Benefit Programs Manager - Frederick County, VA

Title Description: This is the management level of the occupational group for Benefit Program Specialists. This employee plans, organizes and manages the work of all eligibility programs and supervises Benefit Program Supervisors.

• Plans, organizes and manages the work of all eligibility programs and supervises all staff to include Supervisors;

• Reviews and evaluates public assistance program policy and the effects of new programs/revisions on the agency, its staff and resources;

• Determines staffing needs and makes recommendations to the Assistant Director of Benefits and Agency Director;

• Establishes program goals and objectives;

• Recommends hiring, transfers, promotions, and terminations of personnel, and participates in the development of, within the limits of appropriate statutes, rules and regulations and policies. performance standards corrective action plans;

• Prepares and implements internal operating policies and procedures;

• Consults with Supervisors on case problems not resolved;

• Coordinates various program goals and efforts with those of other agency units;

• Arranges for and/or ensures proper and mandated training for all staff;

• Serves as departmental liaison to citizen and community action groups, professional groups and collateral staff in other agencies in the interpretation of eligibility programs;

• Prepares or approves correspondence and oversees recordkeeping system;

• Leads special projects;

• Assists in budget preparation and monitors expenditures;

• Recommends departmental workgroup and work production changes to ensure compliance with Federal and State policy standards (mandates);
• Collects and compiles data for long-range planning;
• Prepares ad hoc and regular reports for agency executive leadership;
• Prepares Benefit Programs agenda items and materials for the Local Social Services Board;

• Ensures training and development of staff.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Education and Experience

Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of: current social, economic, health and governmental conditions and problems; human behavior and the ability to work effectively with individuals and groups; management principles and methods of administration, including planning, organizing, leading and personnel and fiscal management; public assistance programs, policies and regulations; and the literature in the field of public assistance. Considerable knowledge of automated systems and standard office software to include the state Department of Social Services human services systems.

Skills: Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to: plan, organize and direct the work of others; establish effective working relationships with staff, other agencies and the community; collect/research and analyze data and use it in short-and long-range planning and reports; coordinate and deploy people, programs and resources; conduct workshops and make public presentations; communicate effectively both orally and in writing and provide accurate technical assistance and guidance to internal and external customers on policy and procedures.

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in the human services, management or related field and experience in eligibility work, including in a supervisory/managerial capacity or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.