Senior Program Specialist Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Job Number: 688
Salary: $23.73 - $35.61
Department/Office: Human Services
Division: Community & Child Support Services
Location: 14980 E. Alameda Dr., Aurora, CO, 80012
Job Type: Hourly Full-Time
Posting Date: 08/19/2026
Closing Date: 09/02/2026
The Arapahoe County government serves its communities in ways both obvious and obscure. As the beating heart of local and regional government, we're here for our neighbors on their best days-and their worst. We share our residents' goals of preserving our quality of life and strive to be the place we're proud to call home.
Our Mission: Arapahoe County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) builds strong communities by promoting the safety, independence, and stability of individuals and families.
Our Vision:To end the cycle of poverty and prevent abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable adults (using an integrated Two-Generation approach)
ACDHS uses an integrated Two-Generation (2Gen) approach to address all of the basic human services needs of the entire family unit. The 2Gen approach begins with a mindset focused on family-centered program design, continues with the alignment of services and resources within the department as well as across multiple organizations, resulting in coordinated services to children and adults together (family) in order to create long term stability and sustainability.
The 2Gen approach builds well-being for families by focusing equally and intentionally on high-quality services in five areas of focus: early childhood education, adult education and employment pathways, economic security, health and well-being and social capital. This approach will help us achieve our core mission of breaking the generational cycle of poverty, preventing neglect and abuse and building strong communities.
The Program Specialist position conducts extensive interviews to determine initial and on-going eligibility for County citizens requesting public assistance. These interviews require asking for sensitive and personal information. The interviews are often interactive, i.e. entering client information into a complex computer system during the course of the interview. The information is extensive and must be analyzed against the numerous public assistance programs and their related regulations. The public assistance programs include: Medicaid, General Assistance, Food Assistance, Old Age Pension, Aid to Needy Disabled, and Aid to the Blind. The Senior Program Specialist/CAPS Liaison Position is located in the Child and Adult Protective Services (CAPS) Division. The CAPS Liaison will act as a Community Services Point of Contact (POC) for vulnerable clientele and/or their family, in an effort to streamline the benefits application and approval process.
You must list job duties for each previous position. Applications missing this information will not be considered, and a résumé alone is not sufficient."
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF JOB:
The Senior Program Specialist performs advanced level eligibility work that includes more involved client interaction and responding to complex eligibility issues and concerns.
DUTIES:

• Serves as subject matter expert on eligibility determination and applicable programs and services and serves as resource/point of contact for complex/difficult cases, formulating approaches to address the issue and providing information to management.
• Reviews and interprets client's legal documents, such as court orders, trust, life insurance policies
• Conducts interviews, researching and evaluating all necessary information, to determine appropriate services/programs to meet the needs of clients.
• Makes referrals to customers needing other services such as mental health, housing and/or domestic violence
• Assists customers with completion of applications; advise them of their rights and responsibilities; send appropriate notices to customers for action take on cases
• Process reported changes made by household and/or various caseload management reports
• Process all applications, initial and redeterminations, within mandated time frames
• Establishes and validates claims for overpayments
• Clears and responds to voice mail and Remedy tickets according to the priority
• Refers cases with questionable household circumstances to Investigations Unit
• Attends on-going training to maintain/enhance knowledge and skills
• Update case record based on current circumstances

REQUIREMENTS:
Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Ability to manage and resolve conflicts, confrontations or disagreements in a constructive manner
• Ability to maintain professionalism and calm demeanor while working in high volume, high stress, fast paced environment
• Ability to identify a need for and gather pertinent information to make sound business decisions.
• Ability to conduct an interactive interview by concurrently conducting a verbal interview and data entering client information
• Knowledge of public assistance programs and applicable computer systems (ie, CBMS)
• Ability to effectively complete work in a timely manner to meet mandated processing guidelines with frequent interruptions.
• Accurate data entry and alpha numeric filing skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, such as word, excel, outlook
• Ability read and understand legal documents
• Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse customer base and with angry or difficult clients
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with peers, clients, and management

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):

• Accountability
• Accessibility
• Inclusivity
• Integrity

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent
• At least 3 year of experience determining eligibility for public assistance programs

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Associates or Bachelor's Degree
• Proficiency in speaking, reading and writing another language
• A combination of education and experience may be considered

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:
Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
Post-Employment Requirements:
May require post-hire fingerprinting, a CBI background check and successfully completion of bi-annual Colorado Justice Information System training.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is generally confined to a standard office environment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position.

• Spends 80% of the time sitting and 20% of the time either standing or walking.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work related equipment.

Definitions:

• Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
• Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
• Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch
Privacy Rights 24https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Privacy%20Act%20Statement.pdf
Privacy Rights 25https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Noncriminal%20Justice%20Applicant%20Privacy%20Rights.pdf
** Arapahoe County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other status protected under the law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity in any term, condition, or privilege of employment and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors. Arapahoe County is committed to making employment accessible to persons with disabilities.
** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.
Employee Benefits Summary Brochure