DSHS ESA Public Benefits Specialist 5

The Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division has a leadership opportunity for a Public Benefits Specialist Supervisor (PBS5) to join our team located in the Federal Way CSO in Federal Way, WA. We offer an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the Mission of Transforming Lives and valuing the journey of our staff members.

In this role, you will supervise a unit of Public Benefit Specialists who are responsible for gathering information regarding public assistance for numerous programs and correctly determining the client's eligibility. The ideal applicant will possess skills to develop, cultivate, and evolve the staff they lead and be creative in helping their staff obtain job experience and knowledge while fostering an environment of growth.

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  Establish unit workloads and quality standards
• Control overall flow of work processed by the unit
• Conduct or arrange timely technical and professional training for staff
• Explain policies, rules, procedures, agency goals, and performance information to staff
• Evaluate, monitor, and assign unit tasks, workload, and performance standards
• Review case accuracy, detect error trends, create training plans, and evaluate staff performance
• Recommend appropriate employee placements, corrective action, and reassignments
• Effectively manage and maintain relations with community partners
• Coordinate with and make recommendations to local, regional, and agency management regarding unit requirements and budget needs
• Hold difficult conversations and find mutual resolutions and support for the issue at hand

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  Demonstrated supervisory experience with the ability to adapt to each person’s learning and communication styles
• Ability to create a positive work environment that supports collaboration, transparency, trust, and accountability
• Knowledge of management principles and operating methods
• Ability to exhibit tact, courtesy, and discretion during stressful work situations
• Ability to make critical decisions, based on the integration of information from multiple sources
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of federal and state public assistance rules, regulations, and processes as applied in Washington State
• Ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing with management, peers, direct staff, clients, and the public
• Ability to work collaboratively with peers in the supervisory role to establish best practices and streamline processes across the team, establishing positive professional connections
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing

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  Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience examining/processing medical insurance or rehabilitation claims, unemployment insurance claims, or a job providing staff support in public assistance eligibility calculations, or in a job studying, verifying, and evaluating financial data and information
• Or, three years of out-of-state experience, conducting financial eligibility calculations for public assistance to include financial, medical, and food benefit programs
• Or, professionals with a minimum of one year of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 3 or Public Benefits Specialist 4

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  Related or closely related employment experience may substitute

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  Current Resume
• Three professional references with current phone numbers and email addresses

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  Ability to organize Public Benefits Specialist staff unit and work flow, while maintaining quality and productivity levels.
• Knowledge of philosophy of public assistance programs, State and Federal laws and regulations, principles, problems, and practices of public assistance programs administration, including principles of individual and group behavior, social and economic conditions and their effects upon individuals.
• Ability to express ideas clearly, work cooperatively with staff, clients and members of the community.
• Exceptional understanding of public assistance program eligibility, CSD processes and appropriate computer programs (ACES, ACES Online, ACES 3G, Barcode, e-Jas, ICMS, Washington Connections). Ability to review data found in the state’s computer systems to make accurate decisions.
• Ability to manage a large volume of work, communicate and maintain working relations with a wide range and levels of staff, evaluate job performance, interview job applicants, make professional judgements, exhibit tact, courtesy and discretion, be a contributing and effective member of designated management team

Questions? Please contact Sharon.sterling@dshs.wa.gov and reference project number 06195.

Our Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) mission to Transform Lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s mission that you bring an equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

NOTE: Employees of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Any offer of employment is contingent upon verification of your vaccine status. Please note medical or religious accommodation may be available once an offer of employment is made.