Public Benefits Specialist - Entry | Bilingual Preferred English/Spanish

State of Oregon•Portland, OR

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Oregon Department of Human Services is seeking a Public Benefits Specialist - Entry to join their Self-Sufficiency Program in their 5 Oak Portland office. This role is crucial in empowering Oregonians to overcome poverty by facilitating access to vital services that promote equity and well-being. The specialist will be the first point of contact for Oregonians, assisting them in person, over the phone, and via email with applications for various state programs. The position involves supporting daily office operations, scheduling appointments, and providing assistance with a trauma-informed approach. Financial duties may include tracking and issuing financial actions, and supporting overall business functions within the office.

Requirements

Two years of experience working in a reception area or call center either interviewing to obtain information or providing customer service. This experience must have involved a high volume of work (e.g., data entry, assuring information on applications is complete and accurate, completing necessary documents, etc.); OR An associate degree in a Behavioral Science, Social Science or a closely related field AND six months of experience working in a busy reception area or call center either interviewing to obtain information or providing customer service; OR An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience relative to the class concept.
Experience providing front-line customer service serving a diverse clientele.
Demonstrated expertise in supporting customers facing financial or emotional hardship with professionalism, empathy, and compassion.
Demonstrated ability to adapt communication styles to effectively convey complex rules, regulations, and procedures to diverse audiences.
Skilled in handling, collecting, and safeguarding confidential and sensitive information.
Experienced in accurately entering and verifying detailed data with a strong focus on precision and quality control.
Must complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States within three days of hire.
ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
May require a valid driver’s license or other acceptable method of transportation.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Preferred – English & Spanish
Bilingual language skills (upon passing the test, will receive 5% bilingual differential pay)

Responsibilities

Be the first face of contact in most field offices for Oregonians and provide a welcoming environment for families to interact with the department.
Support the infrastructure of the office by supporting the day-to-day operation, including providing agency forms and directing Oregonians to appropriate services or resources.
Assist Oregonians by providing support in person, over the phone and by email to resolve any questions or concerns with the application for Oregon Eligibility system, for ODHS, Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) programs.
Schedule intake appointments for Oregonians seeking assistance.
Assisting Oregonians through a trauma informed lens – creating a welcoming environment for the public.
Financial duties that may include tracking, issuing, and accounting for all financial actions and requirements needed.
Providing support for the business functions within the office.