Program Services and Vocational Development Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Denton, TX

14d•$4,523 - $7,254•Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Services and Vocational Development Specialist, Program Specialist V, performs advanced consultative and technical assistance work related to active treatment, vocational services, skill acquisition, employment services, and service planning and implementation at State Supported Living Centers (SSLCs). Travels to SSLCs to evaluate facility organization, processes, resource coordination, and program implementation; uses site-visit data and other information to develop collaborative recommendations; assists facilities with localized plans of correction; monitors implementation of agreed-upon changes; and provides feedback, oversight, and technical assistance to facility staff and others involved in improvement efforts. Identifies facility-specific and statewide training needs, develops training materials, provides training to all levels of SSLC staff, and supports active treatment training initiatives. Develops community employment opportunities through outreach, marketing, and innovative approaches; supports vocational contract development; maintains contract, job, and wage information; and reviews potential and revenue-generating vocational contracts for compliance with HHSC policy. Reviews vocational program data for compliance with Department of Labor (DOL) requirements; maintains, oversees, and audits DOL reporting and tracking systems, including Section 14(c) certification, wage rate studies, audits, and required reporting; and promotes consistency in program evaluation and monitoring across the SSLCs. Collects, organizes, and analyzes information to identify trends, evaluate compliance, resolve operational issues, and prepare activity and status reports. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment, and travels approximately 25–30% of the time.

Requirements

Knowledge of active treatment, skill acquisition, vocational services, employment services, service planning, and service implementation for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Knowledge of Department of Labor (DOL) requirements related to vocational services, including Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, subminimum wage certification, wage rate studies, audits, documentation, and reporting.
Knowledge of program review, site visit, audit, monitoring, and evaluation methods used to assess services, processes, documentation, and compliance.
Skill in using Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access, to prepare documents, spreadsheets, reports, presentations, professional correspondence, and databases; enter, update, query, track, or report information; and learn agency or facility-specific software systems.
Skill in interviewing, assessment, planning, evaluation, mediation, consultation, technical assistance, and stakeholder guidance.
Ability to collect, organize, review, and analyze data or other information to identify trends, compliance concerns, performance issues, and recommended actions.
Ability to develop, implement, monitor, and track plans of correction, process improvement activities, and related follow-up actions.
Ability to review work products, documentation, contracts, reports, and program records for compliance with policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with facility staff, leadership, residents, family members, community partners, and other stakeholders when providing guidance, recommendations, or updates.
Ability to prepare clear reports, activity summaries, recommendations, training materials, and other written work products that support evaluation, monitoring, compliance, and implementation activities.
Ability to identify training needs and develop, deliver, and evaluate training, technical assistance, and consultation for staff or stakeholders in small and large group settings.
Ability to develop and support employment opportunities, vocational services, marketing efforts, contract work, and partnerships with community businesses.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, communicate progress, meet deadlines, and manage frequent work-related travel, including travel approximately 25–30% of the time.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
Experience using Microsoft Office to create documents, spreadsheets, reports, presentations, or professional correspondence.
Experience with DOL Section 14(c), subminimum wage certification, wage rate studies, audits, or related reporting.
Experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Nice To Haves

Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) preferred. Will need to complete CTCM certification within 18 months of hire.
Experience using Microsoft Access databases to enter, update, query, track, or report information.
Experience with residential programs, vocational services, employment services, or active treatment services.
Experience reviewing or analyzing information for compliance, trends, or performance.

Responsibilities

Travels to each SSLC to perform on-site evaluations of facility organization and processes related to assessment, service planning, service implementation, skill acquisition programs, active treatment, and employment services.
Assesses the coordination and availability of resources needed to support active treatment and vocational services and provides technical assistance to help facilities strengthen or develop additional resources.
Uses data gathered from site visits and other information sources, including State Office discipline leads for QIDP and Programs, Active Treatment/Vocational Services, and Skill Acquisition, to develop collaborative recommendations for improving service planning and implementation processes.
Assists facilities with developing localized plans of correction, provides oversight and technical assistance to facility staff and others involved in implementation efforts, assigns or prioritizes related follow-up activities as appropriate, monitors agreed-upon process changes, and provides feedback on implementation progress.
Identifies facility-specific and statewide training needs for vocational and active treatment departments.
Develops training materials, schedules training activities, and provides training on-site and through webinar or video conferencing on assessment, service planning, service implementation, active treatment, vocational services, and skill acquisition.
Provides training to all levels of SSLC staff and participates in planning and executing the annual active treatment conference.
Seeks out and develops community employment opportunities for individuals served through community outreach, marketing, and other innovative approaches.
Develops marketing tools using computer, audio, and visual equipment to market resident worker services to businesses and uses other innovative approaches to create new opportunities.
Oversees and assists facility staff with outreach efforts and development of facility-specific marketing tools.
Procures contract work to provide sufficient employment opportunities for resident workers.
Maintains an accurate inventory of contracts, job availability, and wages.
Reviews potential and revenue-generating vocational contracts for compliance with HHSC contract policy and provides contract-related technical assistance and technical support to facility staff as needed.
Reviews vocational program data to monitor compliance with Department of Labor regulations and provides technical support as needed.
Maintains, oversees, and audits reporting and tracking systems for Department of Labor (DOL) data, including subminimum wage Section 14(c) certification, wage rate studies, audits, and required reporting.
Performs audits of wage rate studies and related documentation to verify accuracy, consistency, and compliance with DOL standards.
Develops and implements techniques and tools to promote consistency in program evaluation and monitoring across the SSLCs.
Collects, organizes, and analyzes information to identify trends, evaluate compliance, and resolve operational issues.
Reviews service planning and implementation compliance reports and coordinates responses with the appropriate State Office discipline lead.
Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment in carrying out program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities.
Prepares and presents activity and status reports verbally and in writing.
Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.