SOCIAL SERVICES SPECIALIST IV

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.Opt in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events!CDHSCareersMost State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!Please Note: This position has hybrid work arrangements. Effective September, 2023 employees are expected to report to the office at least 2 days a week. These arrangements are subject to change.About this Unit:This unit resides in the Department of Human Services within the Division of Food and Energy Assistance (FEAD). The Summer EBT (S-EBT) program is the U.S Department of Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Service newest permanent federal entitlement program that will provide a grocery benefit to all eligible school-aged children in Colorado. This program is state administered and will provide guidance, administrative support as well as manage adherence of federal eligibility guidelines.About this Position:This position is responsible for assisting with the launch and ongoing continuity of operations for Summer-EBT as well as project organization and monitoring and supporting the S-EBT supervisor position with other work products related to the program. This position will help direct and support the work products of the other program support positions, including call center monitoring and escalations, sampling necessary program applications for additional income verification, fair hearings, fraud, and claims. Additionally, this position must aid in the creation of, and follow Colorado’s approved State Plan for S-EBT to ensure correct application of federal program policies. In addition to the programmatic requirements, there is a high level of organization needed to ensure that all materials are consistent across all platforms, including in CBMS, S-EBT toolkit, website materials, FAQ’s, and call center training materials. This position may serve as a resource to others or a specialist in the professional field.Summary of Job Duties:Program Administration & Operations:• Ensures own work products, and work products of staff who report to this position as the work lead adhere to the federally approved plan. If adjustments to the plan are needed, coordinating appropriately with SEBT Supervisor for amendments and strategic changes in operations. Attends collaborative meetings related to the program and provides insights, perspective, and rule knowledge to help inform discussion. Monitors system projects related to the SEBT program. Uses tools to monitor data and benefit issues to both ensure correctness and identify any potential errors.• This position is responsible for assisting the SEBT Supervisor with organization, cross-agency and partner coordination, and external vendor monitoring. Under the direction of the Operations Manager and SEBT Supervisor, the position may respond to national, state, and local staff on questions related to S-EBT; may provide representation for CDHS and participates in local and national program related conferences, which includes the preparation and delivery of presentations about Colorado’s implementation of the program. Initiates communication to provide relevant information and updates on programs and to resolve problems.• This position also oversees escalations which may include responding to communication from clients, schools, districts, Colorado Department of Education, Family Resource Centers, or other advocacy organizations.Training and Summer EBT Call Center Support:• This position acts as lead program expert for S-EBT training materials and programmatic questions which may change frequently and are often vague and require intense research and validations. The position also leads and oversees trainings/presentations for Support Center on S-EBT program content and correct CBMS use, supports facilitation of training on other areas, which is constantly evolving and time-sensitive. The position makes limited educated guesses and knows when to escalate to SEBT Supervisor and Operations Manager for additional guidance. This position also ensures client escalations/data discrepancies through the call center are resolved timely and in accordance with standardized S-EBT policy; call volume and requests are unpredictable and require flexibility and ability to change course rapidly. This position also facilitates weekly meetings with vendors to provide technical assistance, programmatic updates regarding policy and rules and ensure contract compliance.Subject Matter Technical Expert & Lead:• Performs ongoing technical support.• Assists in developing the State Plan and Policy and Procedure Manual.• Investigates and resolves issues with data and technical vendors.• Provides complex technical assistance and guidance as a subject matter expert in responding to inquiries regarding S-EBT compliance with federal guidance, regulations and/or requirements.• Participates in relevant meetings such as advisory councils.• Upholds S-EBT team expectations, goals, objectives, and action plans that support the mission and vision of the S- EBT Program.• Disseminates work assignments amongst other program-level staff, including S-EBT Program training to support program goals and objectives. This includes incoming or newly identified projects to staff to ensure work is on track to meet program needs.• Designs and implements strategy, system, process, guidelines, rules, and standards that are used by others in state government to implement the S-EBT Program in collaboration with the Division Director, Operations Manager, and SNAP Program ManagerFair Hearings, Fraud, Claims, & Income Verification:• This position is responsible for overseeing the state’s process for fair hearings, fraud, claims, and income verification for the S-EBT program and includes helping coordinate work efforts of other program staff on the team. These requirements are still being defined federally and the position stays up-to-date with any changes to rules and develop and change the state's processes accordingly to reflect the federal program requirements.Other Duties as Assigned:• Other duties as assigned specific to Department vision and goals such as: attending meetings and providing evaluative perspectives to other programs.Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS' hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine meeting minimum qualifications and for the comparative analysis process. Experience is calculated on a full-time equivalency basis, therefore, it is important to accurately notate the hours you averaged per experience section entry. Volunteer work or related type of experience may be used to meet the qualifications, but must be clearly documented. It is paramount that in the experience portion of the application, the applicant describes the extent to which they possess the education, experience, competencies and background as they relate to the duties outlined in the job announcement.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Option 1 - Experience:• Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position• Please note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered. Answers such as "N/A" or "See Resume" will not be accepted.OROption 2 - Substitutions:• A combination of related education from an accredited institution and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) yearsSubstitutions:• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.Preferred Qualifications:• Experience in any of the following areas:• Nutrition• Public Health• Public Administration• Project Management• Communications• Eligibility work• Customer Service• Call Center Work• Government workConditions of Employment:• Standard Background – Name check, TRAILS, CMS and JBITS• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.APPEAL RIGHTS:If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.How to ApplyThe Assessment ProcessFor additional recruiting questions, please contact Deborah.Pineda@state.co.usAbout Us:If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans• Medical and dental health plans• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account• Paid life insurance• Short- and long-term disability coverage• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave• BenefitHub state employee discount program• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For moreinformation, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.Our Values:We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~