As a potential applicant, you will be participating in a process which endeavors to obtain the most qualified candidates for County employment. The employment process consists of various examinations to evaluate and test fairly and objectively each applicant's education, experience, skills, knowledge and abilities for the position. The general employment process steps are:

* Application: Each applicant is responsible for submitting an official Sonoma County employment application form with any supportive data by the date stated on the front of this announcement. Being complete in filling out your application will improve your chances in the employment process. The application and all related papers and materials developed by reference checks and/or background investigation are the property of the County of Sonoma, and such information will not be made available to candidates. You should not submit your only copy of relevant documents as they will not be returned to you and we will not make copies for you. Be sure to indicate dates of employment and thoroughly describe your duties. Résumés may be submitted but are not acceptable as substitutes for any part of the standard or supplemental application forms. Initial evaluation of your qualifications will be based solely on these documents.

* Examination: All applications will be carefully and thoroughly evaluated for appropriate education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities and other personal qualifications which directly relate to the duties of this position. Successful candidates in the application appraisal process will be notified of subsequent examinations, such as written, oral, performance or other examinations appropriate to the duties of this position. Admission to an examination does not guarantee that you will be placed on the employment list. If requested on the application, reasonable accommodation can be made for disabled individuals.

* Background Checks: A pre-employment background investigation will be conducted on candidates for whom an offer of employment is being considered.

* Eligible List: An eligible list is established after the examination is completed. The list contains the names of all applicants who have received a passing score ranked from highest to lowest score. The list is valid for a minimum of three months, but can be extended to a maximum of two years.

* Removal from Eligibility List: Candidates are subject to removal from an eligibility list if they have been certified three times to the same department or certified a total of five times to any combination of departments, or fail a drug and/or alcohol test as part of their pre-employment medical examination.

* Selection: Vacancies are filled from among the top three standings of available candidates on the Eligible List. Names of candidates who are not selected are retained on the Eligible List for future consideration.

* Employment Eligibility Verification: Federal law requires that only United States citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States be employed in agency jobs. Documentation of eligibility to work in the United States will be required as a condition of employment. You must present your Social Security card and driver's license or other documents which prove your eligibility for employment in the United States.

* Loyalty Oath: Under California state law you will be required to sign a loyalty (constitutional) oath before employment.

* Medical Examination: Prior to appointment to the position and starting work, all prospective employees will be required to pass a medical examination (at no cost to the candidate), administered by the County. An attempt will be made to make reasonable accommodation for any physical disability or medical condition in compliance with federal regulations. Successful candidates are cautioned not to terminate their present employment until the medical examination has been completed and approved. Drug and alcohol testing will be conducted as part of this medical examination for initial hires and for all current employees who are offered employment in law enforcement, probation and drug and alcohol assignments. Any person being referred for a pre-employment medical examination and failing the drug and alcohol screening test will be declared ineligible for all County employment for a period of six (6) months. In addition, the person will be suspended from any current employment lists on which he or she occupies a standing.

* Probationary Period: The last phase of the examination process is a probationary period. For management employees, the probationary period is 12-months.

* Veteran's Preference: Veterans who have served more than six months of consecutive active service in the armed forces of the United States of America may have 5 points added to their final passing score on an open examination if proof of honorable discharge is received prior to each examination. Such evidence must be submitted for each and every examination.

* Appeal of Examination: You may appeal the results of the application appraisal or examination to the Human Resources Director. Appeals shall be in writing and delivered or postmarked within seven regular County business days after postmark of written notification of the application appraisal or examination results. Contact the Human Resource Department for additional information.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS--MANAGEMENT

Retirement Plan: Tax deferred contributory system under the County Retirement Act of 1937. Partially integrated with Social Security.

Vacation Leave: Permanent, full-time County employees accrue vacation at the following rates:

1-10 yrs.=15 days 10- 15 yrs.= 19 days
15-20 yrs.=21 days 20-25 yrs.=23 days Thereafter=24 days

* As an Administrative Management employee, you will accrue an additional 7 1/2 days (60 hours) of management leave annually which may be taken as time off or cash payment.

Sick Leave: 12 days per year with no limit on accumulation. Employees are paid 25% of accumulated sick leave upon voluntary separation or 100% credit at retirement, and may convert up to 3 days/year into cash or compensatory leave if no sick leave is taken.

Holidays: 11 paid fixed holidays per year, plus 11 miscellaneous floating holiday hours, granted via compensatory time off.

Insurance: Family vision care and employee long term disability plan is paid by the County. Excellent Family dental coverage available at an employee cost of $9.00 per pay period with $3,000 maximum benefit per family member each calendar year. Choice of four health plans: County Self-Insured, Kaiser Permanente and two HMO plans. The County's contribution is approximately 86% of the premium for the health plan selected.

Group Term Life Insurance equivalent to two times the annual salary is provided at County Cost.

Comprehensive Medical Examination: You are eligible for an annual comprehensive, fully paid medical examination at County cost.

Professional Development: You may be reimbursed up to $900.00 per fiscal year for job related professional development activities, such as periodicals and training materials, professional dues and memberships, and purchase of professional literature. An additional $300.00 allowance is available for reimbursement of certain taxable expenses, such as physical fitness.

Deferred Compensation: Two excellent deferred compensation plans with a variety of options are available. The County contributes 4.5% of salary to a 401(a) Deferred Compensation account (5.0% for department heads). Employees may make additional contributions from salary to a 457 plan, up to the IRS annual maximum.

Vehicle Allowance (Department Heads only): Department heads receive $205.00 per bi-weekly pay period as a vehicle allowance.

***The ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.***

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process, please call Human Resources at (707)565-2331.

For answers to specific questions regarding employee benefits, please call Risk Management at (707)565-2942.

For answers to specific questions regarding retirement benefits, please call Retirement at (707)565-1710.