Social Services Associate - Wasilla (PCN 063058)

State of Alaska; Wasilla (AK); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

Twelve paid holidays per year

Job summary

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services in Wasilla, Alaska is hiring a full-time Social Services Associate. You will support legal documentation, handle records requests, and provide front-desk clerical support in a fast-paced, government office.

The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple tasks; strong communication and reliability are essential.

Qualifications

• One year of experience or education in assisting clients or the public with guidelines or services.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and professional in language and presentation.
• Strong communication, reliability, initiative, and adaptability.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and transmit case documents to legal representatives for discovery.
• Process records requests from internal and external parties, including redactions.
• Provide front office reception, greet clients, answer calls, and assist with clerical tasks.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer focus

Adaptability

Computer skills

Teamwork

Job description

Job Description

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Social Services Associate located in Wasilla, Alaska.

What You Will Be Doing

• Prepare and transmit case documentation to legal representatives for discovery to include gathering, organizing, and forwarding confidential documents/materials in a timely and accurate manner to support the legal process.
• Process records requests from internal and external parties. This involves locating and retrieving necessary case documentation, preparing the material for paralegal review, and coordinating its timely return and distribution to requestors once redactions are complete.
• Provide skilled and reliable coverage for front office reception. This includes greeting clients and visitors, answering and routing phone calls, managing incoming and outgoing documents, and offering general clerical support to maintain smooth and professional office operations.

To succeed in this position, the ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, professional in language and presentation, and able to manage multiple time-sensitive tasks in a fast-paced environment. Strong communication skills, critical thinking, reliability, initiative, and the ability to adapt to dynamic work demands are essential.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The Office of Children's Services strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.

The Mission of the Office of Children's Services is: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes.

Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values.

Benefits Of Joining Our Team

The Office of Children's Services is committed to an organizational culture that values each team member. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We celebrate and value the diversity of our employees, partners, and families we serve.

Your first 6 months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal and on-the-job training with your supervisor and your colleagues.

Full-time benefits of this position include but are not limited to: Insurance Benefits; Retirement Benefits; Paid Leave; and twelve paid holidays per year. Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.

Working Environment You Can Expect

This position is in the Wasilla Field Office, conveniently located next to many services and shopping, including Carr's-Safeway.

Our teams are built on a strong work ethic and high ethical standards. We believe in treating all people with dignity and respect while fostering a culture of honesty, organization, self-motivation, and accountability.

This is a high-volume, fast-paced environment where employees regularly manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing circumstances, and make sound decisions while maintaining accuracy and professionalism. Successful team members thrive in a dynamic setting, can multi-task effectively, and remain focused on delivering quality service while contributing to a positive, supportive, and upbeat workplace.

The Office of Children's Services requires staff to work overtime when operational needs are deemed necessary. OCS staff are considered essential staff and are expected to report to work during pandemics, natural disasters, and other emergency situations. At the same time, the agency recognizes the importance of employee well-being and is committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance whenever operationally feasible.

For information on the Wasilla community (including schools, hospitals, housing) please review the Alaska Community Profiles.

We Are Seeking a Candidate With The Following Competencies

• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Customer/Quality Focus: Anticipates, monitors, and meets the needs of customers and responds to them in an effective, appropriate manner. Demonstrates commitment to identifying customers’ apparent and underlying needs and continually seeks to provide the highest quality service and product to all customers.
• Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and social identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

Special Note

• This position requires a valid Alaska driver's license.
• Additionally, while the Division does have vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work-related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
• A child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.
• The successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.

Minimum Qualifications

One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience in assisting clients, customers, the general public, or other staff in the explanation and application of guidelines, policies, or services.

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
• The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
• AVTEC
• Confidential
• Correctional Officers
• Marine Engineers
• Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
• Supervisory
• Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
• Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
• The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
• General Government
• Labor, Trades and Crafts
• Public Safety Employees Association
• Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
• Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
• Long-term and short-term disability
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
• Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.