Associate Director in the Division of Eligibility Operations

State of Connecticut • Hartford, CT

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) is accepting applications for an Associate Director in the Division of Eligibility Operations (Long Term Care Support Services) located in Hartford, CT. The incumbent will serve as an Associate Director in the Division of Eligibility Operations - Long Term Services & Support (LTSS) responsible for operations and oversight of the Resource Centers. The Division of Eligibility Operations is comprised of twelve Resource Centers located throughout the state providing direct statewide access to the majority of programs administered by DSS. The Division of Eligibility Operations is the DSS connection to the local communities, working closely with Community Action Agencies, other state agencies, not for profits, hospitals, long-term care facilities, local boards, and many community-based organizations. The Associate Director for Eligibility Operations (LTSS) reports to the Director of Eligibility Operations and is part of the Eligibility Operations leadership team which also includes two additional Associate Directors of Eligibility Operations for Processing, Service Center and Benefit Center Management. The Department of Social Services is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and results-driven Social Services Program Administration Manager to lead the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) division. In this critical leadership role, you will oversee the strategic direction, daily operations, and continuous improvement of LTSS/HCBS eligibility services, ensuring that individuals receive timely access to the care and supports they need in institutional and home-based settings. You will lead and develop a team responsible for aligning clinical and financial eligibility determinations, establish clear performance expectations and accountability structures, and use data, trends, and real-time system information to identify barriers and improve outcomes. You will also serve as a key liaison to providers, community organizations, advocacy groups, state partners, and internal divisions, fostering transparent communication, effective issue resolution, and shared accountability. Through coaching, mentorship, performance management, business process improvement, and collaboration on policy and system enhancements, you will help create a responsive and high-performing operation that keeps the needs of the people we serve at the center of our work. If you are an innovative leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, communicates effectively with diverse stakeholders, and is motivated by using data and strategic thinking to improve access to critical services, we invite you to bring your expertise to the Department of Social Services and help strengthen Connecticut’s LTSS/HCBS system.

Requirements

• Nine (9) years of professional experience in the delivery of social services programs and/or policies.
• One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or consultative capacity with programmatic and administrative responsibility for a regional or statewide social services program.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices
• Relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations
• Social services programs, early childhood programs, deaf and hard of hearing programs, programs for older adults and/or programs for individuals with intellectual disability or behavioral health issues
• Relevant agency policies and procedures
• Knowledge of community organizations and social services agencies
• Considerable interpersonal skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Considerable ability to interpret complex written material including legal narrative and to assess the impact thereof on programmatic goals

Nice To Haves

• Experience with managing large agency divisions
• Experience with Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the state legislative process and HCBS waivers
• Experience with HCBS, level of care criteria, and dual-eligible integration
• Experience and familiarity with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), State Medicaid waivers and LTSS Medicaid requirements
• Experience leading and supervising staff including but not limited to assigning, guiding and reviewing others’ work.
• Experience with Long Term Services and Support.
• Experience with interpreting policies/regulations, investigative and auditing.
• Experience with developing procedures/guidelines for large groups of staff.
• Experience with continuously evaluating and Improving processes to ensure program success.
• Experience with communicating effectively to a wide variety of professionals and stakeholders.
• Experience with organizational strategic planning, change efforts and communications for an operational agency.
• Experience working in a fast-paced work environment requiring action and reaction to developing situations.
• Experience working with infrastructure and business teams to support troubleshooting analysis and the development of resolutions.
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Access and Excel to manipulate and analyze large data sets in a professional setting.
• Experience with managing large data sets, running, evaluating basic statistics and ad hoc reports.
• Experience creating data visualizations and step by step instructions.
• Experience using SharePoint and other Microsoft Office 365 software.

Responsibilities

• Manages staff and/or operations of unit/program
• Implements social services programs/policies
• Coordinates, plans and manages unit/program activities
• Formulates program goals and objectives through the review of agency data
• Develops or assists in development of related policy
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws
• Coordinates research, data analysis and program planning efforts
• Monitors, analyzes and evaluates programs/policies to determine cost-effectiveness and quality of service
• Identifies and coordinates training needs
• Advises leadership of legislative, legal or other program/policy impacts and recommends an appropriate position
• Monitors all internally and externally initiated program/policy changes
• Researches, prepares and presents testimony to legislative committees, study committees and courts regarding social services issues
• Evaluates staff
• Prepares or assists in budget preparation
• Maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of agency who might impact program activities
• Acts as agency contact with state, federal and community agencies on social services to ensure service delivery
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection
• Oversee the strategic direction, daily operations, and continuous improvement of LTSS/HCBS eligibility services
• Lead and develop a team responsible for aligning clinical and financial eligibility determinations
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability structures
• Use data, trends, and real-time system information to identify barriers and improve outcomes
• Serve as a key liaison to providers, community organizations, advocacy groups, state partners, and internal divisions
• Foster transparent communication, effective issue resolution, and shared accountability
• Create a responsive and high-performing operation that keeps the needs of the people we serve at the center of our work

Benefits

• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
• May be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service (Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager