Disaster Program Specialist Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 882788 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SPEC(OPBI) - 60070537 1 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60070537 

Salary:  $42,561.57, in accordance with DCF salary policy 

Posting Closing Date: 09/07/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

This is an Internal Agency opportunity.

Only current department employees are eligible to apply.

Senior Human Services Program Specialist

Department of Children and Families

THIS IS A STATEWIDE VACANCY - POSITON LOCATION WILL BE DETERMINED BY SELECTED CANDIDATE LOCATION

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida's social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, child care providers, human trafficking, and public assistance. The agency's mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS) Program helps to promote strong and economically self-sufficient communities by determining eligibility for food, cash and medical assistance for individuals and families on the road to economic recovery.

Under the ESS Program, the Office of Public Benefits Integrity (OPBI) is responsible for investigating public assistance fraud or misuse regarding the SNAP (Food Assistance), D-SNAP (Disaster Food Assistance), TANF (Cash Assistance), and Medicaid programs by individuals or merchants.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

*The requested information must be disclosed on the State of Florida Candidate Profile. It is not acceptable to write "see resume" on the Candidate Profile (application). *

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements to be hired for this position.

SENIOR HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST - ESS OFFICE OF PUBLIC BENEFITS INTEGRITY - QUALITY MANAGEMENT

THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION.

The selected candidate will be required to work at the closest available office location.

This position is a statewide vacancy and the position's location will be determined by the selected candidate's location.

Some travel may be required and your personal vehicle may be required.

This is classified as a Career Service position, working full-time, 40 hours per week.

Business hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST, Monday - Friday.

The incumbent is a member of the DCF D-SNAP Disaster Response team and, in that capacity, may be required on short notice to perform duties and travel in support of disaster relief. During such events, incumbent may be required to work more than 8 hours per day.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be a current Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Economic Self Sufficiency (ESS) employee
• A valid State issues Driver's License
• A willingness to travel extensively, including overnight travel
• Three (3) or more years of experience working in the Florida DCF ESS Program determining eligibility or policy applications for any of the public assistance programs (Food Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, or Refugee Assistance)
• Minimum of 2 years of experience reading/reviewing cases in the Quality Management System (QMS)
• One year (12 months) or more as an Investigation Specialist I or higher in the Benefit Investigations Program.

PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATED WITH THE FOLLOWING:

• Two (2) or more years of experience in collecting and analyzing data and writing reports.
• Two (2) or more years as an Investigation Specialist I or higher in the Benefit Investigations Program.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Office of Quality Management is seeking a Senior Human Services Program Specialist (SHSPS)  to join the Quality Control (QC) Team within the Florida ESS Program Office. This is a Career Service position responsible for assisting the QC team who is charged with timely and accurate completion of federally mandated reviews of SNAP eligibility decisions made by Florida DCF ESS staff in the SNAP Program. The incumbent is responsible for providing data to be used as technical assistance in aiding the agency to reduce the amount of misspent funds for SNAP.

This is a highly responsible professional position requiring advanced expertise in the ESS. The individual in this position will be responsible for organizing, planning, developing, and implementing improvements in the QC program area, including extensive knowledge of program concepts, policies, and operations procedures, Federal and State laws and regulations, and the eligibility system. This position is responsible for identifying and analyzing complex management problems, and developing, recommending solutions. The position requires an enthusiastic candidate who displays progressive thinking and a can-do attitude. They must possess the ability to analyze data, write reports, think critically, strategically, and utilize technology to advance the program. This position is qualified to be exempt from public record.  Duties include assisting in fraud investigations and provides support in the recovery of funds lost due to waste, fraud, or abuse.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitors program service areas for compliance with federal and state program and fiscal regulations and policies, to include factors affecting quality and quantity of service provision, and uniformity of service delivery. Reviews all agency material on file relevant to the assistance unit under review, including the computerized eligibility determination system and related cross-matched data systems available; coding and completing the review file to reflect what is discovered.
• Identifies deficiencies, analyzes program effectiveness and efficiencies. Make recommendations and interpretations regarding the solution of program problems.
• Makes specific recommendations for improving program compliance capabilities and areas of management where additional evolution is needed.
• Develops and coordinates implementation strategies for problems assigned in accordance with federal, state and department objectives.
• Reviews proposed changes in laws and regulations to determine what impact they may have on departmental policy and processes.
• Responsible for Benefit Investigations (BI) policy in assisting with daily policy interpretations from ESS staff or state and federal offices. Develop and implement BI policy and memos based on Florida Statue and Administrative code.
• Updates and maintains BI policy and procedure guides.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• The person must be able to review, absorb, understand, and apply state and federal policy to increase the effectiveness of the QC review and to increase and maintain exceptional program integrity.
• Knowledge of Spreadsheets and Data Analysis
• Experience in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, others).
• Ability to prioritize work and multi-task.
• Ability to discuss technical issues and make sound decisions.
• Ability to contribute to a high-performing, highly motivated team by applying interpersonal communication and collaboration skills to achieve project goals. 
• Ability to draft communications for program-wide distribution.
• Have a detailed working knowledge of SNAP government assistance program administered by the ESS program office. Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis; basic management principles and practices. 
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis; basic management principles and practices. 
• Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document work flow and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices; organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials; conduct fact-finding research; utilize problem-solving techniques; work independently; understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities; plan, organize and coordinate work assignments; communicate effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Knowledge of technology, computer software including applications.

Important Application Process Information: 

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOURSUBMITTED APPLICATION or RESUME. 

**It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume" in place of entering work history information. ** 

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety. 

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment. 

• All previous DCF positions must be listed separately. Include the total years in each position along with all required duties.  
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed. 
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responsestopre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. 
• It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume"in place of entering work history. 

The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures. 

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

The Department of Children and Families is a tobacco-free environment.

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any candidate being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S. Employment may be terminated based on the background investigation results if the candidate begins employment before the background results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Department. Background investigations shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for state and national criminal records check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies. Employees will be retained in state and national RAP Back program, providing real-time arrest hit notifications.   

BENEFIT RECOVERY SCREENING Candidates applying to positions in the Economic Self Sufficiency Program will have a Benefit Recovery check completed to validate current or former government assistance case information before completing the hiring process.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.