Benefit Programs Specialist III

Hiring Range: $50,865 to $66,126

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

Benefit Programs Senior/BPS III

Pay Grade: 212

Pay Range: $50,865 - $66,126

Employer Description

The City of Fredericksburg is a growing community of “Endless Possibilities” with a rich history and diverse residents and neighborhoods. The vibrant downtown area has a variety of wonderful restaurants, downtown shops, and nature trails – all close to the beautiful Rappahannock River.

 Each day is an opportunity to make a difference and our team of committed professionals works tirelessly “Helping people triumph over hardships to promote healthier futures within our community”.  As a learning organization, the City of Fredericksburg DSS is a place where you can make a difference and help pave the way for the next generation of human service delivery. 

The City is a member of the Virginia Retirement System, offers competitive health, dental and vision insurance, generous vacation/sick leave benefits, 14 paid holidays a year, 8 hours per year of paid volunteer hours to be completed at your charity of choice, employee assistance programs for counseling on many topics, tuition assistance program and several other benefit offerings. 

Job Summary

Under limited supervision, performs advanced technical, administrative, and case management duties for benefit programs administered by the City Social Services Department.  This position requires the employee work with considerable independence. When needed, supports supervisor by providing back-up supervision, ensuring staff coverage, and reviewing cases. The Benefit Program Specialist Senior is distinguished from the Benefit Program Specialist by managing the most complex caseloads, providing technical assistance, and training to other benefit program specialists, and serving as back-up to the supervisor.  Based on the specific position, the BPS Senior will be required to possess considerable knowledge of all public assistance functions, manage complex caseloads (i.e. mixed ABD and Families and Children cases, homeless population case management, etc.) manage specialized programs (i.e. fraud, refugee, foster care Medicaid, etc.), provide technical assistance and training to other benefit program specialists, perform weekly case staffing, prepare specialized program reports, and/or handle case transfers.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintains expert-level knowledge of benefit programs serving as a subject matter resource to both the internal and external customer; provides training as necessary.
• Administers more complex programs and those programs otherwise not assigned to other employees. 
• Works with Supervisor to establish and monitor program goals, objectives, and outcomes. 
• Works with Supervisor to coordinate training, as needed, for benefit program specialists. 
• Works with supervisor to establish and manage relationships with key community stakeholders.
• Manages the team in the supervisor’s absence.

Key Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to oversee, plan, and implement benefit programs and services for the organization. 
• Ability to prepare and communicate key program outcomes.
• Ability to work directly to contribute to the implementation of specific policies or programs. 
• Ability to provide updates to senior managers, elected officials, or other community groups or organizations.
• Ability to work regularly with other stakeholders to ensure the provision of efficient and effective services. 
• Ability to evaluate, audit, and assess data and/or information using established criteria.
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information.

Minimum Qualifications

•  At least two (2) years of experience providing assistance and counseling in a human services environment and/or performing eligibility work for federal benefit programs, or equivalent education, and/or experience. 
• A valid driver’s license issued by the state.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in social work, or a related human service field; 
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Prior experience working in Benefit Programs for the State of Virginia DSS.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software, VaCMS, and other VDSS data systems.

Work Environment   

Fredericksburg DSS does offer Hybrid Telework opportunities for this position.   

The work is regularly performed in an environment where the employee must deal with crisis situations that require major decisions involving people, resources, and property.  Tasks may risk exposure to high levels of stress and/or violence from distressed clients and their families.

Why Fredericksburg DSS?

We asked our employees their favorite reason to work/stay at Fredericksburg DSS and here’s what they said:

• “The benefits of working for a small but dense locality of a quaint city allows for us to be more interconnected among other departments, leading to networking abilities that aren't as easily possible in large counties”.
• “I like working for the City of Fredericksburg Department of Social Services because I like working with a small agency who clearly cares about their clients!  Clients are not a number, but living, breathing, individuals and families who need our assistance to become better equipped to manage their sometimes stressful lives”.
• I think a good reason for working here is: "Our management (or leadership) is always willing to listen to new ideas and make changes that will benefit the growth of the agency and employees".
• “The intimate size of our agency contributes to the comradery between employees”.
• ” My favorite part of working at Fredericksburg DSS is the relationships I have with the people in my unit.  My strengths can shine, and my colleagues bring strengths to the table that I don't have.  We are very much a team in that we help each other out whenever needed.  I also have a great professional relationship with my supervisor; in large part because of her, I feel like a valued team member who is allowed to delve into my strengths as well as have a life outside of work”.

The City of Fredericksburg DSS is a close-knit group of professionals who work with a purpose toward our mission of “Helping people triumph over hardships to promote healthier futures within our community”. 

There is no deadline to apply.  Interviews will be conducted as soon as there is a pool of qualified applicants.