SNAP Initiatives Specialist

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) exists to safeguard the health and well-being of low-income, financially eligible households by providing food assistance benefits redeemable for eligible items at authorized retailers. SNAP operates in all counties, certifying and authorizing issuance of benefits to approximately 330,000 households monthly. In a state-run, county-administered system, the SNAP Initiatives Unit is responsible for implementing the federal policies in Colorado through regulation updates, system enhancements, training, and county support. This involves working with developers on system updates, interpreting federal policy into state regulations through the rulemaking process, creating and leading trainings with a state-wide audience, conducting case reviews, and providing support to counties through email, one-on-one training sessions, and occasional site visits. The SNAP Initiatives Unit is part of the SNAP Program Unit within the Food and Energy Assistance Division of the Office of Economic Security. This position provides county support for the administration of the SNAP program in Colorado through interpretation of federal and state rules, including training, technical assistance, program and policy information, clarification, and general program assistance to county staff responsible for the administration of all components of SNAP in accordance with federal guidance.

Requirements

Six (6) years of relevant experience in eligibility determination processing for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Colorado Works (CW), Adult Financial (AF), or Medicaid (MA) programs.
A combination of related education and/or relevant experience can be used to meet the six (6) years requirement.
State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
Standard Background ALL CDHS employees (non-direct contact): CBI name check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), and drug screen (commercial Driver’s license)
Travel independently with overnight stays are required.

Nice To Haves

Experience creating written products and verbally presenting those products.
Experience utilizing the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS).
Interest in and experience in completing independent research into regulations, statutes, and policy.
Relevant years of State service, prorated for part-time, that contribute to a candidate's position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior, or other posted competency should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process.
Relevant years of State service will be considered as a preferred qualification and given the weight of at least 15% of the overall score under the process.
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Responsible for policy analysis and development of Volume IV rules, state statutes, and other policy guidance documents.
Interprets and translates federal regulations and laws affecting SNAP for application in Colorado regulations, statutes, and guidance documents.
Drafts state regulations to implement changes in federal and state legislation and/or other program rules, and manages the draft regulation through the rule-making process.
Reviews regulation and policy revisions and drafts for accuracy.
Researches and analyzes policy initiatives, regulations, and processes.
Aids in the development of SNAP training materials.
Responsible for a range of support for county departments of human/social services and their partners, such as: providing technical assistance in the form of troubleshooting cases; conducting occasional onsite visits to provide individualized technical assistance; individualized coaching/training with counties in need of state guidance/intervention; offering in-depth policy analysis to questions posed by the county; assisting in the creation of training materials used by county staff; and occasional presentations to large county audiences.
Provides expertise to identify and document needed system changes in CBMS related to SNAP.
Performs system user testing when necessary.
Ensures that CBMS is operating in accordance with state and federal SNAP regulations.
Participates as a representative of SNAP Policy in the development of future automation projects, as assigned to provide clarification, interpretation, and guidance from a regulatory perspective.
Collaborates with SNAP Policy Supervisor to get further clarification from federal SNAP partners in relation to these projects, as needed.
Other duties as assigned specific to Department vision and goals.

Benefits

Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program