What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Trainer/Specialist position at Dakota County, MN?
Salary : $62,963.00 - $98,380.00 Annually
Location : West St. Paul, MN
Job Type : Full-Time
Job Number : 33370.25.001
Department : Employment & Economic Assistance
Opening Date : 01 / 27 / 2025
Closing Date : 2 / 7 / 2025 4 : 30 PM Central
General Description
POSTING TYPE : Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT : Employment and Economic Assistance
HOURS : Full-time
PREFERRED HIRING RANGE : $62,963 -$78,704
FULL SALARY RANGE : $62,963 - $98,380 / annually (107)
LOCATION : West St. Paul, Northern Service Center
UNION : AFSCME 306
CLOSE DATE : 4 : 30 p.m. on 2 / 7 / 2025
Program Trainer Specialists (PTSs) provide leadership in training and mentoring staff and supporting team members in daily unit operations. PTSs develop and present Public Assistance program, policy, and procedure trainings to staff and evaluate performance by completing case reviews and identifying opportunities to improve casework management and overall operations.
This posting is being used to recruit for 4 distinct PTS positions in Public Assistance, including :
- Program Trainer : The Training Team seeks an emerging leader with experience processing SNAP, MFIP / DWP, and CCAP programs. The core function of the Trainer role is supporting new Public Assistance staff through delivery of training content, rollout of casework, and completing case reviews and monthly progress reports.
- PAS Team Lead Worker : This position will aid in training and developing resources for the variety of support the PAS Team provides to the health care program units. They will support the development of PAS Team staff by sharing their program expertise, state guidelines, and agency best practices. In this role, they will maintain their health care program knowledge, continue to develop close working relationships with the other health care program Lead Workers, Financial Workers, and their supervisors.
- ASP Team Lead Worker : As a key part of the role, responsibilities include mentoring new staff, effectively communicating policy and procedural changes, and providing support to the team by addressing their questions. Seeking an individual with experience processing ABD Medical Assistance, General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, Emergency Assistance, and SNAP. Collaboration with fellow ASP leads and trainers is essential to ensure alignment and consistency. Additionally, the role involves completing case reviews and managing escalated cases to maintain high standards of service and efficiency.
- SNAP Team Lead Worker : We seek a dynamic individual who excels at collaboration and is ready to influence policy and procedural changes. If you are experienced in cash processing and emergency assistance programs and are eager to learn and grow, this is the role for you. You will significantly contribute by working alongside lead workers and trainers, providing mentorship to staff as they master individual case management.
Who We Are
Dakota County is Minnesota's third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. Our motto is "Be More" and we strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values : Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.
Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.
Minimum Qualifications
1 years of experience with a Public Assistance agency
Duties & Responsibilities
These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.
1. Demonstrates a commitment to increase cultural diversity County wide and actively supports the County's diversity initiatives and works to address the needs of diverse and underserved communities
2. Train existing employees using both in-person and remote classroom training and hands on models.
3. Assist in supervising a public assistance unit by : assigning work and providing training and advice to other financial workers on procedures, policies and programs; evaluating probationary employee performance and providing input on performance appraisals; acting as a central resource person for internal and external customers and resolving problems concerning eligibility, benefit amounts or access to community resources; or performing other duties as assigned.
4. Quality assurance : Review work of Financial Assistance Specialist staff to ensure conformity to regulations and procedures including case reviews, audits, and ongoing training based on findings from case reviews and audits.
5. Resolve discrepancies in case records including errors, and problems resulting from miscommunication, changes in policies, or implementation of new procedures.
6. Plan, design, and implement new programs, legal mandates, and agency initiatives.
7. Coach staff on difficult case situations or actions.
8. Provide both on-the-job and topical training for experienced financial workers on procedures and program guidelines.
9. Manage complex and sensitive cases including prepare cases for appeals, attend appeal hearings, and document the actions taken by the agency regarding public assistance eligibility. May work with the County Attorney's office to investigate cases referred for disqualification, gather evidence and identify witnesses, childcare disqualification cases, and client complaint calls / resolution.
10. Process overpayments and correct program errors.
11. Provide back-up caseload coverage for absent workers or vacant positions within unit to ensure workload is adequately managed.
12. Direct work unit activities in the supervisor's absence.
13. Maintain detailed knowledge of the current requirements of multiple public assistance programs through meetings, training sessions to include developing and maintaining cultural and diversity awareness, and the review of appropriate public assistance literature.
14. Prepare special reports as necessary.
15. Respond to public inquiries about public assistance programs and eligibility criteria.
16. Submit policy questions to DHS
17. Other duties as assigned.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS : Duties 1- 15 are essential functions
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment
Work Environment
The work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer. Employee may need to lift up to twenty pounds on an occasional basis.
Location & Schedule
This is a hybrid position that offers a mix of telework and in-person work at our Northern Service Center in West St Paul, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8 : 00 a.m. to 5 : 00 p.m.)
Benefits
Selection Process
Visit our Benefits site for more information.
Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed above and application materials. It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and / or match answers to the supplemental questions.Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.
Minimum qualification screening.Select how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.
Do you have at least 1 year of experience with a Public Assistance agency in Minnesota within the past five years?
How many years of full-time work experience do you have as a Financial Worker or Eligibility Specialist, determining eligibility for programs like Medical Assistance, SNAP, Cash, Child Care, or Emergency programs? This experience must be on your application.
There are several positions being recruited for with this posting. Select all of the positions you'd like to be considered for :
If your application indicates experience as a Financial Worker / Eligibility Specialist, list the names(s) of the agency, dates of employment, and job title. If you have no experience, indicate 'none' in the space provided.
Describe what you have done to support diversity, inclusion, equity, and access in your volunteer, educational, or work experiences.
Describe your experience facilitating training in group or individual settings or serving as a designated lead staff to support other staff.
If selected for this position, what would be your minimum acceptable salary?
Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.
If you selected "other" certification, please list below.
Required Question
Salary : $62,963 - $98,380
