Senior Eligibility Analyst Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Information This recruitment is promotional only. You must presently be a full or part-time regular or probationary County of Sonoma, Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, or Sonoma County Water Agency employee in order to apply for this position. The Human Services Department's (HSD) Economic Assistance Division has requested a department promotional certification to fill two Time-Limited Senior Eligibility Specialist positions, which are currently funded through 6/30/2029.

Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Human Services Department employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised positions. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Senior Eligibility Specialists in the Economic Assistance Division are responsible for determining eligibility and performing case management for complex or specialized eligibility cases.

They will assist junior Eligibility Specialists with the resolution of eligibility determinations and grant maintenance challenges. Senior Eligibility Specialists may also be assigned to work independently in out-stationed settings, to provide subject matter expertise related to Medi-Cal, General Assistance, CalFresh, and/or the County Medical Services Program. Additional responsibilities include: Interpreting policies, rules, and regulations for clients and the general public Performing specialized assignments, which requires considerable inter-program knowledge of eligibility regulations, policies, and procedures Providing training, coaching, and mentoring to new hires; and may back-up supervisors as needed Performing quality assurance by reviewing casework, and conducting desk reviews Monitoring customer service interactions between staff and clients Communicating with clients and diffusing difficult situations in person and over the phone Performing outreach activities for local events Distributing work to staff in a fair and equitable manner The Ideal candidates for these positions will possess many of the following: Experience working as an Eligibility Specialist II or other comparable experience in a social services environment A comprehensive understanding of the Affordable Care Act, Covered California, and the CalHEERs Program Strong communication skills with the ability to engage and work productively with a wide range of people A working knowledge of the regulations governing social service programs, including technical expertise in the systems that are utilized Strong critical thinking, public speaking, and writing skills A solution-oriented approach to complex eligibility challenges The ability to shift gears quickly and work in a fast-paced environment Strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct research and come up with novel solutions Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired but not required Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications Experience and Education: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include: One year of full-time experience performing duties equivalent to an Eligibility Specialist II. OR Three years of full-time experience performing duties equivalent to an Eligibility Worker II including experience assessing eligibility for Medi-Cal and/or private health insurance.

Experience assessing eligibility for both Medi-Cal and private health insurance is highly desirable. License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. The positions advertised in this announcement do not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Special Skill Requirement: Designated positions may require the ability to speak, read, and write a language in addition to English Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Considerable knowledge of: laws, rules, and regulations governing eligibility and determination for diverse public assistance programs related to Medi-Cal, private health insurance plans, and other public assistance and human service programs and related case administrative processes and procedures; principle sources of information necessary to establish eligibility of applicants or recipients for various public assistance programs including Medi-Cal, private health insurance plans, and other public assistance and human service programs; methods and techniques of conducting an investigative interview; principles and practices of effective customer service. Working knowledge of: principles and techniques of leadership, training, and staff development; general goals and specific regulations, policies, and procedures of public assistance programs; health insurance plans and medical health plan options and associated terminology; tax regulations, rules, terminology, forms, and household filing status; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures; principles of cultural and human behavior required to deal effectively with clients and staff; mediation techniques required to resolve competing or conflicting interests; the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, punctuation, and grammar; modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination; computers and software programs (e.g. Microsoft software packages) to conduct research, assess information, and/or prepare documentation; techniques for developing effective working relationships with the public, other governmental agencies, and other personnel

Knowledge of: supervisory techniques and practices, training program design, materials development, and presentation; economic and social problems that call for the use of public assistance programs. Ability to: lead and direct the work of others; perform complex, responsible, and difficult technical administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative; plan, organize, and coordinate the work of technical and administrative support personnel; interpret and explain complex rules, regulations, and revisions affecting the eligibility determination and case management processes; conduct training for a variety of social service programs utilizing clear and concise materials and terms understandable to the targeted audience; determine eligibility and grant maintenance for the more difficult and complex cases; evaluate information and determine appropriate action in conjunction with learned rules and regulations; explain complex rules, regulations, and health insurance plan options and details in clear language to ensure clients' understanding; review a variety of tax documents to obtain needed household filing information; explain Advanced Premium Tax Credit implications to clients; conduct and control an investigatory interview effectively in a variety of settings; detect and evaluate potential fraudulent situations; determine appropriate course of action in emergencies; accurately complete complex mathematical computations; refer clients to other appropriate services as needed; assess and manage difficult and hostile persons or situations; know when to and call for intervention when appropriate; work in a fast-paced, professional office environment and prioritize a wide range of duties with varying time requirements to ensure timely completion; keep supervisor informed of progress, problems, work efforts, and results and make effective use of supervision; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of business (e.g., staff, the public, and other agencies); speak, read, and write English at a level sufficient to communicate clearly and concisely and explain complex regulations and policies in plain language, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax with persons from a variety of socio-economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds; effectively use computer systems, applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks. Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process

You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions. You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying.

If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately. Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification. Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed. Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications.

Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored. The selection procedure will consist of the following examination: An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments.

This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination.

Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates. Additional Information A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation.

Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates. Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position

If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position. How to Apply Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org

Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP HR Tech: VH