Program Specialist - Social Services

State of Louisiana•Baton Rouge, LA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections headquarters in Baton Rouge, within the Assistant Secretary – Education/JRI Purchaser area. It supports the Department’s mission to promote public safety and strengthen communities through fair, professional, and responsive corrections services, including preparing incarcerated individuals for reentry through education and rehabilitation programs. The role includes visits to state and local correctional facilities to conduct hands-on audits. The position serves as the liaison between local and state facility program purchase requests and the Business Office, managing a multimillion-dollar budget. It ensures funds are spent according to approved allocations, maintains accurate funding records, and oversees purchasing from request through purchase and receipt, including securing documentation for the Business Office. The position also makes purchases for the Department as needed and maintains related bookkeeping and accounting journals. The role reports to the Assistant Secretary in the Office of Reentry, Education and Chaplaincy. Most of the workload involves Excel. The appointment may be a temporary job appointment lasting up to four years, though the employee may be converted to a probational appointment if a permanent position becomes available. The position may also be filled as a probational appointment if a non-temporary position becomes available during recruitment.

Requirements

Five years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services; OR six years of full-time experience in any field plus two years of experience in one of those areas; OR a bachelor’s degree plus two years of relevant experience; OR an advanced degree in a specified field or a Juris Doctorate plus one year of relevant experience.
Relevant experience includes administrative services, public health, social services, or health services.
Applicants must authorize the HR Office to contact prior employers for PREA reference checks by answering ‘YES’ to the PREA question in the supplemental questions.
Any degree, certificate, special license, or DD-214 must be verified by official documentation before hire.
Qualifying experience based on college credit or hours must be supported by a transcript.
Applicants must provide relevant, detailed experience and education in the application; resumes are not accepted in lieu of completed application sections.
The agency is a Drug Free Workplace.

Nice To Haves

Experience with purchasing and delivery is desirable.
Experience using Excel is useful; the majority of the workload will be in Excel.

Responsibilities

Review purchase requests using independent judgment to ensure they align with authorized categories.
Track purchases and gather documentation to analyze whether spending is occurring at the expected rate within each category.
Serve as liaison between the Business Office and Procurement Office.
Conduct annual audits of state and local programs to ensure compliance with funding rules and allocations.
Oversee equipment and property use to confirm items serve their intended purpose.
Maintain inventory records and update tracking spreadsheets from purchase through receipt.
Follow up with facilities on orders that have not been closed within 60 days.
Make purchases on behalf of the Department as needed.
Maintain related bookkeeping and accounting journals.
Secure and submit appropriate purchasing documentation to the Business Office.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension plan.
Health insurance, also available after retirement.
At least 10 paid holidays.
Sick and annual leave that roll over from year to year.
Paid time or accrued time off for hours worked over 40 per week.
Deferred compensation plan.
Flexible benefits plan.
Alternate work schedules may be available, including 4/10 schedules, subject to policy requirements.
Employee recognition programs.
Internal promotional opportunities.
Professional development opportunities.