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

Duties Description
Duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Define and develop system requirements for the development, changes, and enhancements to

the Integrated Eligibility System (IES) system and related projects. This may include, but is not
limited to; participating in meetings, review of documentation, coordinating discussions with
subject matter experts to identify and document system requirements and developing and
maintain documentation;

• Define user requirements and participate in the development of technical systems design

specifications for complex system development enhancement projects and develop and
maintain documentation;

• Develop and execute appropriate testing to validate the effectiveness of the system in meeting

the system user and program requirements. Maintain documentation of testing;

• Provide assistance to system users including identifying, analyzing and resolving the more

complex problems reported by system users;

• Increase knowledge of open systems, current Welfare Management System (WMS)/legacy

systems, Welfare Reporting and Tracking System (WRTS), and other related systems, new
software tools related to systems changes, as well as policy and operational requirements
which impact systems;

• Participate in training programs as requested by supervisor to increase knowledge and skills

needed to perform tasks related to IES;

• Attend and participate in meetings with stakeholders to discuss system development, changes,

and enhancements.

• Attend and participate in meetings with staff to discuss current and expected projects as well

as operational needs; and

• Complete special projects, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications NY HELPS: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, candidates may be hired via a non-competitive appointment if they meet the below NY HELPS minimum qualifications. 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, four years of experience administering temporary assistance programs* and initiatives to assess applicant or recipient needs, determine eligibility or provide services or benefits to low income individuals or families; Planning, implementing, assessing, monitoring or evaluating programs to deliver effective temporary assistance or workforce development or training programs to unemployed, underemployed, low income or disabled individuals; Managing contracts and related budgets for workforce development or training 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, or families in need of assistance, including child care, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.

• Substitutions: An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a J.D. may substitute for six years of experience.

For Trainee 2, five years of experience administering temporary assistance programs* and initiatives to assess applicant or recipient needs, determine eligibility or provide services or benefits to low income individuals or families; Planning, implementing, assessing, monitoring or evaluating programs to deliver effective temporary assistance or workforce development or training programs to unemployed, underemployed, low income or disabled individuals; Managing contracts and related budgets for workforce development or training 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, or families in need of assistance, including child care, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.

• Substitutions: An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a J.D. may substitute for six years of experience.

For the Full Performance Level, six years of experience administering temporary assistance programs* and initiatives to assess applicant or recipient needs, determine eligibility or provide services or benefits to low income individuals or families; Planning, implementing, assessing, monitoring or evaluating programs to deliver effective temporary assistance or workforce development or training programs to unemployed, underemployed, low income or disabled individuals; Managing contracts and related budgets for workforce development or training 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, or families in need of assistance, including child care, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.

• Substitutions: An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a J.D. may substitute for six years of experience.

• 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

OR

55 B/C: This position is eligible for 55b/c appointment, and candidates with 55b/c eligibility are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for a 55b/c appointment, candidate must be currently enrolled in the Civil Service 55b/c program and must meet the minimum qualifications listed above. Information about the 55b/c program can be found here: https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/

COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS:

Eligible 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/

SPECIAL TRANSFER QUALIFICATIONS:

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;
• 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; planning, developing, managing, or administering programs that provide care and service to adults, children, and/or families in need of assistance, including child care, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee and/or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.

• 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, and Energy Assistance.

**Temporary Assistance initiatives may include, but are not limited to, the development of systems applications for determining eligibility and benefit levels for temporary assistance programs.

Non-qualifying experience: 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.

OR

Reachable on the appropriate eligible list in Albany.

Additional Comments A full-time, permanent or contingent permanent appointment will be made. This position includes up to 20% travel. If certified by Civil Service, mandatory reemployment list candidates must be considered first for appointment to this title. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Your resume must indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.

Telecommuting up to 50% may be available in accordance with The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance policy and can be discussed during the interview.

Interested applicants should send an email with their resume attached to jobpostings@otda.ny.gov and reference posting #26-124. DO NOT REFERENCE THE VACANCY ID NUMBER.

• $ 56,183 (Trainee 1- NS equated to SG-14)
• $ 62,694 (Trainee 2- NS equated to SG-16)
• $ 69,964 (Full Performance level SG-18)

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. In alignment with New York State’s Executive Orders 187 and 31, OTDA is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering an inclusive workplace.