Title: Policy Program Consultant – RE053

State Role Title: Program Administration Specialist II

Hiring Range: $57,733-$83,000 (salary commensurate with experience)

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of Social Services

Location: DSS HOME OFFICE

Agency Website: www.dss.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

At the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas, and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning, and cultivating environments of trust, respect, and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.

We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety, independence, and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency – one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia – partnering with 120 local departments of social services and 31 community action agencies, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children, adults, and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1,650 (state) and 12,200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have easy access to the services and benefits available to them.

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) engages families for success. Its Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) manages nearly 251,000 cases to ensure that child support payments of $590 million per year reach families across the Commonwealth. Support Enforcement Specialists establish and sustain helping relationships with parents who have payment obligations as well as parents who depend on those payments. Virginia’s children need both financial and family support to grow and thrive. Children with actively involved parents perform better in school, have high self-confidence, and generally achieve greater success in life.

DCSE’s mission is to promote strong, self-reliant families by delivering child support enforcement services, as provided by law, through the location of noncustodial parents, establishment of orders, enforcement of orders, collection of child support, and distribution of child support.

The position will serve as the Policy Program Consultant for the statewide Child Support Enforcement program leading the planning, execution, management, development, and evaluation of the employment services focused, NextGen FIRST federal demonstration grant along with other Divisional initiatives, and special projects, in order to further the vision and mission of the agency and provide support to Home and Field Operations; collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to achieve project objectives; monitor project progress, address challenges, prepare comprehensive reports for funding agencies, ensures compliance with relevant regulations and standards, maintain transparent communication throughout the project lifecycle, facilitate and support the grants and other work of initiative program consultants and will provide direct support to the Home Office and Field Operations.

Note: This is a full-time, restricted federal grant-funded position set to expire on 9/30/2029. The continuation of this position is contingent upon the availability of grant funds.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with employment services programs.
• Ability to deal with complex and critical issues and to manage multiple projects or assignments with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates proficiency in utilizing computer systems, Microsoft Office Suite applications- including Word, Excel, and Teams.
• Proficiency in planning, executing, monitoring, and managing grant-funded projects, meeting deadlines, and ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to build relationships with agencies, community organizations, businesses and team members.
• Proficiency in data tracking, performance reporting, and grant management.
• Knowledge of Child Support Enforcement program services.
• Experience working with justice-involved populations.

Additional Considerations

• Grant management certification or policy development and program management experience.
• Experience in collaborating with community organizations, legal entities, and service providers to support the needs of parents.
• Ability to analyze program performance metrics and adapt strategies accordingly.
• Experience in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data to assess project outcomes and inform stakeholders.
• Ability to identify long-term funding opportunities and integrate best practices beyond the grant period.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

To be considered for this position, you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line “Virginia Jobs” (RMS) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and additional qualifications stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. Multiple positions may be filled from recruitment.

VDSS values the service and experience of our Veterans. As such, Veterans are encouraged to apply and receive preference in the hiring process. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni also are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants, if requested, during the application and/or interview process.

VDSS does not provide sponsorship.

VDSS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.
We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application or resume. Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. For more information about our employment practices, please visit our “Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan”. Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.

In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.

If you have been affected by Policy 1.30 Layoff as a state employee and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Card (Blue Card), you must submit this document through the “Virginia Jobs” (RMS) employment site when you apply.

Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.

VDSS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

The selected candidate is required to file a Statement of Economic Interests form pursuant to the Code of Virginia § 2.2-3114, as a condition of employment. The filing must be completed on or before the first day of employment and annually thereafter on or before February 1. The selected candidate is required to complete the Statement of Economic Interest training within 2-months of becoming a state filer and at least once during each consecutive period of two calendar years commencing on the first odd-numbered year thereafter. For more information, please visit http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/.

Please be advised that this position may be approved to work onsite for two days per week and work remotely for three days per week.

Selected candidate may be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor

Contact Information

Name: VA Dept. of Social Services, Attn: Division of Human Resources

Phone: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov

Email: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.