Benefit Programs Manager

Virginia Department of Social Services•Petersburg, VA

1d•$83,000

About The Position

This is the management level of the occupational group for Benefit Program Specialist. Employees plan, organize and manage the work of all eligibility programs and supervise Benefit Program Supervisors. General Work Tasks: Plans, organizes and manages the work of all eligibility programs; supervises all staff to include Supervisors Reviews and evaluates public assistance program policy and the effects of new programs/revisions on the agency, its staff and resources. Determines staffing needs and makes recommendations to the agency director; Establishes program goals and objectives. Recommends hiring, transfer, promotion, and termination of personnel within the limits of appropriate statutes, rules and regulations and policies, develops performance standards and prepares corrective action plans. Prepares and implements internal operating policies and procedures; Consults with Supervisors on case problems not resolved. Coordinates various program goals and efforts with those of other agency units; Arranges for and/or ensures proper and mandated training for all staff; Serves as departmental liaison to citizen groups, professional groups and collateral staff in other agencies in the interpretation of eligibility programs. Plans and make presentations and speeches to community, citizen and professional groups; Prepares or approves correspondence and oversees recordkeeping system; Assists in planning community resources; Leads special projects; Assists in budget preparation and monitors expenditures. Reviews and revises programs to meet public assistance trends; Collects and compiles data for long-range planning; Prepares ad hoc and regular reports for agency Director; Prepares Benefit Programs agenda items and materials for the Local Social Services Board; Ensures training and development of staff; and May act for the Director of Social Services as designated.

Requirements

Comprehensive knowledge of: Current social, economic, health and governmental conditions and problems.
Human behavior and the ability to work effectively with individuals and groups.
Management principles and methods of administration, including planning, organizing, leading and personnel and fiscal management.
Public assistance programs, policies and regulations and the literature in the field of public assistance.
Considerable knowledge of automated systems and standard office software to include the state Department of Social Services human services systems.
Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.
Demonstrated ability to: Plan, organize and direct the work of others.
Establish effective working relationships with staff, other agencies and the community.
Collect and analyze data and use it in short-and long-range planning.
Coordinate and deploy people, programs and resources.
Conduct workshops and make public presentations.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Bachelor’s degree in the human services, management or related field and experience in eligibility work, including in a supervisory/managerial capacity OR any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in a local or state department of social services or comparable public human services agency administering public assistance programs (e.g., SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Energy Assistance), with demonstrated knowledge of program policies, state and federal eligibility regulations, and related operational requirements.
Prior leadership or supervisory experience within a local or state department of social services or comparable public human services agency, including responsibility for overseeing eligibility staff, managing workloads, supporting staff development, and ensuring compliance with program policy and performance standards.
Demonstrated experience with quality assurance, compliance reviews, or audit processes within human services programs.
Proficient with VaCMS (Virginia Case Management System).

Responsibilities

Plans, organizes and manages the work of all eligibility programs
Supervises all staff to include Supervisors
Reviews and evaluates public assistance program policy and the effects of new programs/revisions on the agency, its staff and resources.
Determines staffing needs and makes recommendations to the agency director
Establishes program goals and objectives.
Recommends hiring, transfer, promotion, and termination of personnel within the limits of appropriate statutes, rules and regulations and policies, develops performance standards and prepares corrective action plans.
Prepares and implements internal operating policies and procedures
Consults with Supervisors on case problems not resolved.
Coordinates various program goals and efforts with those of other agency units
Arranges for and/or ensures proper and mandated training for all staff
Serves as departmental liaison to citizen groups, professional groups and collateral staff in other agencies in the interpretation of eligibility programs.
Plans and make presentations and speeches to community, citizen and professional groups
Prepares or approves correspondence and oversees recordkeeping system
Assists in planning community resources
Leads special projects
Assists in budget preparation and monitors expenditures.
Reviews and revises programs to meet public assistance trends
Collects and compiles data for long-range planning
Prepares ad hoc and regular reports for agency Director
Prepares Benefit Programs agenda items and materials for the Local Social Services Board
Ensures training and development of staff
May act for the Director of Social Services as designated.