APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ASSOCIATE BENEFIT OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

Human Resources Administration/Customized Assistance Services (HRA/CAS) is responsible for program evaluation and reporting from various systems maintained by the Department and providing strategic direction in the development and monitoring of service utilization activities. Under the direction of the Deputy Director, with latitude for independent judgment and initiative, the incumbent is responsible for supervising a team of Reasonable Accommodations Specialist staff, who will coordinate operations and responsibilities to ensure the program's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act and other federal, state and municipal laws and regulations pertaining to persons with disabilities.

The Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist II uses supervisory, program development, quantitative analysis, and other research skills in accomplishing all the goals of Family Independence Administration/Reasonable Accommodations Services Unit.

CAS is requesting to hire one (1) Associate Benefit Opportunity Specialist II to function as a Reasonable Accommodations Team Leader who will:

- Oversee a team of staff who provide services for those clients who request RA/HVN/HB services. Additionally, the team will take appropriate action on reported changes, provide information and documentation as requested by the participants and maintain contact with other teams to ensure awareness of all activity that will affect the case management plan.

- Coordinate and ensure adequate planning, scheduling and monitoring of the unit activities and conduct regular reviews of outcome reports, audit and assess participant's feedback to ensure the team is maintaining adequate levels of performance. Review employment eligibility decisions on applicants and participants who report having a disability or who have approved reasonable accommodation, for appropriateness and correctness according to the agency and New York State rules and regulation.

- Monitor activities and prepare regular reports on unit activities. Review the accuracy and timeliness of reports, including all relevant work lists; ensures the timely filing of all required compliance reports. Prepare reports on key performance outcomes and ensure that necessary corrective actions are implemented in a timely manner.

- Track unit progress relating to its policies and procedures as well as state and federal laws relating to people with disabilities and filing all necessary reports. Maintain a record of all disability and accommodation issues and the resolution of each.

- Be responsible for the training of subordinates on current and new policies, procedures, policy statements and bulletins as well as other tools needed to provide efficient service for the completion of all RA/HVN/HB case actions.

- Ensure adequate planning, scheduling and monitoring of case management activities and will conduct regular reviews of outcome reports, work list, audits and assess client feedback to ensure the team is maintaining adequate levels of performance necessary to move participants toward self-sufficiency.

- Perform final review of packets prior to fair hearing and determine whether a resolution will be required prior to the hearing. Using strategies and techniques aimed at securing success in the hearing room, ardently represents the Agency.

- May conduct field visits.


Hours/Schedule: 9:00am-17:00pm (Flexible)

ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY - 56316

Qualification Requirements

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and three years of
full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social/human services or a
related setting, providing either:

a) client services.

b) employment planning/counseling services which involves job development,
skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic
opportunity programming.

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of fulltime satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist; or

3. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of fulltime satisfactory experience as described in one (1) above.

4. College credit from an accredited college may be substituted for this experience
on the basis of 60 semester credits for 9 months of the work experience described
above. However, all candidates must have at least 18 months of full-time
satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or performing
social/human services work as described in one (1) above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.