Met Council is America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity, and respect. Our programs are staffed by experts who help over 325,000 clients each year and advocate on behalf of all needy New Yorkers. Our services include 100% affordable housing at 21 locations, family violence services, Holocaust survivor assistance, geriatric social work, crisis intervention and the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world. Our network of 120 food pantries, affordable housing sites, and JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York City.

Position Summary:

The Program & Administrative Specialist will support departmental efforts and strengthen program services through frontline client services, maintaining program materials and technical assistance support. As the main point of contact for our Benefits Access Helpline, the Program & Administrative Specialist will conduct eligibility screenings for public benefits, prepare clients for enrollment, provide referrals, and overall client support. The Program & Administrative Specialist will be responsible for organizing and analyzing client issue logs to address systemic barriers to benefits enrollment. The Program & Administrative Specialist will be responsible for procuring, ordering, and maintaining program materials such as brochures, promotional items, and office supplies to support program operations. The Program & Administrative Specialist will also provide direct client services on a regular basis at Met Council’s main office and at designated field locations.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Serve as the main point of contact for the Benefits Access Department’s Helpline and general email inbox.
• Provide information about public benefits to clients, including, but not limited to eligibility, documentation, referrals, and issue navigation.
• Work in tandem with staff in the Crisis Department to answer Met Council’s Helpline, referring callers to the appropriate program if applicable and/or providing them with referrals to other organizations.
• Provide appointment scheduling assistance.
• Procure and maintain all Benefits Access Department materials that support program outreach and operations, such as outreach tracking logs, brochures, promotional items, site flyers, office supplies, etc.
• Lead client mediation efforts through organizing monthly logs, representation at coalition meetings, and providing client issue navigation.
• Provide direct client services at Met Council’s main office and designated field locations.
• Track all client interactions in Salesforce to ensure comprehensive reporting.
• Support field staff through technical support, program eligibility questions, and aiding in training efforts, in conjunction with the Manager, Benefits Access.
• Work collaboratively with other departments and external partners to support strong referrals to the program.
• Participate in outreach efforts, as needed.
• Additional responsibilities as required.

Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of public benefits and eligibility criteria.
• Familiarity with low-income communities and needs in New York City.
• Ability to handle sensitive case information with discretion, maintaining client privacy
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task between incoming helpline calls and other time-sensitive projects.
• Ability to handle complex and challenging client cases with patience and compassion, while maintaining program protocol and integrity.

Skill and Education:

• High school diploma (Required), bachelor’s degree (preferred).
• Knowledge of public benefits system (required).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Additional language capabilities strongly preferred, particularly Spanish or Russian.

Compensation: $45,000 to $55,000 per year.

Benefits: Major medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; pre-tax commuter benefits; FSA; 403(b) with employer contribution; plus generous vacation, sick leave, and holidays.