Position Information

NY HELPYes

AgencyPeople With Developmental Disabilities, Office for

TitleProgram Operations Specialist 1 (NY HELPS)

Occupational CategoryHealth Care, Human/Social Services

Salary Grade18

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $65001 to $82656 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Contingent Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 8:30 AM

To 4:30 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

Location

County Schenectady

Street Address 500 Balltown Road

City Schenectady

StateNY

Zip Code12304

Job Specifics

Minimum Qualifications NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Program Operations Specialist 1: A bachelor’s degree in a human services field and two years of experience in a federal or state certified human service program. One year of this experience must have been in a professional administrative position in which a major duty involved planning, coordinating, monitoring or evaluating a provision of services for people with developmental disabilities. This experience must have included information gathering and analysis.
*A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.

Program Operations Specialist Trainee 2: A bachelor’s degree in a human services field and one year of experience in a federal or state certified human service program, which must have been in a professional administrative position in which a major duty involved planning, coordinating, monitoring or evaluating a provision of services for people with developmental disabilities. This experience must have included information gathering and analysis.
*A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.

Program Operations Specialist Trainee 1: A bachelor’s degree in a human services field.


COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates must be reachable for appointment on the current Civil Service Eligible List or the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) Eligible List for this title.


REASSIGNMENT QUALIFICATIONS:

Current Office for People with Developmental Disabilities employees with one year of permanent, contingent permanent, or 55 B/C service as a Program Operations Specialist 1. If you have less than one year, you must be currently reachable on the eligible list.


TRANSFER QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.

To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/index.cfm.


55 B/C QUALIFICATIONS:
• Possess the minimum qualifications for this title as established by the Department of Civil Service and listed on the most recent exam announcement.
• Meet the applicable minimal mental and/or physical requirements for the job (with a reasonable accommodation, if necessary)
• Have a current Eligibility Letter from the NYS Department of Civil Service, www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/, and be able to provide it to the Human Resources Office upon request.


The position may be filled at the Program Operations Specialist Trainee 1 level equated to SG-14, ($52,198), Program Operations Specialist Trainee 2 level equated to SG-16 ($58,247) or full performance Program Operations Specialist 1 SG-18 ($65,001), based on education and experience. Candidates hired at the trainee level will be advanced to the full performance Program Operations Specialist 1 SG-18 following the successful completion of the traineeship.

Duties Description - Provide real-time oversight of the critical function of incident management on a statewide basis. Ensure appropriate information is provided for each initial report of serious reportable incidents, allegations of abuse and all deaths. This includes ensuring adequate protective measures for the individuals are taken, that the incidents are classified correctly, and a thorough description of each incident has been received, and that required notifications to entities such as law enforcement are completed as appropriate.
- Generate Critical and Significant Event reports based on established criteria, on an ongoing basis.
- Work in conjunction with the Office of Investigations and Internal Affairs (OIIA) and the Office of Employee Relations, as well as the Statewide Committee on Incident Review (SCIR) and local Incident Review Committees, to ensure a strong, coordinated approach is taken in response to any abuse allegations or other serious incidents that may occur within voluntary agency and state-operated services.
- Provide Division of Quality Improvement (DQI) staff (to include Bureau of Program Certification (BPC) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)) with pertinent information for monitoring and evaluation and alert BPC staff to significant untoward events for immediate follow up, as needed.
- Provide technical assistance to providers on the use of the Incident Report and Management Application (IRMA).
- Review corrective action plans. Follow up with providers on required information and review responses from providers to corrective action plan requests. Enter appropriate related information into IRMA and/or the New York State Justice Center (NYJC) Vulnerable Person’s Central Register (VPCR). Complete all follow up as necessary.
- Review completed investigations and supporting documentation submitted by provider agencies, and as necessary, request additional work be completed on the investigation, and/or request additional supporting evidence, and documentation. Enter appropriate related information into IRMA and/or the NYJC VPCR. Complete all follow up as necessary.
- Act as liaison, should the Justice Center request additional information for corrective action plans and / or investigative work, or have questions for the investigating agency.
- Review and complete agency submitted applications on behalf of the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) background check application system and on behalf of the Statewide Central Register Database Check system; supervise Grade 13 staff working within these systems.
- Participate and contribute to various local and statewide committees, workgroups and meetings focused on OPWDD’s incident processes and initiatives, including mortality review.
- Respond to telephone and email inquiries from the Justice Center, voluntary and state operated agencies, and Incident Management colleagues and supervisors.
- Assist in the development of appropriate and standardized trend analysis reports for the Commissioner’s and Leadership Team’s review, as well as specific trend reports that will be required to be completed on an annual basis by all providers of service in accordance with Part 624 regulations.
- Review and analyze IRMA data to identify significant trends to ensure they are responded to appropriately to improve the quality of services to individuals served.
- Provide ongoing training, technical assistance and direction to both state operated and voluntary provider agencies in all areas of incident management.
- Respond to inquiries relative to incident management as appropriate.
- Develop an understanding of the Part 624 (14 NYCRR Part 624) handbook, commentary and FAQs and provide advice and direction as appropriate.
- Maintain an understanding of the PPSNA (Protection of People with Special Needs Act).
- Learn and maintain a proficiency for the use of all OPWDD and NYJC databases and all systems used in the Incident Management Unit (IMU).
- Learn and maintain a proficiency for the use of all IMU processes, including administrative processes.
- Complete all other tasks relative to incident management as assigned.







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Additional Comments • NYS HELPS
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non- competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status.
• If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume/cover letter.
• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the NYS OPWDD Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or Email at accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
• The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and it's Division of Quality Improvement is committed to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture, and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
• If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.


NYS Offers Incredible Benefits!
• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
• Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
• Life insurance and Disability insurance.
• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis. Paid Holidays and Leave
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.
• Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.
• Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.
• Health Care Coverage Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.
• Retirement Program Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.
• Professional Development and Education and Training NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://goer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development. Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https:// oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Contact Information

Name Molly Kratzenberg

Telephone 518-473-4785

Fax 518-474-9902

Email Address MainOffice.Careers@opwdd.ny.gov

Address

Street 44 Holland Avenue

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12229

 

Notes on ApplyingPlease submit a cover letter and resume as an attached PDF or Word document by 11/29/24. Please reference the EOA #2024-296 in all correspondence.