Social Services Program Specialist I

Augusta , Maine , United States | Community & Social Services | Full-time

Apply by: Nov. 22, 2024

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)Opening Date:November 8, 2024Closing Date: November 22, 2024 Job Class Code:5092

Grade: 22 (Professional & Technical Services)

Salary:$47,174.40 – $65,832.00 per yearPosition Numbers:02000-2024 Location: Augusta

Core Responsibilities:

This is professional services work in responding to customer service inquiries; facilitating all aspects of statewide training within the Division of Support Enforcement & Recovery (DSER); assisting with internal audits and evaluations; and conducting outreach to educate the community on DSER. In this role you will apply critical thinking and develop strong working relationships to identify problems in order to collaboratively develop strategies to assist in successful resolutions with District office staff. Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responding to inquiries verbally and in writing

• Creating, facilitating and tracking staff training

• Assisting with program self-assessment and data reliability audits

• Conducting outreach projects

• Managing DSER SharePoint and resources

• Special projects as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

Six (6) years of education and/or professional experience in social services casework, social services program development/delivery, or social services related fiscal/budget administration/analysis work.

Preferred Candidates will also have:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Administration of Justice, Business, Public Administration, Social Work or a related social/behavioral science area, or:

• Professional/paraprofessional experience in performing compliance and/or financial audits and performing legal, financial or fraud investigation work

• In addition, preference will be given to candidates with two (2) or more years of experience as a State of Maine, Human Services Enforcement Agent.

Note: All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a background check

Please address the following supplemental questions in order to be evaluated properly:

• Explain your experience with creating and delivering training.

• Describe your knowledge, skill and experience with computer applications and programs.

• You will be required to train individuals with varied education, skills, and learning styles. How will these factors dictate your approach to training? Please describe the process you would use to discern a trainee’s learning style and proficiency, and how you would adapt your approach to maximize your efficacy.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information:

TheDepartment of Health and Human Services (https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/) (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

DSER’s responsibilities include establishing paternity, locating parents, establishing and enforcing child support orders and representing the Department’s interest in the Maine District Court and the Family Division of the Maine District Court in matters pertaining to child support. This position requires occasional State-wide travel .

Application Information:

Please submit all documents or files in PDF format.

For additional information about these positions, please contact Helen St.Pierre at (207) 624-6986 or by e-mail at Helen.St.Pierre@Maine.gov

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.L.Harman@Maine.gov

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays , 12 days of sick leave , and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.

• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $13,172.88 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.

• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($358.08 annual value).

• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receivesix weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act .

  State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package (https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/compensation-benefits) , covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness (https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/) .

  Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.