Review Vacancy
AgencyTemporary and Disability Assistance, Office of
TitleTemporary Assistance Specialist 1 or Trainee 1 or 2 (NY HELPS)
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $65001 to $82656 Annually
Minimum Qualifications Let OTDA make a difference for your career while you make a difference for your community! In the Employment and Income Support Programs (EISP) vision of OTDA, you can be part of a team that helps ensure that New York’s most vulnerable citizens are connecting with the benefits that will give them a hand-up toward economic stability, affordable housing, and food security. EISP is looking for dedicated individuals with background experience in human services who can apply their policy knowledge and technical skills to the programs our division is entrusted with overseeing. Some applicants will be eligible to enter the position at the full-title level, but traineeship opportunities are also available for anyone with less direct experience. The division is dedicated to teaching and supporting all employees who possess drive, capability, and a passion to help others. Please continue reading for more details on the official qualifications required.
Candidates Must Meet the Following Qualifications:
NY HELPS: These titles are part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, these titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required, but all candidates must meet the non-competitive minimum qualifications for these titles. At this time, OTDA may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In June 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive, and the official probationary period will begin.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
NON-COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS:
For Trainee 1 level, you must have a bachelor’s or higher degree.
For Trainee 2 Level, you must have a bachelor's or higher degree; AND one year of professional experience performing one or more of the following:
• Administering temporary assistance programs and initiatives to assess applicant/recipient needs, determine eligibility and/or provide services or benefits to low-income individuals or families. Such initiatives may include, but are not limited to, the development of systems applications for determining eligibility and benefit levels for temporary assistance programs;
• Planning, implementing, assessing, monitoring and/or evaluating programs to deliver effective temporary assistance and/or workforce development/training programs to unemployed, underemployed, low income or disabled individuals;
• Managing contracts and related budgets for workforce development/training and/or temporary assistance programs, including contract development, negotiation and execution, and fiscal management, monitoring or program review; and
• Planning, developing, managing, or administering programs that provide care and service to adults, children, and/or families in need of assistance, including childcare, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee and/or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.
Substitution: A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
For the Full Performance Level, you must have a bachelor's or higher degree; AND two years of professional experience performing one or more of the following:
• Administering temporary assistance programs and initiatives to assess applicant/recipient needs, determine eligibility and/or provide services or benefits to low-income individuals or families. Such initiatives may include, but are not limited to, the development of systems applications for determining eligibility and benefit levels for temporary assistance programs;
• Planning, implementing, assessing, monitoring and/or evaluating programs to deliver effective temporary assistance and/or workforce development/training programs to unemployed, underemployed, low income or disabled individuals;
• Managing contracts and related budgets for workforce development/training and/or temporary assistance programs, including contract development, negotiation and execution, and fiscal management, monitoring or program review; and
• Planning, developing, managing, or administering programs that provide care and service to adults, children, and/or families in need of assistance, including childcare, foster care, medical assistance and adult residential care, aid to the refugee and/or immigrant population, or child and adult protective care.
Substitution: A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
Note: experience limited to clerical screening of applications, data entry, distribution of forms/brochures to prospective social services applicants, administrative duties in support of temporary assistance programs and any function in which the major responsibility of the position does NOT entail the direct planning, oversight, or provision of assistance is not considered qualifying. In addition, experience in staff development activities internal to an organization or auditing of employment and training programs, is NOT qualifying experience for this examination.
Temporary Assistance Programs are: Family Assistance (FA), Jobs Program, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SSI State Supplement Program, Emergency Assistance to Families or Adults (EAF,EAA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), Employment Services for Recipients of Public Assistance or SNAP, Energy Assistance, Low Income Housing Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), Emergency Rental Assistance Program/Landlord Rental Assistance Program (ERAP/LRAP, Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Benefits (P-EBT), Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Benefits (Summer EBT), and Medicaid.
OR
55b/c: These positions are eligible for 55b/c appointment, and candidates with 55b/c eligibility are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for a 55b/c appointment, candidates must be currently enrolled in the Civil Service 55b/c program and meet the Non-Competitive Qualifications. Information about the 55b/c program can be found here: https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/.
COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS
Eligible for a lateral transfer or eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law by having one year of permanent competitive service in an appropriate title. Information regarding transfer eligibility is available on the Civil Service Career Mobility Office website at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.
OR
Reachable on the appropriate eligible list in Harlem.
Duties Description The Temporary Assistance 1, G18 positions are located within the Integrated Eligibility Systems Bureau (IES) Employment and Income Support Programs (EISP) Metro downstate office. These positions will be supervised by a Temporary Assistance Specialist 2.
A summary of the primary activities the Temporary Assistance Specialist 1 G-18s will be performing include,
but are not limited to:
• Define and develop system requirements for the development, changes, and enhancements to the IES system and related projects. This may include, but is not limited to: participating in meetings, reviewing of documentation, coordinating discussions with subject matter experts to identify and document system requirements and developing and maintaining documentation;
• Define user requirements and participate in the development of technical systems design specifications for complex system development enhancement projects and develop and maintain documentation;
• Develop and execute appropriate testing to validate the effectiveness of the system in meeting the
system user and program requirements. Maintain documentation of testing;
• Provide indirect assistance to system users including identifying, analyzing, and resolving the more
complex problems reported by system users;
• Increase knowledge of open systems, current Welfare Management System (WMS), Welfare Reporting and Tracking System (WRTS), and other related systems, new software tools related to systems changes, as well as policy and operational requirements which impact systems;
• Participate in training programs as requested by supervisor to increase knowledge and skills needed to perform tasks related to IES;
• Attend and participate in meetings with stakeholders to discuss system development, changes, and
enhancements;
• Attend and participate in meetings with staff to discuss current and expected projects as well as
operational needs; and
• Complete special projects, as assigned.
Additional Comments Full-time, permanent, contingent permanent or temporary appointments will be made. These positions may require up to 30% travel. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Your resume must indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for these positions. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.
Salary for Trainee 1 starts at $49,363
Salary for Trainee 2 starts at $52,198
(Plus Location Pay: $3,400)
Remarks:
• Candidates should reference posting 24-164SNY when submitting your application.
• If submitting electronically, please reference posting 24-164SNY as part of your subject line.
• If you are interested in applying to these positions, please visit how to apply for applicant instructions.
Interested applicants should send an email to jobpostings@otda.ny.gov and reference posting #24164SNY. DO NOT REFERENCE THE VACANCY ID NUMBER.
NYS OTDA seeks to promote a diverse workforce that is a representation of the various cultures, voices, backgrounds, ideas, and talents of the citizens and communities that we serve. We actively solicit and encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (“BIPOC”); LGBTQIA+ individuals; women; people with disabilities; and military veterans.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address jobpostings@otda.ny.gov
Address
Street 40 North Pearl Street, 12B
Notes on ApplyingTo apply, please send a cover letter and resume. Include a current, Civil Service title and grade level and clearly state how you meet the minimum qualifications.
Interested applicants should send an email to jobpostings@otda.ny.gov and reference posting #24164SNY. DO NOT REFERENCE THE VACANCY ID NUMBER.
You may be required to provide acceptable proof of education, experience, credential and/or license to demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications for appointment to this position.
Applicants will be required to prove their eligibility for employment based upon acceptance of a position in accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
If you are a retiree currently receiving benefits, indicate this and the name of the retirement system in your response.
In accordance with state law, Governor’s Executive Order No. 6 and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance does not discriminate against disabled individuals. If you are disabled and require reasonable accommodation at the time of the interview, please contact OTDA's designee for reasonable accommodation at (518) 474-7284.