

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform difficult, technical and specialized office support work, relating specifically to employer-of-record, payroll and benefits administration, which may require the use of independent judgment and the application of technical skills.
• Conduct enrollment interviews, verify and accurately enter applicant information into the State’s Case Management Information and Payroll System (CMIPS) application.
• Conduct new provider orientation.
• Process requests for employment verification in a timely manner.
• Evaluate timesheet errors and manage corrections according to State program regulations.
• Manage administration of IHSS provider benefits.
• Communicate with clients, providers and social workers regarding implementation of all aspects of provider management in the IHSS program.
• Accurately assemble information from a variety of sources for the completion of forms and reports.
• Accurately process and scan forms.
• Provide extensive customer service through telephone, electronic and face-to-face interactions with providers and clients.
• Serve as Officer of the Day according to an established schedule.
• Perform quality assurance oversight on payroll, case and provider management activities.
• Assess irregular payroll activities and make appropriate referrals to Program Integrity Unit.
• Maintain case notes on work performed.
• Engage in and adapt to improvement work as needed.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
 
Payroll/Personnel Coordinator II: One year of journey level general or fiscal office support experience which has included payroll or personnel assistance OR two years of general clerical or office assistant experience.
 

Knowledge of:

• Methods and practices related to payroll and personnel processes in a complex, public agency.
• County labor contracts, Civil Service Rules and other related policies and procedures.
• Standard processes for completing and processing varied payroll and personnel documents.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including record keeping and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Basic business data processing and business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.
• Correct English and Spanish usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.

Skill/Ability to:

• Perform detailed technical and specialized payroll and personnel support work.
• Interpret complex written guidelines, rules, policies and procedures and accurately apply the direction provided to operational actions. and procedures.
• Understand immediate and downstream effects of executed actions, decisions and advice.
• Work independently and organize, prioritize and coordinate simultaneously occurring work activities.
• Establish and foster effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Analyze data and make arithmetic calculations as needed with speed and accuracy.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Communicate effectively through verbal and written methods.
• Embrace and learn new technology, software or systems related especially those related to payroll and personnel coordination.
• Keep up to date and adapt quickly to changes in related procedures and HRIS business processes.
• Collaborate with managers and supervisors, give guidance and/or training on related payroll and personnel transactions.
• Operate standard office equipment, including a word processor, personal or on-line computer, and centralized telephone equipment.

Application/Examination

Open: Anyone may apply.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight:100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Recruitment closes: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
Applicant Screening: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Panel Interviews: Thursday, June 18, 2026
 
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.
 
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

HR Analyst: Sarah Huynh (05192026)(E536 - Payroll-Personnel Coordinator II)