health program specialist ii jc-497919

Department Information
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 team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation's nutrition safety net for over 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 84 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers or farmers who are authorized to serve WIC families.

In , the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system that allows WIC participants to be served more efficiently.

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 a Local Policy and Health Programs Branch, Local Services Branch, Vendor Management Branch, Communications, Food, and Vendor Policy Branch, Data and Integrity Branch, WIC Systems Integration Branch, and the Operations team. Through these branches, support staff, analysts, specialists, researchers, and nutritionists serve the needs of WIC families, supports our program partners, and ensures the California WIC Program is administered appropriately and effectively.

The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.
Department Website:

Job Description And Duties
Health Program Specialist II (HPS II)
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:

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 Systems Integration Branch, the Health Program Specialist II (HPS II) serves as part of a team that supports and maintains the various eWIC systems including the WIC Web Information System Exchange (WIC WISE), the WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card, and the WIC App, as well as other auxiliary systems and services.?

The incumbent works under the direction of the Chief, WIC Change and Contract Management Section, Staff Services Manager II (SSM II). The Health Program Specialist II (HPS II) serves as a highly skilled expert in the Vendor aspects of WIC Technology, acts in an advisory capacity, and leads staff to plan, develop, and coordinate work to ensure that policies, procedures, forms, education, monitoring, training materials, and all applicable program materials pertaining to the assigned statewide projects are up to date and that service delivery partners, and state staff are trained on changes. The HPS II serves as the lead coordinator and subject matter expert on WIC technology issues related to benefits redemption, shopping, and integrity. The HPS II coordinates and performs User Acceptance Testing for defect corrections and change requests for various technologies that support benefits redemption, shopping, and integrity.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH's Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee's designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP This program temporarily reduces employees' monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.
Final Filing Date: 11/18/2025

Position Details
Job Code #:
JC-497919

Position #(s):

Working Title:
WIC Systems Change Management Specialist
Classification:
HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST II $7, $9,107.00

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:
1

Work Location:
Sacramento County

Telework:
Hybrid

Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Should you have any questions regarding the application process, our Recruitment Team is ready to help you at or