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The HRA/Department of Social Services in New York City seeks an Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist I to supervise a BOS team, oversee eligibility determinations, and drive employment planning and case management to help families achieve self-sufficiency.
You will coordinate intake, reviews, and referrals, ensuring accurate processing of applications and timely reporting. The role emphasizes leadership, compliance, and collaboration across FIA/BAC teams.
APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST TITLE OR PERMANENT IN THE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST TITLE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR; THIS IS A PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT, WHEN A TEST BECOMES AVAILABLE IN THE ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST (ABOS) TITLE, YOU MUST TAKE AND PASS THE EXAM TO REMAIN IN THE ABOS TITLE.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.
Family Independence Administration (FIA) provides temporary help to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency via essential and diverse programs/services, such as: temporary cash assistance, SNAP, childcare, eviction prevention services, adult protective services, job training, employment plans/support, domestic violence assistance, child support enforcement, etc.
Under the direction of the Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist II, the Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist I (ABOS I) is responsible for supervising a team of BOS staff, who provide various functions of eligibility determination, financial planning, and employment planning and monitoring and other related services to persons in need, to promote individual and family self-sufficiency. The ABOS I use supervisory, program development, quantitative analysis, and other research skills in accomplishing all the goals of FIA Benefits Access Centers and its components (Application, Financial Planning, Employment Planning, Undercare, etc.).
FIA’s Operations is recruiting for one (1) Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialists I, to function as a Case Management Supervisor, who will:
Hours/Shift: Monday – Friday
ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY - 56316
1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and three years of full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social/human services or a related setting, providing either: a) client services. b) employment planning/counseling services which involves job development, skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic opportunity programming.
2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist; or
3. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience as described in one (1) above.
4. College credit from an accredited college may be substituted for this experience on the basis of 60 semester credits for 9 months of the work experience described above. However, all candidates must have at least 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or performing social/human services work as described in one (1) above.
This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
New York City Residency is not required for this position
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.