What are the responsibilities and job description for the ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM MANAGER - FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES position at Cabarrus County?
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The application review process will take place immediately and continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may close any time after the first review or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Recruitment Range: $60,569.60 - $72,384.00. Initial placement for new employees is customarily at entry level through 35% percentile. Pay grade for this position is 22.
Cabarrus County Department of Social Services
The Cabarrus County Department of Social Services (CCDSS) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families across our community. As a vital part of Cabarrus County Government, DSS delivers a wide range of critical services designed to support, protect, and empower residents at every stage of life.
Through a commitment to service excellence, collaboration, and innovation, DSS ensures that citizens have access to essential resources that promote stability, self-sufficiency, and overall well-being. Our team of professionals is dedicated to responsible stewardship of public resources while delivering high-quality, compassionate, and equitable services.
Mission Statement
In partnership with the community, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for our citizens through integrated and comprehensive services that assist, empower, and build upon the strengths of children, families, adults, and older adults.
Vision Statement
Through community partnership and effective collaboration, Cabarrus County Department of Social Services will be a leader and innovator in providing quality seamless services to the citizens. CCDSS will strive to streamline services to the citizens to effectively meet the needs of a changing economy, improve lives, and create opportunities.
Who We Serve & What We Do
Cabarrus County DSS serves more than 50,000 residents annually, providing essential programs and services that strengthen families and support vulnerable populations. We work collaboratively with local, regional, and state partners across North Carolina to ensure comprehensive service delivery.
Our core service areas include:
- Economic Services
(Medicaid, Food & Nutrition Services, Work First Family Assistance, Energy Programs) - Child Support Services
- Child Welfare Services
(Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoption) - Adult and Aging Services
(Adult Protective Services, Guardianship, In-Home Services, Transportation) - Business & Administrative Services
(Fiscal, Quality Assurance, Program Integrity, and Operational Support)
Position Overview: Eligibility Program Manager - Food & Nutrition Services
The Eligibility Program Manager - Food & Nutrition Services performs advanced-level professional and supervisory work directing the administration of the Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) program within the Economic Services Division.
This position provides leadership, oversight, and coordination of eligibility operations to ensure compliance with federal, state, and county regulations while maintaining a high standard of customer service and program integrity.
Key responsibilities include:
- Supervising and developing eligibility staff and lead personnel within the FNS program
- Ensuring accurate and timely determination of eligibility for Food & Nutrition Services benefits
- Interpreting and applying complex federal and state policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
- Monitoring program performance, quality assurance outcomes, and compliance metrics
- Identifying opportunities for process improvement and implementing best practices to enhance service delivery
- Collaborating with internal departments and community partners to support program effectiveness
This role operates with a high degree of independent judgment and initiative within established guidelines and reports directly to the Eligibility Program Manager.
General Definition of Work:Performs advanced professional level responsible supervisory work in the guidance, coordination, and delivery of eligibility programs and services within a unit of the Economic and Family Support Services Division within the Department of Social Services. Work is circumscribed by federal, state, and county constraints, but within those constraints the employee exercises independent judgment and initiative. Work is performed under regular supervision of the Eligibility Program Administrator. Supervision is exercised over eligibility staff.Essential Functions/Typical Tasks:
Plans, directs, supervises, and participates in the delivery of eligibility programs and services; reviews casework, holds conferences, and assists eligibility specialist staff in resolving difficult or unusual case situations; interprets and provides guidance on regulations and procedures; prepares and maintains records, files, reports, and confidentiality.
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
- Supervises eligibility specialist staff and eligibility supervisors. Evaluates performance of staff for adherence to Federal and State standards regarding quality of work.
- Provides recommendations for employment actions such as hiring, promotions, demotions, disciplinary actions, and dismissals.
- Ensures supervisors are balancing workloads within their unit.
- Evaluates and makes necessary adjustments in personnel assignments, staffing and organizational design for maximum efficiency.
- Implements changes in work procedures or processes to meet program or service demands and client needs.
- Presents recommendations to management regarding program or divisional goals, objectives, procedures, or processes.
- Provides detailed analysis to management on administrative and/or budgetary issues.
- Assess training needs and ensure appropriate training takes place.
- Evaluates the work of the unit via quality assurance reports, State computer error printouts, and input from other supervisors and staff.
- Enforces policies and procedures and ensures compliance.
- Conducts team meetings and monthly conferences.
- Supports and provides input on divisional and agency goals and objectives.
- Participates in long-range planning for the division.
- Prepares reports.
- Maintains records, files, and confidentiality.
- Performs duties related to disaster situations and emergency shelter operations.
- Performs related tasks as required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Thorough knowledge of eligibility programs and required documentation. Considerable knowledge of the use of program manuals. Considerable knowledge of community services and programs that may affect eligibility. Considerable knowledge of and ability to read, analyze, interpret, and apply federal, state, and county program rules, regulations, and procedures. Considerable knowledge of casework supervision. Considerable knowledge of eligibility principles, techniques, and practices and their applications to casework. Working knowledge of office equipment, audiovisual equipment, computers, and applicable software. Ability to instruct, organize, supervise, and direct the work of subordinates. Ability to resolve conflict and provide mediation. Ability to tolerate high-stress situations. Ability to assess situations, extract the relevant information, and to make appropriate decisions. Ability to communicate and present ideas effectively verbally or in writing. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other supervisors, management, employees, and the general public.
Education and Experience:
Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Requires four years of experience as an eligibility specialist or investigator in an eligibility program in North Carolina, preferably with at least one year of supervisory experience and or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Requires strong computer skills, particularly with programs such as Word and Excel. Ability to speak Spanish is desirable.
Some county job postings indicate that you can qualify with an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If this language is included in the job description, it means you may qualify through either education, your years of directly related experience, or a combination of both.
If you have indicated that you have earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from a technical school, college, or university, please note that Cabarrus County will verify your educational credentials. Official transcripts must clearly show the specific credential awarded to ensure accurate validation.
Special Requirements:
Possession of an appropriate driver’s license valid in the State of North Carolina. Position may occasionally require working before/after normal business hours to meet the business need. May be required to travel for trainings/meetings. May be required to manage a Disaster Shelter during State/Local or National crisis.
Physical Requirements:
This is sedentary work requiring the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects; work requires stooping, reaching, fingering, grasping, and repetitive motions; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or electronic data, operation of technology and office equipment, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities; the worker is not subject to adverse environmental conditions.
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application. Applicants who obtained their education outside of the United States and its territories are expected to assume responsibility for having their academic degrees validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual position, only the most recent application received prior to the posting closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Processing applications will take an average of 6 – 8 weeks due to the high volume of applications received. It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the most qualified applicants.
For technical issues with your applications, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 704-920-2200.
Salary : $60,570 - $72,384