CLIENT ADVOCATE

New York City, NY • Manhattan, NY

68d

About The Position

The External Affairs division of DSS tells the story of how our agency, comprised of over 16,000 dedicated individuals, is proudly fighting poverty and homelessness, with care and compassion, every single day. We do this by engaging New Yorkers in multiple ways. From advertisements on the streets and in the subways, to the responsiveness of our call center operators, we bring every program, every resource, every employee's hard work to bear in telling our story. The work we do isn't easy. New Yorkers come to us in their times of need, seeking assistance to put food on the table, access basic health care, or get a roof over their heads. We know our staff helps people navigate some of life's most challenging circumstances, and our job is to share with the outside world how our work makes an impact. Under the direction of the Constituent Communications Supervisor, with considerable latitude for independent action or decision, performs difficult and responsible administrative work by advocation on behalf of the clients to resolve clients' phone or written inquiries and stop any adverse action taken when applicable, and providing timely notification to clients regarding the outcome of their inquiry. Each Client Advocate processes about 30 telephone inquiries daily and between 7-8 correspondences cases daily. All case inquiries are data entered into the Intranet Quorum (IQ) system for tracking and monitoring.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty.
• An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience.
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and five years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience.
• Education and/or experience equivalent to the above, with all candidates required to possess one year of administrative or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Advocate on behalf of clients who call or write to inquire about their case or services with various DSS/HRA/DHS units to ensure all concerns are addressed, proper resolution is obtained and provides effective and immediate intervention to stop any adverse actions on cases when applicable.
• Provide excellent customer service with active and empathetic listening skills and a clear focus on the clients' needs, interacting in a professional manner and handling frustrated callers in a calm, reassuring demeanor.
• Use multiple computer systems to research and resolve inquiries while conversing with callers, using most HRA database systems, including the Welfare Management System (WMS), Paperless Office System (POS), HRA One Viewer, etc., to determine and assist with the next steps to resolve the constituent's issue.
• Liaise with Job Centers, SNAP Centers, Medicaid offices, HASA, other HRA programs, and other government agencies to take the necessary actions on cases and let the constituent know the outcome by phone or letter.
• Review and prioritize inquiries received as telephone calls and as written inquiries by email, fax, and mail from participants and applicants in BRA programs, elected officials, and the general public.
• Report findings by summarizing and writing on cases into clearly organized and plainly communicated letters, emails, and memos, including written responses that are sent to constituents on behalf of the Mayor and the Commissioner utilizing templates available in the Intranet Quorum (IQ) system.

Benefits

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility
• New York City residency requirement within 90 days of appointment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees