Social Services Program Specialist 3

State of Nevada•Nevada, NV

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) is currently recruiting for a Social Services Program Specialist 3 in Carson City, Las Vegas, or Reno/Sparks, Nevada. This recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies as they occur in the following program: Policy Unit. Social Services Program Specialists perform administrative and professional work in conjunction with the administration of statewide public assistance, medical assistance, or social services programs. As a Social Services Program Specialist 3, the incumbent functions as a first-line supervisor who trains, supervises, and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; assigns and reviews work; and initiates disciplinary action as needed. This position is responsible for the development, interpretation, and implementation of policies, procedures, and forms for programs related to children and older adult services and other policy areas as assigned. Additionally, this position will serve a critical role in statewide accessibility and nondiscrimination compliance by acting as the Division’s ADA Title II, Section 504, and Language Access Coordinator. This role requires a valid Driver’s License. ADSD fosters a positive, inclusive, and diverse work environment that values innovation, teamwork, and collaboration. The mission of ADSD is to empower individuals and their support systems by providing resources for disabilities and aging - connecting Nevadans to services and improving their quality of life. 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 and 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; and 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 as describe above.
Valid Driver’s License.
Working knowledge of organizational structures and political subdivisions and systems; management practices and service delivery applicable to social services; methods and techniques of program development, implementation and administration; legislative proceedings and processes; data processing concepts including general database, system security, data communication, and multiple platform strengths and weaknesses.
General knowledge of methods and practices of evaluating, monitoring, delegating and training staff; financial planning and budget analysis related to program operations.
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; develop cost-effective solutions to problems within budgetary constraints and available resources; develop computer system needs specifications in a logical manner and communicate system needs to computer programmers; and set up a testing mechanism to validate programming changes; investigate complex and sensitive issues and problems and make recommendations to management; maintain professional working relationships with all levels of government and public officials; read and understand complex documents such as court orders, federal and State laws and regulations, Supreme Court decisions, technical journals, and legislative studies; write complex technical and legal material to communicate with government, legal, legislative, and public entities and computer programming staff; coordinate the activities of various units and programs; coordinate and cooperate with the division, other State agencies and federal staff to maximize service delivery; interpret, analyze and direct the development and implementation of program policies and procedures; work with upper level management including administrators, directors, presidents, and chief executive officers; evaluate the need for policy clarification based on inquiries, case reviews and field requests; speak publicly to various groups and before the legislature; coordinate the development and implementation of quality standards; analyze and solve complex programmatic problems.
Skill in analyzing computer user needs; and developing appropriate solutions and requirements; researching and evaluating computer hardware and software needs; assisting data processing staff in developing bridging specifications to program areas that interact with computer processes and output.

Responsibilities

Functions as a first-line supervisor who trains, supervises, and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; assigns and reviews work; and initiates disciplinary action as needed.
Develops, interprets, and implements policies, procedures, and forms for programs related to children and older adult services and other policy areas as assigned.
Serves as the Division’s ADA Title II, Section 504, and Language Access Coordinator.
Participates in planning and developing social services or medical assistance programs to provide needed services; conducts needs assessments; researches and evaluates existing programs; identifies community and financial resources, and establishes committees to assist with program development; calculates the financial and operational impact to the agency; prepares reports and recommendations for management; applies for grants; drafts proposed legislation; develops program plans and acquires administrative approval.
Develops and revises program documentation to include State plans, policy manuals, procedures, and contracts to ensure programs are implemented in accordance with program goals and objectives and in compliance with federal regulations and State laws; analyzes and interprets federal regulations and State laws; determines the impact upon program operations; gathers input from program personnel and other interested parties, coordinates with other affected units within and outside the agency, and acquires agency approval and regulatory approval as needed.
Monitors program quality and compliance to ensure programs are operating effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with program requirements; designs monitoring instruments; develops and monitors management information reports; conducts on-site reviews to include a review of program operations, management practices, and program and financial records; identifies problem areas, summarizes findings in a written report, and develops corrective action plans.
Provides technical assistance and guidance to program staff and responds to inquiries and requests for information from a variety of individuals such as agency management and personnel, other government agencies, community representatives, government officials, media representatives, attorneys, and the general public; interprets federal and State regulations; provides policy clarification and statistical information, completes surveys, resolves complaints, and drafts correspondence for managers, administrators and officials.
Conducts research studies to provide administration with needed information; plans the study and designs instruments for gathering data; researches existing programs, compiles and analyzes data, prepares comprehensive reports, and develops recommendations.
Prepares and monitors program operating budgets to ensure funds are expended appropriately and in accordance with the goals and objectives of programs; develops annual budgets, allocates funds among program offices, monitors revenue and expenditures and proposes funding adjustments if necessary.
Promotes social services or medical assistance programs and serves as a spokesperson for the division; communicates and meets with program personnel, clients, providers, media representatives, community groups, and government officials to promote program goals and objectives; serves as a liaison with federal, State, and local officials regarding the program; delivers speeches and writes press releases and public service announcements; and develops informational material such as posters, brochures and pamphlets.
Develops and implements training programs; analyzes and researches training needs and evaluates training models; develops appropriate training curricula, materials, and methods; establishes training schedules, conducts training sessions, and evaluates and updates curricula on an ongoing basis.
Provides technical guidance to service providers within or outside the State; explains policies, procedures and applicable regulations; provides consultation on problematic cases.
Participates in the development, maintenance, and enhancement of computerized systems to support program operations; researches and evaluates the needs of program staff, initiates system change requests, and works with programming staff to test and implement system changes; prepares documentation for the computer system manual as assigned.
Performs related duties as assigned.
Conducts comprehensive research and analyses and develops recommendations for management concerning substantive changes in policies and programs.
Recommends new or improved procedures and processes for the provision of services.
Serves as a consultant to caseworkers, district and regional managers, and lower level program specialists.
Monitors and evaluates social services or medical assistance programs operated by local government agencies and private organizations.
Serves as a liaison to federal representatives, other divisions, State and local agencies, service providers, professional and community organizations, and client representatives.