Initial Posting Date:

10/05/2026

Application Deadline:

10/12/2026

Agency:

Department of Human Services

Salary Range:

$5,458 - $8,352

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Youth Transition Specialist (Operations & Policy Analyst 2)

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Opportunity awaits! The Child Welfare Youth Transitions team is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated individual to serve as a Youth Transition Specialist. In this role, you will help strengthen supports and services for foster youth and young people that experienced foster care through operational oversight, compliance monitoring, and program coordination. If you are passionate about improving outcomes for young people and supporting continuous system improvement, we invite you to apply.

Summary of Duties

As an employee working within the Child Welfare Program, you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. Your dedication will help us achieve the Child Welfare Vision for Transformation that will support children and young adults to be safer, healthier, experience less trauma and achieve a greater well-being.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide operational oversight and coordination for the Youth Transitions (YT) program, ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements and supporting agency-wide efficiency. This position serves as the team’s rule, policy, and procedure lead, collaborates with internal and external partners to enhance systems and electronic resources, and handles complex contract administration to ensure compliance and efficiency. They also provide technical consultation and training to agency staff and other interest holders and participate in cross-functional projects to design and implement operational improvements that support program objectives and goals.

For a full list of duties, please review the position description document linked here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:e45e7c8a-b602-4f2c-a8ad-ac4f363ccf58

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, Finance, Political Science or any degree demonstrating the capacity for the knowledge and skills; and two (2) years professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work.
  OR

• Any combination of experience and education equivalent to five (5) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge and skills for the classification.

Essential Attributes

We are looking for candidates with:

• Experience interpreting, explaining, and applying complex Child Welfare policies and procedures in different settings to a variety of circumstances.
• Experience sharing complex information through different methods, including creating accessible resources (policy, procedure, training, presentations, flyers, guides, emails, etc.) that offer clear and concise guidance to various audiences.
• Experience facilitating and leading group discussions, meetings, and workgroups, often with varying degrees of participation, different perspectives, and competing goals.
• Understanding of the advantages of both legal and relational permanency for transition aged youth experiencing foster care.
• Experience providing strong engagement and timely customer service in a demanding, fast‑paced, and high‑volume environment.

Attention all candidates! A cover letter is required. Clearly describe how you meet the essential attributes listed above in your cover letter.

• Your resume (optional) and cover letter (required) may be uploaded in the Resume/CV field on the online application.
• Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Your application materials will determine if you are selected to move forward in the hiring process and will be used to determine your starting salary range if you are selected as a final candidate.
• Please include detailed work history that includes the month/year start date and month/year end date for each role/job. If applicable for college degrees, please clearly indicate if a degree has been completed when providing educational history (graduation dates are not required).
• If you are selected as the final candidate and a degree is used to qualify you for the position, please be prepared to provide verification of your completed education before moving forward in the hiring process.
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
• The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.

Working Conditions

• The work schedule is not negotiable but may change based on business needs, including youth and provider events. General operations and required meetings primarily occur 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.
• This position is eligible for hybrid work after the initial in-office training period is successfully completed. In person work at the Salem office will be required, as well as reporting to a local ODHS office when training, business or operational needs are dependent on onsite activities. Frequency varies.
• Some travel expenses are not provided, nor reimbursable for hybrid work employees per travel policy paragraph 105: https://www.oregon.gov/das/Financial/Acctng/Documents/40.10.00.pdf
• Occasional statewide travel is required, including overnights.
• Works in an integrated environment where diverse programs, partners and staff create the work team.

• Serve a diverse range of internal and external customers with compassion and professionalism through a trauma informed lens.

• General conditions include high stress environment due to a high-volume workload with short time frames.
• Daily exposure to reports of potential abuse and confidential information from diverse groups who may have experienced trauma.

Background Checks and Requirements

• Requires a valid driver's license or other acceptable method of transportation for routine travel.
• If selected as a finalist, we will conduct a criminal history and background check. Adverse criminal history or background check may lead to disqualification. Additional background check information.
• The Oregon Department of Human Services does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

Benefits

• ODHS Employee Resource Group communities that promote shared learning.

• Cost of Living Adjustments.

• Annual salary increases (until you reach the top of the listed salary range).

• Amazing benefits package.

• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Employment Preference

Veterans’ preference:

• Veterans’ preference information.
• How to submit your Veteran documents for preference. Please do not attach your Veterans’ preference documentation in the Resume/CV field of your application.

General Information

• This is a permanent, full-time position and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
• This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification.

Contact Information

We invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions.

• The recruiter for this position is Alissa Walker. If you contact the recruiter, please include the job requisition number.
• Email: ALISSA.WALKER@odhs.oregon.gov
• Phone (call or text): 503-519-1807