Lead Specialist - Economic Assistance Quality Assurance

Department Information

Please note: This recruitment will be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position is open to current Colorado state residents only.

This job announcement will serve as an application pool for available positions that now exist or may exist in the future, including both part and full-time positions.

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CDHSCareers

Description of Job

Hybrid 2 days a week in office.

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

The Economic Assistance Quality Assurance (EAQA) unit is under the Public Assistance Quality Assurance (PAQA) division and exists to Manages the Colorado Department of Human Services quality assurance functions for economic assistance programs that enhances payment accuracy and informs program administration including measuring eligibility and program accuracy and recommending strategies to improve program outcomes; provides independent third party review for the Adult Financial (AF), Colorado Works (CW), and Low-income Energy Assistance (LEAP) programs including case file audits, data collection, reporting on findings, providing technical and compliance training to stakeholders, and assess and measure county adherence to State and Federal regulations; and creates strong partnerships with State and County staff to provide additional services such as non-quality assurance case reviews and consulting, and recommendations for reduction or elimination of eligibility and payment errors.

This position serves as the work lead for three (3) EAQA auditors. Duties include:

Lead Work:

• Assigns tasks

• Monitors progress and workflow including tracking and directing the process.

• Reviews and evaluates the work for three (3) EAQA Compliance Auditors for timeliness and accuracy based on program regulations and internal policies.

• Provides direction for the correct application of program rules/policies and QA policy including areas of improvement, as well as provides ongoing input to the EAQA Unit Manager regarding individual auditor job performance and evaluation.

• Tracks accuracy rates for audit staff and documents compliance with the EAQA accuracy standards, monthly accuracy rates, and provides regular updates to EAQA Unit Manager.

• Provides feedback on deliverables including consistency across specific program reviews.

• Researches federal and state regulations, policy letters/memos, and rebuttal decisions to determine appropriate guidance for auditors for specific household circumstances.

• Provides technical assistance in areas of ambiguity based on incumbent's expertise and unique job knowledge regarding federal and state rules, regulations, policies, and interpretations to the EAQA audit staff regarding the completion of complex case file reviews.

• Facilitates discussion as needed during program area meetings to ensure independent, unbiased QA results based on consistent interpretations and application of regulations, guidance, and within agreed upon directives.

• Maintains and updates review tools ensuring each are current, reliable, and valid.

• Directs correct application of program eligibility criteria and EAQA standards.

• Evaluates and determines the consistent application of EAQA standards and ensures inter-rater reliability across audit staff and programs.

• Identifies areas of potential weakness or inconsistency in the review process.

• Provides coverage for auditor absences and vacancies.

Training:

• Develops and provides training to new and experienced EAQA audit staff to ensure inter-rater reliability and accurate deliverables are provided to stakeholders.

• Develops, updates, and maintains new and ongoing worker "classroom" training materials and desk aides specific to EAQA purposes and functions.

• Identifies internal errors, areas of concerns and changes to regulations, policies or systems and develops and provides training as needed to the EAQA Unit to ensure inter-rater reliability and accuracy.

• Updates and maintains accurate review tools including the Audit Guide.

• Proactively uses on-line tools to complete current research to maintain appropriate level of expertise.

• Guides and directs audit staff in understanding how to apply new rules, policies, or directives to future case file audits and/or processes, teaching staff to independently recognize potential errors and assisting them in understanding how to implement the changes consistently.

• Provides training to state and local agencies regarding quality control policies and process, as well as train on identified areas of risk and error reduction strategies.

• Provides technical assistance to improve timeliness, eligibility, and payment accuracy, as well as builds relationships with state and local staff to foster problem solving, performance improvement strategies and overall program improvement

Other Duties/Projects:

• Completes other projects/tasks as assigned including the authority and responsibility for running the day-to-day operations of the EAQA unit in the absence of the EAQA Unit Manager.

• These activities include management of daily workflow and processes to ensure that deadlines are met such as identifying and distributing work, projects, and assignments to all staff within the unit.

• This position does not have the authority to modify QA policies, guidelines, or deadlines and does not have the authority even when covering for the unit manager to approve personnel actions or unique expenditures.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only:

• Seven (7) years of professional experience in Adult Financial (AF) programs including policy knowledge, interpretation, eligibility determination and authorization of benefits. Experience with the AF programs can include, but is not limited to, policy, quality assurance reviews, or supervision of staff that performed any of these duties.

OR

Education and Experience:

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) years

• Three (3) year(s) of professional experience in Adult Financial (AF) programs including policy knowledge, interpretation, eligibility determination and authorization of benefits. Experience with the AF programs can include, but is not limited to, policy, quality assurance reviews, or supervision of staff that performed any of these duties.

Substitutions:

• A combination of professional work experience in the the AF programs, which provided the same kind, amount, and level of knowledge acquired in the required education, may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the bachelor's degree.
• A graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a closely related field may be for the bachelor's degree and one year of general SNAP experience, but not specific experience using benefits management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

The following supplemental experience, competencies and abilities are highly desirable for this position and may be considered in selecting the successful candidate:

More than 5 years of AF programs experience determining eligibility and authorizing benefits

• More than 5 years of experience in using CBMS to authorize benefits

• 2 to 3 years, working in EAQA Quality Assurance or county quality assurance for AF programs.

• Prior Lead and/or Supervisor experience in public assistance programs such as Adult Financial or Colorado Works.

• Spanish Speaking (read/write)

• Previous training experience such as over the shoulder, presentations and adapting training style to a diverse group.

• Must have experience in AF eligibility and payment determination and authorization in order to support staff to make accurate auditing decisions.

• Must have effective communication skills and be able to mentor staff.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be willing to submit to a standard background check

• Travel - Subject to travel to different site locations

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact amber.holcomb@state.co.us

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

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