06/02/2005 42070

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY ASSISTANCE OFFICE

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible professional and administrative work directing the operations of the Philadelphia County Assistance Office (CAO) and participating in the policy and program development activities of the Office of Income Maintenance (OIM).

The employee in this job has extensive participation in policy and program development activities with federal, state and community group officials to implement federally and state funded public assistance programs statewide. The employee serves as the Executive Director for the Philadelphia CAO, which encompasses the management and administration of multiple district offices through subordinate Deputy and assistant administrators; and directly participates as a member of OIM’s executive staff in planning, developing and implementing policies and procedures for county assistance office program service delivery operations. The work also includes developing, evaluating and analyzing program improvement pilot projects designed to improve client benefits delivery statewide. The executive director provides leadership in developing and directing policy and administrative integration of the income maintenance programs for which the Department has supervisory responsibility and evaluates overall program effectiveness. The work includes communicating, implementing and administering income maintenance program initiatives, policies, and plans; scheduling, through subordinate Income Maintenance Administrators, the full scope of CAO operations for multiple offices including client eligibility determination/redetermination activities; and implementing, through a large administrative staff, all administrative aspects of operating the CAO. Work includes responsibility for implementing all mandated income maintenance programs in conformity with pertinent legislation through the exercise of direction over CAO operations and programs. Work also includes developing and implementing procedures to insure maximum utilization of resources, efficient workflow, workload equalization, effective training of staff, educating community agencies and organizations on available income maintenance program services and liaison functions with County Assistance Board and local, state and Federal officials. Work is performed with a high degree of independence under the general direction of the OIM Operations Director and is reviewed for adherence to established policies and procedures through conferences, reports and evaluation of the effectiveness of CAO programs and their conformity to the policy parameters established by the Deputy Secretary for Income Maintenance.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Directly participates in the analysis of federal and state public assistance program policy initiatives and the development of policies, procedures and methods for implementing public assistance programs.

Directly participates in developing policy and program improvement proposals based on the review and analysis of audits, quality control reports, demonstration projects, initiatives in other states, and legislative actions.

Represents the Secretary of Welfare and Deputy Secretary for Income Maintenance in discussing department policies and programs with the public and advocacy groups.

Evaluates OIM policies and programs to ensure compliance with federal requirements and to determine the need for developing new methods and procedures to reduce agency and client errors and improve the overall quality control of public assistance programs.

Administers, organizes, plans and directs the Philadelphia CAO operations which includes managing a full scale income maintenance program delivery system in a large metropolitan area and that requires multiple districts offices to provide the full range of client eligibility determination/redetermination services for financial assistance, medical assistance, food stamp and related income maintenance program services to the area.

Plans, organizes and directs, through subordinate Income Maintenance Administrators and a large administrative, technical and clerical staff, the operations of multiple district offices that provide the full range of client eligibility determination/redetermination activity for financial assistance, medical assistance, food stamp and related income maintenance program services.

Directs program improvement pilot programs and evaluates their effectiveness and applicability for implementation statewide.

Confers with local government officials, representatives of public and private welfare groups, departmental program administrators, and other interested groups on matters concerning the administration of Income Maintenance programs.

Attends and serves as the CAO spokesperson at County Assistance Board meetings.

Directs the development of CAO operational plans and budget recommendations, and oversees the implementation of departmental policies in income maintenance program operations.

Provides direction to CAO programs to insure that objectives and resources are integrated with related community human services programs.

Establishes methods for evaluating the eligibility determination activity for effectiveness and responsiveness to client needs.

Develops work load requirements and implements plans for equalizing work load assignments.

Develops and implements procedures to insure maximum utilization of staff and to meet personnel needs.

Administers other income maintenance program services such as, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Disability Advocacy Program and New Directions employment and training programs.

Directs the planning and development of referral and liaison services with local human service agencies to insure appropriate services to clients.

Directs the development of procedures in conjunction with local Domestic Relations Offices to establish paternity and maximize child support collections.

Contacts other agencies and interprets the income maintenance program policies and regulations which affect those services provided by community and service provider agencies.

Insures clients receive the full amount of benefits and services for which they are entitled.

Directs the review and evaluation of all programs and operations within the scope of income maintenance, including, but not limited to, aid to families with dependent children, cash assistance, medical assistance and food stamp programs and other related human services programs under the purview of CAO.

Directs and supervises a staff that provides staff development, Income Maintenance Standard Training Program, refresher and mandated training program services.

Directs the investigation of complaints and allegations related to the operations of income maintenance programs.

Prepares reports of Income Maintenance programs, services, operations and problems for the OIM Operations Director and the Deputy Secretary for Income Maintenance.

Meets with elected officials, county administrators, representatives from human services agencies, community citizen groups and others to interpret provisions of current income maintenance legislation and departmental rules and regulations.

Advises administrators of Philadelphia CAO District Offices on program deficiencies, needed improvements, and methods to meet established standards.

Provides continuous review of program budgets and contracts for services for income maintenance programs.

Supervises the conduct of surveys, studies, and regular field staff reporting systems.

Supervises a large staff of managerial, supervisory, administrative/professional and clerical employees responsible for developing, monitoring, evaluating and providing technical assistance to state, county, and other providers of human services.

Participates in meet and discuss labor relations meetings with union representatives.

Directs the reviews of data on quality control reports to determine the error rate for each of the program areas in the CAO and initiates necessary corrective action.

Attends and conducts meetings and conferences.

Directs and evaluates staff work performance culminating in staff performance evaluation reports and makes decisions regarding personnel staffing and training needs.

Directs and participates in the preparation of the operating budgets and staffing requirements for the Philadelphia CAO.

Prepares correspondence, compiles reports and maintains records.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles and practices of public welfare administration.

Knowledge of the operations of human services programs.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior and ways of working effectively with adults and children who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems.

Knowledge of the principles and methods of program planning, organization, direction, and interpretation.

Knowledge of the functions, programs and resources of Federal, state, local and private agencies and organizations as they relate to human services programs.

Knowledge of the principles of supervision and administration.

Knowledge of the principles of governmental accounting, administration, budgeting, personnel and statistics.

Ability to interpret and implement income maintenance programs, goals, standards, policies, and departmental procedures which relate to the provision of human services.

Ability to apply and direct the implementation of the principles and practices of income maintenance program planning and evaluation, including the most recent trends and developments.

Ability to plan, organize, administer, integrate and coordinate effectively all income maintenance programs and services.

Ability to communicate with, encourage and assist community groups to act in the development of a sound organization to meet the human service needs of the community.

Ability to study, evaluate and clarify existing income maintenance programs and to make recommendations for improvements.

Ability to promote favorable public relations at the community level with reference to the overall operation of Philadelphia CAO.

Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, and to speak effectively in public.

Ability to interpret and instruct others in the application of manual policy, procedures and regulations.

Ability to evaluate work of subordinates and to provide technical assistance and guidance.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, other CAO staff, outside agencies and organizations and the general public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year of experience as an Income Maintenance Administrator 4;

                                                                                                                                     or

Eight years of professional experience in public or private human services work including six years in a public welfare agency including four years in a managerial capacity in the field of income maintenance; and a bachelor's degree;

                                                                                                                                     or

An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes six years in a public welfare agency including four years in a managerial capacity in the field of income maintenance.