SNAP Quality Assurance (QA) Data Specialist

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The SNAP Quality Assurance (QA) Data Specialist works within the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Office of Economic Security, in the Operational Support Team’s Data, Analytics, and Strategy unit. The role supports SNAP reporting, data analysis and interpretation, program evaluation, and process improvement to promote accurate and timely benefits, program equity, and integrity. It is an analytical and program evaluation role—not a database administration or data engineering position—with emphasis on evaluating operational activities, timeliness, payment accuracy, and continuous quality improvement. The position serves as a programmatic evaluation and operational improvement expert. It identifies root causes of errors, assesses the effectiveness of practice and policy changes, and designs and implements evaluation frameworks to understand how operational interventions affect knowledge, behavior, and performance outcomes. The specialist translates findings into recommendations for leadership to inform program and policy decisions. The role is the staff authority for SNAP quality and performance data and uses knowledge of the content, architecture, and governance of CBMS, FIS, and QCS to develop reports and dashboards supporting state and county operations and performance management. It extracts, combines, and analyzes information from multiple source systems; maintains standard and ad hoc report code; audits code for optimization and automation; and communicates strategic performance analysis to internal and external stakeholders. The position also supports federal Corrective Action Plans (CAP), CBMS improvements, and measures to assess performance changes and inform guidance, training, or system improvements. This is a hybrid position requiring at least two in-office days at 1575 Sherman Street; requirements may change. Applicants must be Colorado residents at the time of application and remain residents throughout employment. The position may drive a state-owned vehicle. A name-check-only background check is required.

Requirements

Seven years of relevant experience in data reporting and data analysis, including analysis of large, complex datasets, data extraction, and manipulation; alternatively, a combination of related education and relevant experience equal to seven years.
At least four years leading end-to-end program evaluations, establishing research questions, and designing evaluation plans to improve performance and reduce operational processing errors.
Proficiency in extracting relational data.
Ability to develop metrics that inform actionable recommendations.
Ability to effectively communicate insights to stakeholders to drive quality improvement.
Must be a Colorado resident when applying and remain a Colorado resident throughout employment.
Must pass a name-check-only background check.
Must meet the position’s state-owned vehicle driving requirement.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of SNAP policy and payment error and/or quality assurance guidelines.
Knowledge of statistics and research design.
Experience with the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) eligibility system.
Experience with Tableau.
Excellent presentation and meeting facilitation skills.
Relevant years of State service that contribute to position-related knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, or posted competencies.

Responsibilities

Identify root causes of SNAP operational errors and evaluate the effectiveness of practice and policy changes intended to improve performance.
Design and implement evaluation frameworks to assess how operational interventions affect knowledge, behaviors, and performance outcomes.
Translate evaluation outcomes into recommendations for leadership and communicate strategic performance analysis internally and externally.
Develop reports and dashboards using TOAD, Tableau, and Microsoft Excel to support SNAP operations and performance management.
Provide information and support for SNAP federal Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and CBMS improvements.
Analyze state- and county-level practices associated with poor performance and provide data for corrective action plans.
Create measures to track performance changes and inform recommendations for guidance, training, or CBMS improvements to prevent future errors.
Extract and merge data from CBMS, FIS, QCS, and other source systems to detect errors and inform corrective action.
Create and maintain reports and data extracts, including a library of standard and ad hoc report code.
Audit code to support optimization and automation and promote best practices for combining datasets, including SNAP information.
Perform other duties assigned in support of Department, FEAD, and SNAP Team vision and goals.

Benefits

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.
Flexible schedules, training, and other work-life programs.
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.