SENIOR HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SPEC(OPBI) - 60070537 1 1

State of Florida•Miami, FL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, child care providers, human trafficking, and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency. Within DCF, the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS) Program helps to promote strong and economically self-sufficient communities by determining eligibility for food, cash and medical assistance for individuals and families on the road to economic recovery. Within the ESS Program, the Office of Public Benefits Integrity (OPBI) is responsible for investigating public assistance fraud or misuse regarding the SNAP (Food Assistance), D-SNAP (Disaster Food Assistance), TANF (Cash Assistance), and Medicaid programs by individuals or merchants. The Office of Quality Management is seeking a Senior Human Services Program Specialist (SHSPS) to join the Quality Control (QC) Team within the Florida ESS Program Office. This is a Career Service position responsible for assisting the QC team who is charged with timely and accurate completion of federally mandated reviews of SNAP eligibility decisions made by Florida DCF ESS staff in the SNAP Program. The incumbent is responsible for providing data to be used as technical assistance in aiding the agency to reduce the amount of misspent funds for SNAP. This is a highly responsible professional position requiring advanced expertise in the ESS. The individual in this position will be responsible for organizing, planning, developing, and implementing improvements in the QC program area, including extensive knowledge of program concepts, policies, and operations procedures, Federal and State laws and regulations, and the eligibility system. This position is responsible for identifying and analyzing complex management problems, and developing, recommending solutions. The position requires an enthusiastic candidate who displays progressive thinking and a can-do attitude. They must possess the ability to analyze data, write reports, think critically, strategically, and utilize technology to advance the program. This position is qualified to be exempt from public record. Duties include assisting in fraud investigations and provides support in the recovery of funds lost due to waste, fraud, or abuse.

Requirements

Must be a current Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Economic Self Sufficiency (ESS) employee
A valid State issues Driver’s License
A willingness to travel extensively, including overnight travel
Three (3) or more years of experience working in the Florida DCF ESS Program determining eligibility or policy applications for any of the public assistance programs (Food Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, or Refugee Assistance)
Minimum of 2 years of experience reading/reviewing cases in the Quality Management System (QMS)
One year (12 months) or more as an Investigation Specialist I or higher in the Benefit Investigations Program.
The person must be able to review, absorb, understand, and apply state and federal policy to increase the effectiveness of the QC review and to increase and maintain exceptional program integrity.
Knowledge of Spreadsheets and Data Analysis
Experience in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, others).
Ability to prioritize work and multi-task.
Ability to discuss technical issues and make sound decisions.
Ability to contribute to a high-performing, highly motivated team by applying interpersonal communication and collaboration skills to achieve project goals.
Ability to draft communications for program-wide distribution.
Have a detailed working knowledge of SNAP government assistance program administered by the ESS program office.
Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis; basic management principles and practices.
Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document work flow and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices; organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials; conduct fact-finding research; utilize problem-solving techniques; work independently; understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities; plan, organize and coordinate work assignments; communicate effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Knowledge of technology, computer software including applications.

Nice To Haves

Two (2) or more years of experience in collecting and analyzing data and writing reports.
Two (2) or more years as an Investigation Specialist I or higher in the Benefit Investigations Program.

Responsibilities

Monitors program service areas for compliance with federal and state program and fiscal regulations and policies, to include factors affecting quality and quantity of service provision, and uniformity of service delivery.
Reviews all agency material on file relevant to the assistance unit under review, including the computerized eligibility determination system and related cross-matched data systems available; coding and completing the review file to reflect what is discovered.
Identifies deficiencies, analyzes program effectiveness and efficiencies.
Makes recommendations and interpretations regarding the solution of program problems.
Makes specific recommendations for improving program compliance capabilities and areas of management where additional evolution is needed.
Develops and coordinates implementation strategies for problems assigned in accordance with federal, state and department objectives.
Reviews proposed changes in laws and regulations to determine what impact they may have on departmental policy and processes.
Responsible for Benefit Investigations (BI) policy in assisting with daily policy interpretations from ESS staff or state and federal offices.
Develop and implement BI policy and memos based on Florida Statue and Administrative code.
Updates and maintains BI policy and procedure guides.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

The Department of Children and Families is a tobacco-free environment.
All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).
If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.
Background investigations shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for state and national criminal records check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.
Employees will be retained in state and national RAP Back program, providing real-time arrest hit notifications.
Candidates applying to positions in the Economic Self Sufficiency Program will have a Benefit Recovery check completed to validate current or former government assistance case information before completing the hiring process.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735).
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.
Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.