Program Assistant Jobs in Ocala, FL (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 880576 

Agency: Children and Families

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

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60070537 

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

Posting Closing Date: 08/11/2026 

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, childcare 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 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 - 60070537 - 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.

This is a full-time position working 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 QUALIFICAITONS:

• Must be a current DCF Economic Self Sufficiency employee.
• Must have at least four (4) years' experience determining eligibility for the Food Assistance, Medicaid, and Cash Assistance programs.
• Must have a valid State-issued driver's license.
• A willing to travel extensively, including overnight travel.
• Must have experience conducting Quality Management Systems (QMS) Quality Assurance Case Readings.

PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING:

• At least two years (24 months) experience conducting Quality Management Systems (QMS) Quality Assurance Case Readings.
• Experience as an ESS Supervisor
• Bilingual

JOB DESCRIPTION

The incumbent is responsible for conducting federally required management evaluation reviews, coordinating corrective action activities and planning with the circuits/regions, validating the accuracy of the local circuit/region reviews to assure consistent and appropriate review work and provide technical assistance to designated reviewers. The Headquarters Senior Human Services Program Specialist (SHSPS) is charged with timely and accurate completion of federal and state mandated reviews of eligibility decisions made by Florida DCF ESS staff in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA). SHSPS must demonstrate the ability and organizational skills to work independently. The SHSPS is responsible to provide data to be used as technical assistance to assist the agency in meeting accuracy thresholds in SNAP, Medicaid (Family and SSI-Related), and TCA determinations at both state and federal levels. Extensive knowledge of SNAP, Medicaid (all programs) and TCA policy is required. Expertise in the FLORIDA system, The Worker Portal and other ESS systems is required. SHSPS must be proficient in the use of computers, web-based systems and Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Conduct Management Evaluation (ME) Reviews by creating valid case review samples, timely and accurately reviewing cases as well as tracking case corrections, collecting and analyzing statistical data, conducting on-site reviews to observe operational functions and procedures, timely and accurately submitting report of findings, providing corrective action guidance and technical assistance.
• Review all agency material on file pertinent to the assistance unit under review, including the computerized eligibility determination system and related cross-matched data systems. Codes and completes reviews in the Quality Management System (QMS), spreadsheets or other documents in a timely manner as prescribed for each assignment.
• Complete all documentation in the appropriate system and provide sufficient narrative to support the determination and provide the ability for corrective action to be taken.
• Provide clarifying information regarding any review questioned in the state rebuttal process.
• Prepare a detailed analysis, evaluation, and consultative report of region or customer call center performance based on desired outcome measures, performance indicators and other criteria. Consults with staff members to develop solutions for programmatic operational problems identified during the Management Evaluation review.
• Ensure that each region's corrective action plan (CAP) is received upon receipt of the ME report and that all necessary actions are included. Evaluates CAP and determines what follow-up action is needed to eliminate errors and discrepancies that are below standard. 
• Provide technical assistance to regions on program improvement by providing corrective action plan (CAP) guidance, monitoring circuit/region CAPs to ensure compliance is met and providing technical assistance on case reading tools.
• Maintains knowledge of state policy and procedure changes and how those changes are interpreted for management evaluation reviews.

• 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 public 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.