Job Description
The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Opportunity awaits! Is attention to detail important to you and something you strive for in everything you do? Have you worked with federal and/or state legislative processes, procedures, concepts, staff, interested parties, etc.? Do you have work experience with unionized collective bargaining processes, procedures, and practices? Has your background provided you with knowledge of a state Home and Community Based Services program? Do you have experience working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)? Are you experienced in communicating verbally and in writing complex technical, legal, and legislative information to people with diverse education, language, and cultural backgrounds? Do you champion inclusivity and service equity? Then, we want to hear from you!
Summary of Duties
The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) is responsible for the administration of programs that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to thrive in their home and community. ODDS activities include program planning, resource development, standard setting, rate setting, budget development, contract administration, consultation, technical assistance, and program monitoring/evaluation.
Services are coordinated by county governments or their private-nonprofit subcontract agencies, or through contracts executed directly between the Department and the service provider.
The ODDS Rules and Policy unit is responsible for the administration of Medicaid programs that support individuals with developmental disabilities to remain in their own homes or within a licensed or certified setting within the community.
The Policy Unit develops programs, policies, and provides administrative oversight to programs that are funded either through Medicaid, State General Funds, or grants. The unit also assures compliance with federal and state regulations. These programs include in-home services provided by both personal support workers and agencies, foster care, residential group homes, behavior consultation independent providers, direct care nursing, ancillary services and supported living. This unit also is charged with ensuring rules and policy embody all aspects of Service Equity as described in the ODDS strategic vision.
ODDS’ vision is that people and families access quality support that are simple to use and responsive to their strengths, needs and choices, while they live and thrive as valued members of their community. ODDS supports choice and self-determination; community integration and community living; children and families; and partnership. Programs administered by ODDS to support these values include case management and an array of community-based services.
As a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver and State Plan Option Specialist, you will use complicated conceptual, critical, and analytical thinking skills as well as knowledge of social services programs, practices, standards, and budgets to:
- Represent the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) on national committees and workgroups for Medicaid home and community-based services programs serving individuals experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
- Make recommendations on administrative rules and program policies, and implementation of state and federal legislation.
- Explain policy issues and the effect of proposed legislation to state legislators, legislative committee members, lobbyists, and task forces.
- Draft legislative proposals; review and track state and federal legislation; prepare testimony; analyze bills and propose amendments to pending bills.
- Develop strategies and coordinate the implementation of federal laws, regulations, or requirements.
- Represent the state’s legislative priorities and policy strategies with congressional delegations.
- Review and monitor federal legislation in matters of state or agency concern; recommend action to executive managers on methods of effective federal representation.
- Monitor, manage, and coordinate all activities for federal approvals of the Title XIX State Plan Option programs.
- Serve as a key policy advisor to senior management of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
- Provide expertise, analysis, and coordination in developing, implementing, and monitoring of multi-disciplinary services and supports for Oregonians experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), the majority of whom are on the Oregon Health Plan and other Title XIX Medicaid waiver and state plan option authorities.
- Frequently be assigned tasks to coordinate and lead projects that are complex, sensitive in nature or have a high fiscal impact to the agency and significant service impacts to individuals with I/DD.
- Develop regulatory policy, standards, and procedures that involve complex regulatory situations in which policy is not clearly defined and provide oversight of and technical assistance with operational implementation.
- Work closely with community partners, legislative coordinators, business systems, financial and budget units, and policy staff in other agencies.
- Be accountable for program performance monitoring and oversight of federal and state regulatory compliance proposed legislation, and implementation and operationalization of passed legislation
How to Apply
Minimum Qualifications
Eight years of professional-level evaluative, analytical, and planning work experience.
Education will substitute for experience based on the following:
- An associate degree substitutes for 18 months of experience.
- A bachelor’s degree substitutes for three (3) years of experience.
- A master’s degree substitutes for four (4) years of experience.
- A doctorate degree substitutes for five (5) years of experience.
Essential Attributes
We are looking for candidates with:
- Attention to detail for following directions, creating grammatically correct documents, maintaining consistency throughout processes and procedures, tracking legislation and collective bargaining processes, etc.
- Lived or work experience that has provided you with knowledge of a state Home and Community Based Services program.
- Experience working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Experience working with federal and/or state legislative processes, procedures, concepts, staff, interested parties, etc.
- Experience drafting legislative proposals; reviewing and tracking state and/or federal legislation; preparing testimony; analyzing bills; proposing amendments to pending bills; and coordinating the implementation of federal and/or state laws, regulations, or requirements.
- Experience with unionized collective bargaining processes including being a member of a bargaining team, participating in negotiations, and developing and creating bargaining concepts and verbiage.
- Experience ensuring that unionized collective bargaining agreements comply with federal and state laws and rules.
- Experience communicating verbally and in writing complex technical, legal, and legislative information to people with diverse education, language, and cultural backgrounds.
- Experience championing inclusivity and service equity.
Attention all candidates! A cover letter is required. Please attach a resume to your application with your cover letter. Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Your application materials will determine if you are selected to move forward in the selection process. Please include detailed work and education history.
Working Conditions
- Working remotely will be considered in filling this position. Your official workstation will be at our Salem office but the opportunity for remote work at a local office or other remote location will be considered. You will also regularly work and meet in-person with community members and interested parties where they work or reside.
- You will travel throughout the state when needed to attend in-person meetings, trainings, and conferences.
- You will have frequent contact with representatives of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), national associations, ODHS staff, Oregon Health Authority staff, Tribes of Oregon, case management entities, governor’s office, legislators and their staff, and other community partners.
- Work product can be highly visible, and of significant interest to legislative representatives, multiple community partner groups and/or state associations.
- You may need to work outside the normal 40-hour work week during legislative session and sometimes to attend meetings, trainings, or conferences.
Background Checks and Requirements
- If selected as a finalist, we will conduct a criminal history and background check. Adverse criminal history or background check may lead to disqualification. Additional background check information is available here.
- The Oregon Department of Human Services does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
Benefits
Employment Preference
Veterans’ preference:
General Information
- This is a permanent, full-time position and is a Management Service, Non-Supervisory position and is not represented by a union.
- This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification.
Contact Information
We invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions.
- The recruiter for this position is Rebecca Wilson. If you contact the recruiter, please include the job requisition number: REQ-173307.
- Email: REBECCA.A.W.ILSON@odhs.oregon.gov
- Phone (call or text): 503-881-9248.
When applying, mention you saw this opening listed on Disability Scoop.
