Senior Program Associate

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: Employment & Economic Assistance (E&EA)
HOURS: Full-time
SALARY RANGE: $52,326 - $81,760 / year (Salary Grade 105) PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $52,326 - $65,408 / year
LOCATION: West Saint Paul
UNION: AFSCME 306
CLOSE DATE: 4:30PM on 10/6/206

Who We Are Dakota County is Minnesota's third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

What you will do Senior Program Associates assist a wide variety of public assistance programs and provide a variety of highly skilled administrative functions and tasks under limited supervision. The position assists all levels of community program services and staff through skilled administrative and program functions. There are three full-time positions: two positions with the Employment and Economic Assistance (EEA) Adult Assistance Unit and one position with the Public Assistance Support (PAS) team (call center and METS assistance).

• Initial eligibility review of public assistance program renewal documents for completeness, send requests for information, create Income Calendars, process returned mail, and support other casework.
• Document identification, upload and indexing into electronic data management systems
• Initiate outgoing phone calls to advise clients on public assistance case questions, renewal processes, what month client renewals are due, documentation needed for renewal, and to complete applications by phone.
• Other tasks to support public assistance casework.

• Manages a large volume of phone calls daily.
• Initial eligibility review of Medical Assistance (MA) renewal documents for completeness, send requests for information, create Income Calendars, process returned mail, and support other casework.
• Document identification, upload and indexing into electronic data management systems
• Answer incoming and initiate outgoing phone calls to advise clients on public assistance case questions, renewal processes, what month client renewals are due, documentation needed for renewal, and to complete applications by phone.
• Other tasks to support Medical Assistance and/or other public assistance casework.

• Associate degree AND
• One year of administrative experience in an office environment.

• High School Diploma AND
• Three years of administrative experience in an office environment.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience total three years.

• Candidate must be proficient at keyboard skills including typing at least 35 WPM.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Research client data in multiple state and county systems to assist customers for program support.
2. Receive and make phone calls to respond to requests from customers and clientele.
3. Respond to requests for program or client-specific information.
4. Serve as a floater/trainer, covering support staff positions and training new staff in the unit as necessary.
5. Receive incoming phone calls and provide specific program information to callers which may involve gathering information from computer systems.
6. Prescreen clients in person or over the phone for services according to program criteria to provide program information and make appropriate referrals.
7. Assess applicant needs against available community resources and assist with program application completion and submittal.
8. Send requests for information and schedule interviews.
9. Serves as program or department liaison for community partners, customers, and clients in order to respond to inquiries or resolve service issues.
10. Recommends and develops internal work methods and assists with establishing new procedures and processes to accommodate administrative and program activities.
11. Performs special projects in support of department programs.

• Knowledge of State, Federal and County guidelines for appropriate programs.
• Ability to deal effectively with multiple and sometimes conflicting demands while maintaining composure and professionalism.
• Ability to work effectively with clients and staff from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to recognize and comply with HIPAA and other data privacy regulations.
• Ability to handle confidential client information with integrity and in compliance with legal regulations.
• Ability to audit and reconcile various financial records for accuracy related to program services.
• Knowledge of productivity application software (Microsoft Office, etc.).
• Understanding of mission and vision of department and program operational guidelines, business practices, staff needs, and client service outcomes.
• Considerable ability to conduct research, analyze, prioritize and coordinate work according to client and agency needs.
• Ability to utilize County electronic data management system to organize and manage confidential documents in a centralized method.
• Ability to make problem solve while demonstrating good judgment.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.

Location & Schedule

Staff in this classification will start by working full-time in the office for training purposes. Once there is demonstrated knowledge, skills, and ability to complete assigned work, it may lead to a hybrid schedule. In-person work is at our Northern Service Center in West St. Paul, MN and telework needs to be completed in a designated off-site location. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits insurances.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Generous paid time off
• Eleven paid holidays each year and one floating holiday.
• Pension with a generous employer contribution.
• Ability to work from home some of the time.

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions.
• Your application is scored based on your qualifications.
• Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration.
• Interviews and reference checks are conducted.
• Dakota County extend a conditional offer and conducts a background check on its preferred candidate.