Social Services Program Specialist 3

State of Nevada•Sparks, NV

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Division of Food and Nutrition is seeking to fill 1 vacant Social Services Program Specialist 3 position in the Sparks office. Under the direction of the Deputy and Division Administrator, this position manages the Food Distribution Program (FDP). This includes multiple statewide social services and nutrition programs. Managing and budgeting state and federal funding up to $11M, supervising staff, extensive grant management and coordination, and working with federal liaisons, community partners, tribal liaisons and other agencies. This includes oversight and administration of the following USDA programs: the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), the Senior Nutrition and Wellness Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), USDA Foods in Schools, and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). The incumbent is also responsible for the following: state processing program, Child Nutrition Commodity Support Program, Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and other food security grants when available. The FDP is responsible for the food distribution to community partners and clients; program inventory management, including ordering product and reporting usage each month through the federal reporting system; federal reporting; and developing, revising, submitting state plans for programs, policies and procedures, internal regulations; collaborating with multiple organizations to reduce food insecurity; implementing new programs/funding; grow programs to increase access to food; participating in federal program compliance reviews; ensuring all programs, offices, staff and warehouses comply with state and federal regulations, safety and security measures, program compliance; and represents the division and department in the community, at conferences, etc. The position is partial backup for the Social Services Program Specialist I FDPIR monthly routes, which could be 2 weeks of travel per month. Incumbents possess a degree of experience, knowledge and proficiency sufficient to perform work independently with little or no additional training routes. Social Services Program Specialists perform administrative and professional work in conjunction with the administration of statewide public assistance, medical assistance, or social services programs. Positions allocated to this series are primarily focused on program administrative functions which include interpretation of regulations and laws; development of program policies and procedures; quality assurance and quality control; preparation of statistical and narrative reports for federal and State entities and division/department management; and development and enhancement of automated systems that support program operations. While incumbents in this series may interact with clients to resolve customer service issues, the purpose of these positions is not the delivery of direct services to program participants. Employees may be assigned supervisory or lead worker responsibility at any level in the series, but this responsibility does not, by itself, warrant allocation to a higher level. Under general direction, incumbents perform the full range of duties described in the series concept and are assigned the most responsible and complex administrative and professional program assignments on a statewide basis. Regulations governing program areas assigned are usually extensive but not definitive, and incumbents are required to exercise judgment when interpreting the regulations or seeking clarification from federal regulatory officials. Incumbents at this level work directly with a program chief or administrator in planning and implementing principal components of major social services or medical assistance programs and may function as an assistant program chief, supervising subordinate program specialists and other professional personnel as assigned. Incumbents conduct comprehensive research and analyses and develop recommendations for management concerning substantive changes in policies and programs; participate in the development and implementation of new and more complex social services or medical assistance programs and monitor the initial phases of implementation until programs are established and administrative responsibility is transferred to a lower level program specialist. In addition, incumbents recommend new or improved procedures and processes for the provision of services; serve as a consultant to caseworkers, district and regional managers, and lower level program specialists; monitor and evaluate social services or medical assistance programs operated by local government agencies and private organizations; serve as a liaison to federal representatives, other divisions, State and local agencies, service providers, professional and community organizations, and client representatives. This class is distinguished from the lower levels by responsibility for the largest, broadest, and most complex, multifaceted programs. The majority of these positions are supervisory.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study pertinent to the program assignment.
Two years of professional social services experience which included serving as a consultant to professional/supervisory program personnel.
Directing the operation of a program unit.
Coordinating program activities with officials and representatives of other agencies.
Interpretation and application of complex documents such as federal regulations, technical journals, and legislative studies.
Writing program policies, procedures, and reports.
Conducting research and preparing recommendations for management.
OR one year of experience as a Social Services Program Specialist II in Nevada State service.
OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Working knowledge of organizational structures and political subdivisions and systems.
Working knowledge of management practices and service delivery applicable to social services.
Working knowledge of methods and techniques of program development, implementation and administration.
Working knowledge of legislative proceedings and processes.
Working knowledge of data processing concepts including general database, system security, data communication, and multiple platform strengths and weaknesses.
Ability to recommend solutions for complex system variables such as staff and funding shortages increasing client needs and numbers, and increasing federal procedures and coverage requirements.
Ability to develop cost-effective solutions to problems within budgetary constraints and available resources.
Ability to develop computer system needs specifications in a logical manner and communicate system needs to computer programmers.
Ability to set up a testing mechanism to validate programming changes.
Ability to investigate complex and sensitive issues and problems and make recommendations to management.
Ability to maintain professional working relationships with all levels of government and public officials.
Ability to read and understand complex documents such as court orders, federal and State laws and regulations, Supreme Court decisions, technical journals, and legislative studies.
Ability to write complex technical and legal material to communicate with government, legal, legislative, and public entities and computer programming staff.
Ability to coordinate the activities of various units and programs.
Ability to coordinate and cooperate with the division, other State agencies and federal staff to maximize service delivery.
Ability to interpret, analyze and direct the development and implementation of program policies and procedures.
Ability to work with upper level management including administrators, directors, presidents, and chief executive officers.
Ability to evaluate the need for policy clarification based on inquiries, case reviews and field requests.
Ability to speak publicly to various groups and before the legislature.
Ability to coordinate the development and implementation of quality standards.
Ability to analyze and solve complex programmatic problems.
Skill in analyzing computer user needs.
Skill in developing appropriate solutions and requirements.
Skill in researching and evaluating computer hardware and software needs.
Skill in assisting data processing staff in developing bridging specifications to program areas that interact with computer processes and output.

Nice To Haves

General knowledge of methods and practices of evaluating, monitoring, delegating and training staff.
General knowledge of financial planning and budget analysis related to program operations.

Responsibilities

Manage the Food Distribution Program (FDP), including multiple statewide social services and nutrition programs.
Manage and budget state and federal funding up to $11M.
Supervise staff.
Conduct extensive grant management and coordination.
Work with federal liaisons, community partners, tribal liaisons, and other agencies.
Oversee and administer USDA programs including FDPIR, Senior Nutrition and Wellness Program, TEFAP, USDA Foods in Schools, and SFMNP.
Manage state processing program, Child Nutrition Commodity Support Program, Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and other food security grants.
Distribute food to community partners and clients.
Manage program inventory, including ordering product and reporting usage.
Perform federal reporting.
Develop, revise, and submit state plans for programs, policies, and procedures.
Collaborate with multiple organizations to reduce food insecurity.
Implement new programs/funding and grow programs to increase access to food.
Participate in federal program compliance reviews.
Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, safety, and security measures.
Represent the division and department in the community and at conferences.
Provide partial backup for Social Services Program Specialist I FDPIR monthly routes, which could involve up to 2 weeks of travel per month.
Perform administrative and professional work in conjunction with the administration of statewide public assistance, medical assistance, or social services programs.
Interpret regulations and laws.
Develop program policies and procedures.
Conduct quality assurance and quality control.
Prepare statistical and narrative reports for federal and State entities and management.
Develop and enhance automated systems that support program operations.
Interact with clients to resolve customer service issues (not direct service delivery).
May be assigned supervisory or lead worker responsibility.
Participate in planning and developing social services or medical assistance programs.
Conduct needs assessments.
Research and evaluate existing programs.
Identify community and financial resources, and establish committees.
Calculate financial and operational impact to the agency.
Prepare reports and recommendations for management.
Apply for grants.
Draft proposed legislation.
Develop program plans and acquire administrative approval.
Develop and revise program documentation (State plans, policy manuals, procedures, contracts).
Analyze and interpret federal regulations and State laws.
Determine impact on program operations.
Gather input from program personnel and other interested parties.
Coordinate with other affected units within and outside the agency.
Monitor program quality and compliance.
Design monitoring instruments.
Develop and monitor management information reports.
Conduct on-site reviews of program operations, management practices, and records.
Identify problem areas, summarize findings, and develop corrective action plans.
Provide technical assistance and guidance to program staff.
Respond to inquiries and requests for information.
Interpret federal and State regulations.
Provide policy clarification and statistical information.
Complete surveys, resolve complaints, and draft correspondence.
Conduct research studies to provide administration with needed information.
Plan studies and design instruments for gathering data.
Compile and analyze data.
Prepare comprehensive reports and develop recommendations.
Prepare and monitor program operating budgets.
Develop annual budgets, allocate funds, and monitor revenue and expenditures.
Promote social services or medical assistance programs and serve as a spokesperson.
Communicate and meet with program personnel, clients, providers, media, community groups, and government officials.
Serve as a liaison with federal, State, and local officials.
Deliver speeches and write press releases and public service announcements.
Develop informational material.
Develop and implement training programs.
Analyze and research training needs and evaluate training models.
Develop appropriate training curricula, materials, and methods.
Establish training schedules, conduct training sessions, and evaluate and update curricula.
Provide technical guidance to service providers.
Explain policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
Provide consultation on problematic cases.
Participate in the development, maintenance, and enhancement of computerized systems.
Research and evaluate the needs of program staff.
Initiate system change requests.
Work with programming staff to test and implement system changes.
Prepare documentation for the computer system manual.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Exercise judgment when interpreting regulations or seeking clarification from federal regulatory officials.
Plan and implement principal components of major social services or medical assistance programs.
Function as an assistant program chief, supervising subordinate program specialists and other professional personnel.
Conduct comprehensive research and analyses and develop recommendations for management concerning substantive changes in policies and programs.
Participate in the development and implementation of new and more complex social services or medical assistance programs.
Monitor the initial phases of implementation until programs are established and administrative responsibility is transferred.
Recommend new or improved procedures and processes for the provision of services.
Serve as a consultant to caseworkers, district and regional managers, and lower level program specialists.
Monitor and evaluate social services or medical assistance programs operated by local government agencies and private organizations.
Serve as a liaison to federal representatives, other divisions, State and local agencies, service providers, professional and community organizations, and client representatives.