SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST 1

State-of-Nevad; Sparks (NV); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Division of Food and Nutrition, seeks to fill 1 Social Services Program Specialist 1 in Sparks to manage the FDPIR across eleven Tribal communities. The role includes eligibility determinations, nutrition education, inventory management, and reporting through federal systems.

Responsibilities cover program policy development, quality assurance, and potential supervision.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with two years paraprofessional experience applying regulations, laws and procedures.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience accepted.
• Planning and developing social services or medical assistance programs; needs assessments; research and evaluate existing programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage FDPIR on Indian Reservations; distribute commodity food boxes and provide nutrition education.
• Interpret and apply federal program regulations when determining eligibility.
• Prepare and monitor program operating budgets; monitor revenue and expenditures.
• Develop and revise program documentation and policies; ensure compliance with federal/state regulations.
• Provide technical guidance to staff; respond to inquiries; draft correspondence for managers.
• Plan training programs; develop curricula and conduct training sessions.
• Support development of computerized systems to aid program operations.
• Perform related duties and oversee grant programs as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree in a field pertinent to the program

Two years paraprofessional experience in social services/medical assistance programs

Two years as Family Services Specialist II in Nevada State service

Job description

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Division of Food and Nutrition is seeking to fill 1 vacant Social Services Program Specialist 1 position in the Sparks office. Under the direction of the Deputy and Division Administrator, this position manages the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). The incumbent travels to eleven (11) Tribal communities in rural Nevada two weeks out of every month and conducts food distribution and client eligibility determinations, which include the interpretation, explanation, and application of federal program regulations when processing eligibility applications. The incumbent is responsible for distributing commodity food boxes to households and providing nutrition education to clients; managing program inventory, including ordering products, tracking food received, and reporting monthly usage through the federal reporting system. This position may also assist with the management of other nutrition and food assistance programs as needed.

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.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study pertinent to the program assignment and two years of paraprofessional experience which included providing social services, medical assistance programs services, or health care services to the public and required the application of regulations, laws, policies and procedures in making determinations; OR two years of experience as a Family Services Specialist II in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.Participate in planning and developing social services or medical assistanceprograms to provide needed services; conduct needs assessments; research and evaluate existing programs; identify community and financial resources, and establish committees to assist with program development; calculate the 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 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; analyze and interpret federal regulations and State laws; determine the impact upon program operations; gather input from program personnel and other interested parties, coordinate with other affected units within and outside the agency, and acquire agency approval and regulatory approval as needed.

Monitor program quality and compliance to ensure programs are operating effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with program requirements; design monitoring instruments; develop and monitor management information reports; conduct on-site reviews to include a review of program operations, management practices, and program and financial records; identify problem areas, summarize findings in a written report, and develop corrective action plans.

Provide technical assistance and guidance to program staff and respond 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; interpret federal and State regulations; provide policy clarification and statistical information, complete surveys, resolve complaints, and draft correspondence for managers, administrators and officials.

Conduct research studies to provide administration with needed information; plan the study and design instruments for gathering data; research existing programs, compile and analyze data, prepare comprehensive reports, and develop recommendations.

Prepare and monitor program operating budgets to ensure funds are expended appropriately and in accordance with the goals and objectives of programs; develop annual budgets, allocate funds among program offices, monitor revenue and expenditures and propose funding adjustments if necessary.

Promote social services or medical assistance programs and serve as a spokesperson for the division; communicate and meet with program personnel, clients, providers, media representatives, community groups, and government officials to promote program goals and objectives; serve as a liaison with federal, State, and local officials regarding the program; deliver speeches and write press releases and public service announcements; and develop informational material such as posters, brochures and pamphlets.

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 on an ongoing basis.

Provide technical guidance to service providers within or outside the State; explain policies, procedures and applicable regulations; provide consultation on problematic cases.

Participate in the development, maintenance, and enhancement of computerized systems to support program operations; research and evaluate the needs of program staff, initiate system change requests, and work with programming staff to test and implement system changes; prepare documentation for the computer system manual as assigned.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Under direction, incumbents perform most of the duties described in the series concept either as an assistant to higher-level program personnel or independently for defined aspects of a major social services or medical assistance program, and they may also oversee and monitor standard grant programs administered by the program section. Duties are performed in accordance with standard operational guidelines and decisions and actions can be reviewed against established policies and procedures. Higher-level program specialists and program chiefs are available for consultation on more complex aspects of the program. Incumbents are assignedprograms that are narrower in scope and less complex than the programs assigned to Social Services Program Specialists II’s.

General knowledge of:

• current social and economic trends affecting social service programs
• purposes and goals of public assistance and social services programs

Ability to:

• read and analyze regulations, policies and procedures, and technical and legal documents
• communicate information and findings in a clear, concise and tactful manner
• interact diplomatically and make effective decisions in controversial situations
• operate computer equipment and common business software
• formulate logical and objective conclusions, recognize alternatives and their implications, and make recommendations
• write logical, concise and grammatically correct reports, memoranda, justifications, recommendations, and other materials
• make group presentations
• speak and interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds to obtain necessary information
• work as part of a team
• establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with providers, co-workers, supervisors, managers and other professionals
• organize and prioritize work assignments to complete work in a timely manner
• work autonomously and follow through on assignments with minimal direction