Senior Planner

Location: Portland,Maine,United States

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date: June 14, 2024

Closing Date:  June 28, 2024

Job Class Code: 0603
Grade:  25 (Professional & Technical Services) 
Salary: $ 52,832.00– $ 71,240.00/yr.
Position Number:  02000-3973
Location: Portland

Core Responsibilities:

DHHS' Office for Family Independence is looking for a Regional Senior Planner for the ASPIRE program. This position will be based out of the Portland DHHS off and cover the Portland and Biddeford areas. The Regional Senior Planner will provide Whole Family Case Coordination services to ASPIRE participants.  The position will be assigned specific cases to monitor and with which to serve as a liaison between those households and service providers, State agencies, case managers, and other resources.  Coordination of services is to be provided to address cases with special circumstances that could benefit from additional support and community services, and attention to barriers that may or may not be initially disclosed or evident to the ASPIRE program (including, but not limited to, domestic violence, substance use, language, developmental challenges, education, parenting skills, and other personal and environmental factors).  These positions will interpret existing situations and complement ASPIRE's employment- and education-focused efforts through coordination with all caseworkers and stakeholders invested in the household, other federal, State, and DHHS programs, and community resources.  OFI staff will analyze data gathered regarding outcomes for participant households.  These positions will monitor, coordinate, and ensure access to available resources for all members of participant households.
Tasks may include, but are not limited to, the following: 
•    Researching assigned areas to determine existing and available services.
•    Interpreting the existing situation of a household to develop recommendations and policies.
•    Collecting monthly data and entering it into an excel spreadsheet reports so data can inform practice.   
•    Administering projects which impact assigned area in order to ensure work is accomplished in accordance with established procedure and optimize the use of allocated resources.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, you must have a bachelor’s degree in Social Services or a related field and four (4) years of experience in the development, delivery, or administration of public sector social service programs, or comparable experience in a public service environment. Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
The ideal candidate will have excellent oral and written communication skills, a positive attitude, a desire to help people, and a desire to work in a team atmosphere. Knowledge of public assistance programs, OFI, and the TANF and ASPIRE Programs is highly preferred.
The background of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate the following competencies:
1.    Exceptional communication skills including the ability to work with various segments of the population.
2.    The ability and past experience to thrive in an organization going through significant change and constant evolution.
3.    Experience that highlights an ability to achieve results.
4.    The ability to work independently and accomplish goals.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information: 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office for Family Independence (OFI) is responsible for administration of a number of programs and services, including MaineCare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Child Support, and Disability Determinations.

Application Information:

 Please submit all documents or files in  PDF format.

To apply, please upload a resume, cov