State of Maryland

A Family Investment Specialist Supervisor I is one of two supervisory levels of work overseeing units of Family Investment Specialists involved in the determination of eligibility of applicants for programs of the Family Investment Administration (FIA) and the quality control review of those determinations.  Employees in this classification are responsible for the interpretation and application of laws, regulations and policies relevant to Family Investment Administration programs for the analysis of procedures, and the recommendation of new or revised procedures.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Family Investment Specialists and clerical workers in one unit.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Social Service Administrator, Human Service Administrator or higher-level administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings and weekends and may be required to visit customers in their homes or at facilities such as nursing homes, group homes and hospitals.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a classification specification.

The Family Investment Specialist Supervisor I is differentiated from the Family Investment Specialist IV in that the Family Investment Specialist Supervisor I has supervisory responsibility for one unit of lower-level Family Investment Specialists while the Family Investment Specialist IV assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Family Investment Specialists and provides specialized services to customers and handles more complex cases.  The Family Investment Specialist Supervisor I is differentiated from the Family Investment Specialist Supervisor II in that the Family Investment Specialist Supervisor II has supervisory responsibility for two or more units of lower-level Family Investment Specialists.

Supervises one unit of lower-level Family Investment Specialists and clerical workers involved in determining customer eligibility for FIA programs or the quality control review of those determinations;

Assigns work and reviews case records for completeness, accuracy, the application of and compliance with State and federal policy, procedures, laws, rules and regulations;

Plans and controls workload to assure quality of service;

Analyzes work to determine causes of errors, and recommends and implements corrective actions, and policy and procedural changes when necessary;

Trains staff in work management and technical areas of the work;

Interprets State and federal policy and procedures, laws, rules and regulations regarding public assistance programs;

Records information in automated databases and classifies and codes errors for statistical analysis;

Serves as an advocate on behalf of customers;

May meet with community groups, or State or federal staff as a representative of the Maryland Department of Human Services; 

May prepare appeal packages or testify in administrative/appeals hearings;

May make visits to customers’ homes to gather information;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the impact of poverty and related sociological and health problems;

Knowledge of Family Investment Administration programs, policies and procedures;

Knowledge of federal and State regulations and the operation of local Social Service Departments relevant to Family Investment Administration programs;

Skill in the use of computer applications;

Skill in the use of interviewing and communication techniques;

Ability to supervise lower-level Family Investment Specialists engaged in determination of eligibility for public assistance programs and the quality control review of those determinations;

Ability to plan and manage the work of one unit of Family Investment Specialists and control the workload to assure quality of service;

Ability to prepare charts, graphs and other reports and to communicate information clearly and concisely;

Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with customers, staff members, other agencies and institutions and the general public;

Ability to work with the community and other State or federal agencies as a representative of the FIA and the Maryland Department of Human Services;

Ability to keep eligibility and personal information confidential.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four years of experience determining eligibility for governmental assistance programs or monitoring for compliance in those programs.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience as described on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience involving public contact and of support functions directly related to Family Investment program operations for the required education.

3. These requirements are established by the Family Investment Administration by authority provided in Human Services Article Title 5, Subtitle 2, Section 204, (b)(1) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Office of Personnel Services and Benefits of the Department of Budget and Management and the Examination Services Unit of the Department of Human Services do not have the authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.  

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order), or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.