New York Seasonal Jobs

NY HELP Yes

Agency Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of

Title Temporary Assistance Specialist 1 or Trainee 1 or 2 (NY HELPS)

Occupational Category Other Professional Careers

Salary Grade 18

Bargaining Unit PS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary Range From $65001 to $82656 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 30%

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 9 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? Yes

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

County Albany

Street Address Employment and Income Support Programs

40 North Pearl Street

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12243

Minimum Qualifications Let OTDA make a difference for your career while you make a difference for your community! In the Employment and Income Support Programs (EISP) vision of OTDA, you can be part of a team that helps ensure that New York’s most vulnerable citizens are connecting with the benefits that will give them a hand-up toward economic stability, affordable housing, and food security. EISP is looking for dedicated individuals with background experience in human services who can apply their policy knowledge and technical skills to the programs our division is entrusted with overseeing. Some applicants will be eligible to enter the position at the full-title level, but traineeship opportunities are also available for anyone with less direct experience. The division is dedicated to teaching and supporting all employees who possess drive, capability, and a passion to help others. Please continue reading for more details on the official qualifications required.Candidates Must Meet the Following Qualifications:NY HELPS: These titles are part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, these titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required, but all candidates must meet the non-competitive minimum qualifications for these titles. At this time, OTDA may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In June 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive, and the official probationary period will begin.At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified. NON-COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS: For Trainee 1 level, you must have a bachelor’s or higher degree. For Trainee 2 Level, you must have a bachelor's or higher degree; AND one year of professional experience performing one or more of the following:• Administering temporary assistance programs and initiatives to assess applicant/recipient needs, determine eligibility and/or provide services or benefits to low-income individuals or families. Such initiatives may include, but are not limited to, the development of systems applications for determining eligibility and benefit levels for temporary assistance programs;• Planning, implementing, assessing, monitoring and/or evaluating programs to deliver effective temporary assistance and/or workforce development/training programs to unemployed, underemployed, low income or disabled individuals;• Managing contracts and related budgets for workforce development/training and/or temporary assistance programs, including contract development, negotiation and execution, and fiscal management, monitoring or program review; and• Planning, developing, managing, or administering programs that provide care and service to adults, children, and/or families in need of assistance, including childcare, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee and/or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.Substitution: A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.For the Full Performance Level, you must have a bachelor's or higher degree; AND two years of professional experience performing one or more of the following:• Administering temporary assistance programs and initiatives to assess applicant/recipient needs, determine eligibility and/or provide services or benefits to low-income individuals or families. Such initiatives may include, but are not limited to, the development of systems applications for determining eligibility and benefit levels for temporary assistance programs;• Planning, implementing, assessing, monitoring and/or evaluating programs to deliver effective temporary assistance and/or workforce development/training programs to unemployed, underemployed, low income or disabled individuals;• Managing contracts and related budgets for workforce development/training and/or temporary assistance programs, including contract development, negotiation and execution, and fiscal management, monitoring or program review; and• Planning, developing, managing, or administering programs that provide care and service to adults, children, and/or families in need of assistance, including childcare, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee and/or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.Substitution: A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.Note: experience limited to clerical screening of applications, data entry, distribution of forms/brochures to prospective social services applicants, administrative duties in support of temporary assistance programs and any function in which the major responsibility of the position does NOT entail the direct planning, oversight, or provision of assistance is not considered qualifying. In addition, experience in staff development activities internal to an organization or auditing of employment and training programs, is NOT qualifying experience for this examination.Temporary Assistance Programs are: Family Assistance (FA), Jobs Program, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SSI State Supplement Program, Emergency Assistance to Families or Adults (EAF,EAA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), Employment Services for Recipients of Public Assistance or SNAP, Energy Assistance, Low Income Housing Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), Emergency Rental Assistance Program/Landlord Rental Assistance Program (ERAP/LRAP, Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Benefits (P-EBT), Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Benefits (Summer EBT), and Medicaid.OR55b/c: These positions are eligible for 55b/c appointment, and candidates with 55b/c eligibility are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for a 55b/c appointment, candidates must be currently enrolled in the Civil Service 55b/c program and meet the Non-Competitive Qualifications. Information about the 55b/c program can be found here: https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/.COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONSEligible for a lateral transfer or eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law by having one year of permanent competitive service in an appropriate title. Information regarding transfer eligibility is available on the Civil Service Career Mobility Office website at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.ORReachable on the appropriate eligible list in Albany.

Duties Description These positions reside in the Division of Employment and Income Support Programs (EISP) within the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).EISP is comprised of eleven program bureaus, two located in New York City, that are involved in overseeing several major public assistance programs as they are administered in New York State. This involves providing support to local district offices, conducting field visits and management evaluation reviews, as well as policy development and interpretation, and direct client support. In-scope programs include: Temporary Assistance (TA) benefits funded under both Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds and State Safety Net Assistance (SNA) funds; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP); the Supplemental Security Income – State Supplementation Program (SSP); and various job training and work-support programs across the state. EISP bureaus also conduct behind-the-scenes work such as managing contracts that direct program funds; maintaining the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system; providing technical support for the legacy systems the programs are administered through; and development of new and improved systems for program implementation.Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:• Develop regulations, policy and operational support guidelines for temporary assistance programs; and assist in the implementation of welfare legislation;• Conduct site visits to local service providers and follows up to determine compliance with program requirements. Review program activity, reports, and service plans; and interview personnel involved with specific programs to identify and correct performance issues;• Review federal regulations and legislation to identify changes in program guidelines, eligibility factors, and procedures; • Assist agencies with application of State and federal guidelines, contract requirements, and implementation of changes;• Monitor projects, prepare reports on progress, recommend controls to ensure compliance, and provide input on sanctions against agencies for noncompliance with State and federal requirements;• Draft releases and policy statements outlining or explaining new or changed regulations. Provides technical assistance and guidance on laws, rules, regulations, and procedures related to temporary assistance programs;• Analyze, interpret, and clarify laws, rules, and regulations for program administrators; • Respond to inquiries from OTDA program areas, other State agencies, individuals and families, and non-profits on policies, standards, eligibility and benefit requirements, services, and client rights;• Assist OTDA contract management staff in the development, implementation, and monitoring of contracts related to temporary assistance programs; • Review proposed contract work plans and budgets to ensure consistency with program objectives, and compliance with State and federal budgetary guidelines;• Review contractor vouchers and reports for accuracy and completeness, and track performance and expenditures against contract goals and budget or payment standards; • Work with Information Technology systems staff in the development and implementation of temporary assistance systems; identifies required data elements and reporting requirements, tests functionality, and identifies problems;• Identify and provide training and technical assistance to local social services departments, non-profits, and OTDA staff, and assist in the preparation of training materials; and • May supervise lower level paraprofessional and/or clerical staff.

Additional Comments Full-time, permanent, contingent permanent or temporary appointments will be made. These positions may require up to 30% travel. All positions on this posting are located in Albany, NY. Successfully hired candidates must be able to report in-person to OTDA’s office located at 40 North Pearl St., Albany, NY 12243, except on designated telecommuting days allowed by OTDA’s current 50% telecommuting program. If certified by Civil Service, mandatory reemployment list candidates must be considered first for appointment to these titles. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Your resume must indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for these positions. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.Salary for Trainee 1 starts at $49,363Salary for Trainee 2 starts at $52,198 Remarks:• Candidates should reference posting 24-159SNY when submitting your application. • If submitting electronically, please reference posting 24-159SNY as part of your subject line.• If you are interested in applying to these positions, please visit how to apply for applicant instructions.Interested applicants should send an email to jobpostings@otda.ny.gov and reference posting #24159SNY. DO NOT REFERENCE THE VACANCY ID NUMBER.NYS OTDA seeks to promote a diverse workforce that is a representation of the various cultures, voices, backgrounds, ideas, and talents of the citizens and communities that we serve. We actively solicit and encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (“BIPOC”); LGBTQIA+ individuals; women; people with disabilities; and military veterans.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Name Recruitment Unit

Telephone

Fax (518) 474-9374

Email Address jobpostings@otda.ny.gov

Address

Street 40 North Pearl Street, 12B

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12243

Notes on Applying To apply, please send a cover letter and resume. Include a current, Civil Service title and grade level and clearly state how you meet the minimum qualifications.Interested applicants should send an email to jobpostings@otda.ny.gov and reference posting #24159SNY. DO NOT REFERENCE THE VACANCY ID NUMBER.You may be required to provide acceptable proof of education, experience, credential and/or license to demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications for appointment to this position.Applicants will be required to prove their eligibility for employment based upon acceptance of a position in accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.If you are a retiree currently receiving benefits, indicate this and the name of the retirement system in your response.In accordance with state law, Governor’s Executive Order No. 6 and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance does not discriminate against disabled individuals. If you are disabled and require reasonable accommodation at the time of the interview, please contact OTDA's designee for reasonable accommodation at (518) 474-7284.