Community Services Specialist - #DHH00019

Title: Community Services Specialist - #DHH00019

State Role Title: Prog Admin Specialist I

Hiring Range: Minimum Starting Salary is $41,655 comm w/ experience.

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearng

Location: Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Agency Website: https://www.vddhh.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) promotes accessible communication so that persons who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing may fully participate in programs, services and opportunities throughout the Commonwealth.

Job Duties:

The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) works to reduce the communication barriers between persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who are hearing, including family members, service providers, and the general public.

We are seeking a Community Services Specialist to assist the Program Manager in providing community services throughout Virginia including education & training, information & referrals, and outreach activities.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Supports community services program: Works with Supervisor, the staff and contractors to coordinate services including education & training activities. Serve as backup for related activities. Conduct Community Services activities at conferences, events or meetings.

Support Information and Referral Activities - Responds to requests for information & referrals concerning program-related niche topics. Develop and maintain a publication and maintain a resource library of fact sheets, articles, other publications.

Support Education and Training Activities - Provide presentations and training sessions. Maintain mailing list and e-distribution list for newsletter/E-News. Provides expertise consultation and technical assistance regarding VDDHH program.

Support Outreach Activities - Promote public awareness to the communication, educational, and employment needs of persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing. Maintain mailing list and e-distribution list for newsletter and E-News. Provide VDDHH, TAP and VA Relay exhibits throughout Virginia. Represents VDDHH. Contact potential audiences for Community Services presentations. Submits articles and news items for updates.

Other duties as assigned.

Maintains flexible schedule for occasional evening and weekend events.

Minimum Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

Knowledge/Experience:

Professional experience must be in the area of planning, administering, developing, or delivering programs for deaf, hard of hearing and/or deafblind individuals. American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) certification at Level 2+ is required for entry into position.

Knowledge of:

• Administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as managing files and records, record retention, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. 
• Access issues concerning deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind individuals with varying degrees of hearing loss and use of various communication methods as well as knowledge of Deaf Culture. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in use of specialized technology including telecommunication relay services, telecommunication equipment, assistive listening systems, and other assistive technology including set up, utilizing, troubleshooting equipment as well as making relay calls.
• Laws, legal codes, regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and other disability laws related to accessibility and reasonable accommodations requirements. 
• Principles and practices for providing customer services. This includes current social and economic problems related to customers, customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 
• Principles and practices of program planning and evaluation; principles of community organization and public administration

Demonstrated computer proficiency including emails, presentations, spreadsheets specifically MS Office suite as well as COV/VDDHH databases.

Skills/Abilities:

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively in American Sign Language (ASL) with deaf and deafblind clients, staff and other stakeholders. 
• Communicate directly with these stakeholders without an interpreter is essential to perform the duties. 
• Develop and evaluate programs; work effectively with program staff and local agencies; analyze and resolve complex problems related to social, financial or health programs; conduct contract development, monitoring and negotiations.

Skills include active listening, service orientation, social perceptiveness, speaking, writing, monitoring, reading comprehension, coordination, critical thinking, persuasion, complex problem solving, judgment and decision making, time management, active learning, learning strategies.

Abilities include expression, comprehension, problem sensitivity, clarity, written expression, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and information ordering.

Additional Considerations:

N/A

Special Instructions:

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact recruitment@dars.virginia.gov for assistance.

Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, Americorp, Peace Corps, and other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Equal Opportunity Employer State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:55 p.m. on the closing date through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s New Recruitment Management System. You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information:

Name: Human Resources

Email: Recruitment@dars.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.