DISABILITY DETERMINATION MANAGER

Arizona Department of Administration • Tucson, AZ

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Disability Determination Services Administration is hiring a Disability Determination Manager to oversee, through subordinate leadership, professional Disability Specialists, Medical Consultants, and Support Staff who analyze and determine eligibility for Social Security Administration disability insurance and Supplemental Security Income benefits. This is an in-office position in Tucson, Arizona. The manager oversees DDS operations, plans for workload and changing priorities, supervises key staff, evaluates performance, and may direct the Administration in the Program Administrator’s absence. The role requires applying complex federal and state rules and policies, managing staff and administrative functions, analyzing program data, preparing reports, and coordinating with other agencies and government levels. The position requires travel as needed. The stated salary is $47.2287 per hour.

Requirements

• Knowledge of complex federal laws, regulations, and policies governing eligibility for disability benefits under the Social Security Act.
• Knowledge of program planning and evaluation methods, management and program policies, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of medical, physiological, and psychiatric terminology and how related conditions affect functional capacity.
• Knowledge of research analysis involving statistical data or policy and procedural changes.
• Knowledge of leadership and management principles and practices, public administration, and ADOA and DES rules, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in critical thinking and detail-oriented work, and in using automated systems to enter, retrieve, research, analyze, and interpret statistical and programmatic data.
• Skill in reading, understanding, and interpreting complex federal, state, departmental, and legislative rules, laws, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in managing and balancing management and administrative functions and clearly presenting complex information orally and in writing.
• Skill in composing policies, procedures, issue documents, correspondence, and position papers; integrating people, processes, and systems; managing multiple projects and time; and performing complex work using independent judgment.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, including prioritizing work, navigating multiple applications, and gathering, organizing, summarizing, and reporting information from varied sources.
• Ability to organize and direct others’ work, analyze situations accurately, and take effective action.
• Ability to apply technical knowledge and skills effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with public and private organizations, institutions, agencies, and individuals, and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment; complete special projects and reports accurately and promptly; manage daily demands and changing priorities; and adapt to changing workloads.
• Ability to work toward long- and short-term goals and lead a diverse workforce by directing, coaching, counseling, mentoring, listening, motivating, delegating, training, and evaluating.
• Ability to communicate or present plans and respond to management questions, and to work with limited direction, independently, and as part of a team.
• Bachelor’s degree plus 1–3 years of progressive work experience, typically in Benefits and Eligibility, with knowledge at the level of a Disability Determination Hearing Officer; or 4–7 years of progressive work experience, typically in Benefits and Eligibility, with knowledge at the level of a Disability Determination Supervisor.
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent on completion of the process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Newly hired State employees must successfully complete E-Verify.
• Employees in the DBME Disability Determination Services Administration are subject to mandatory fingerprinting and an FBI background investigation by the Social Security Administration under HSPD-12.

Responsibilities

• Oversee general DDS operations, develop strategies to meet workload needs, and create initiatives to address changing priorities.
• Directly supervise Unit Supervisors, Medical Consultants, and the Professional Relations Officer; develop evaluation methods and monitor performance of direct and indirect reports.
• Read incoming correspondence, memoranda, and reports; plan and formulate responses or other actions; compose correspondence requiring discretion, judgment, and decision-making.
• Supervise and evaluate subordinate supervisors and highly skilled technicians performing work requiring independent judgment or creative effort.
• Analyze and review complex data for monthly, quarterly, and annual fiscal, contractual, and programmatic reports.
• Develop meeting agendas and attend professional meetings and forums.
• Confer with staff from agencies in other states and other levels of government to coordinate actions and exchange information.
• Direct the Administration in the Program Administrator’s absence.
• Travel as needed.

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Arizona State Retirement System participation and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Up to 12 weeks per year of paid parental leave for a newborn or newly placed foster or adopted child
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition reimbursement
• Stipend opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and public transit subsidy
• Career advancement and employee development opportunities

What This Job Offers

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