Assistant Administrator, Community AND Planning Services

Department

Department of Human Services

Division

Social/Human Services

Salary

$95,881.00 - $108,590.00

Job Profile

JC-02502200-99 - Assistant Administrator, Community and Planning Services (Non-Union Executive Branch)

Scheduled Work Days & Work Hours

Monday- Friday, 8:30 am- 4:00 pm

Non-Standard

Job Requisition Number

JR101340 ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR, COMMUNITY AND PLANNING SERVICES (Open)

Pay Grade

C00135 A

Classification

Assistant Administrator, Community and Planning Services

Class Definition

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: To assist in the administration of planning and policy functions; to be responsible for program planning and policy development; to supervise and coordinate the work of a staff engaged in writing and developing various financial, medical and social service plans and programs; and to do related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the administrative direction of a superior with wide latitude for the exercise of initiative and independent judgement; work is reviewed through conferences and reports for conformance to prescribed agency standards.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Plans, directs, coordinates, schedules and reviews the work of a staff of professional, technical and clerical workers who are responsible for preparing the State Plans and policy development of various federal/state or state financial, medical and social service programs and for distributing the same to appropriate statewide staff.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

• To assist in the administration of the planning office which develops State Plans, policies and procedures, monitors and evaluates programs, gathers and interprets statistical reports.
• To be responsible for program planning and policy development including the dissemination of approved policy in the form of policy manuals for departmental staff members.
• To supervise and coordinate the work of a staff engaged in writing and developing various financial, medical and social service plans and programs.
• To review federal and state legislation and program instructions relating to new or revised policies and to direct the necessary changes in existing policies and procedures.
• To act as liaison with federal officials in regard to state plan requirements.
• To consult with other administrators and the staff responsible for programs in regard to the development of plans, policies and procedures.
• To be responsible for development of forms needed by various financial, medical and social service programs.
• To supervise the administrative processes necessary before the implementation or revision of program rules and regulations.
• To be responsible for the receipt, analysis and distribution of federal directives impacting upon various human service programs.
• To insure the efficient and effective functioning of the policy office.
• To do related work as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT:

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND CAPACITITES: A thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques involved in the planning, developing and coordinating of human services programs and the ability to apply such knowledge in the administration of planning and policy functions; a thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of social programs administration; the ability to interpret laws and regulations which impact upon department programs and policies; the ability to develop policy and procedures manuals for the various financial, medical and social service programs; the ability to develop and utilize both manual and computer forms and recordkeeping systems; the ability to supervise professional, technical and clerical staff members engaged in the development of public human services programs; the ability to prepare written reports dealing with various management functions; the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal and state officials working in the social services area; and related capacities and abilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Such as may have been gained through: possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in the field of Social Work, Public Administration, Business Administration or a closely related field; and

Experience: Such as may have been gained through: considerable employment in a responsible administrative position involving the development of programs, policies and procedures for social programs.

Or, any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.

Supplemental Information

This position supports the Department of Human Services' strategic goals of improving payment accuracy, strengthening program integrity, enhancing customer experience, and building collaborative partnerships across Rhode Island. Under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Administrative Services, the Assistant Administrator of Community and Planning Services serves as the Department's strategic lead for community engagement and external partnerships. The position oversees the Community Relations Liaison Officer and is responsible for developing and implementing statewide community engagement strategies that strengthen community partnerships, improve public understanding of Department programs and responsibilities, coordinate cross-divisional engagement efforts, and ensure community feedback informs operational decision-making, service delivery, and continuous improvement.

The position works collaboratively with program leadership, operations, policy, training, communications, technology, and executive leadership to ensure community engagement activities support Department priorities and are coordinated across the agency.

Eligibility Program Knowledge

• Demonstrates comprehensive working knowledge of program policy and procedure of SNAP, Medicaid, RIW, CCAP, LTSS and other related eligibility programs. 5+ experience preferred

Customer Service Knowledge

• Strong experience serving customers in a public assistance or human services environment by accurately interpreting eligibility rules and procedures, resolving complex customer inquiries, and providing clear and consistent guidance regarding program requirements, benefits, verification, and reporting responsibilities.
• Use community partners and customer interactions to identify educational opportunities that improve customer understanding, reduce preventable errors, and strengthen service delivery.

Community Partnership Development and Engagement

• Develops and maintains collaborative partnerships with community organizations, advocacy groups, healthcare providers, educational institutions, local governments, and other stakeholders to improve access to services, strengthen customer education, and advance the Department's goal of timely service delivery, payment accuracy, and program integrity.
• Builds and sustains trust-based relationships that foster shared responsibility for helping customers understand program requirements and successfully access and maintain benefits.

Develops long-term strategic relationships with community organizations, provider associations, advocacy groups, municipalities, healthcare partners, educational institutions, and other stakeholders that advance Department priorities and strengthen public trust.

Cross-Divisional Collaboration and Strategic Coordination

• Serves as the primary liaison between community partners and internal DHS leadership to ensure coordinated engagement, consistent implementation, and timely resolution of operational issues.
• Collaborates with program leadership, field operations, policy, training, communications, technology, legal, and other Department offices to ensure community engagement activities accurately reflect Department priorities and operational practices.
• Coordinates community engagement efforts across DHS divisions to ensure appropriate subject matter expertise, executive awareness, and resource alignment.
• Identifies emerging community needs, customer barriers, and stakeholder feedback and communicates findings to Department leadership to support continuous improvement in programs and operations.
• Uses stakeholder feedback, operational trends, and customer experience data to identify opportunities to improve service delivery and customer education.
• Supports implementation of major Department initiatives through coordinated stakeholder engagement, outreach planning, and communication between DHS programs and external partners.
• Participates in interagency initiatives to implement community engagement and customer education efforts.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Provides effective leadership, direction, and supervision to staff by establishing clear expectations, promoting accountability, fostering professional development and creating a collaborative, customer-focused, work environment.
• Coaches and develops employees to achieve individual and organizational goals while supporting high-quality service delivery, payment accuracy, and program integrity.
• Establishes governance processes that ensure community engagement requests are evaluated, coordinated, and assigned appropriately across Department programs and leadership.

Digital Literacy and Technology

• Familiar and some experience with DHS digital tools, i.e. customer portal and mobile applications.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and communicate operational processes, eligibility systems, and customer service workflows sufficient to effectively engage community partners and support implementation of Department initiatives. Strong ability to work with Microsoft 365 Office Suite, specifically with Power Point, Teams, and Outlook.
• Strong ability to use digital platforms for virtual presentations such as Zoom and Teams.

Presentation and Facilitation Knowledge

• Effectively designs, develops, and delivers presentations, facilitates meetings and presentations that communicate complex information in a clear, accurate, and engaging manner to community providers and customers, and other stakeholders.
• Adapts communications styles and applies presentation techniques to meet the needs of diverse audiences that promote customer understanding and strengthen key holder relationships.
• Demonstrated confidence and professionalism when representing the Department before internal teams, community partners, and the public.
• Ability to design, develop, and deliver educational campaigns/presentations that improve the customers' compliance with reporting requirements.
• Coordinate with Department subject matter experts to ensure presentations and educational materials accurately reflect current policy, operational procedures, and program requirements.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) and bicultural proficiency is preferred. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across diverse cultures and in one or more languages commonly spoken in Rhode Island's residents is highly desirable. The ability to provide culturally responsive customer education and outreach that improves understanding of eligibility requirements and reporting responsibilities is preferred.

Planning and Organizing

• Leads the planning, coordination, and governance of community engagement activities and external partnership initiatives involving multiple DHS divisions.
• Possesses a high level of skills and/or ability to develop plans to achieve goals and objectives and meet project deadlines.

o Prioritize competing responsibilities while meeting established deadlines

o Develop work plans that align with organizational goals

o Manages multiple projects simultaneously

o Adjust priorities to meet changing operational needs

Communication

• Partners with the Department's Communications Team to support consistent public messaging, outreach materials, website content, and promotion of community engagement activities while respecting established organizational roles and responsibilities.
• Possesses a high level of interpersonal and communication skills

o Communicates complex information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, to customers and community partners

o Develops written materials, presentations, correspondence, and education resources that are accurate, concise, and appropriate audience

o Facilitates meetings and presentations that encourage participation and understanding

o Builds collaborative relationships through respectful communication and constructive feedback

o Resolves conflict professionally and effectively

o Maintains accurate and timely communication related to projects, meetings, and outreach activities

The individual hired to fill this position is being hired into an E-Verify site which contains Federal tax Information (FTI), as defined in IRS Publication 1075. Although the individual may not have direct access to FTI, the individual is required to have their employment eligibility validated through E-Verify.

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPoster.pdf

https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf

Benefits

For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/.

Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.