CAPS – Scholarship Administration Specialist, Special Teams

Closing Date: August 9, 2024

Hiring Salary: $40,560

Commensurate with Education & Experience

Job Code: SSP051

Pay Grade: H

Location: Remote

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the childcare and early education needs of Georgia's children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia's Pre-K Program, licenses childcare centers and home-based childcare, administers Georgia Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia's community powered childcare rating system.

The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of childcare, and works collaboratively with Georgia childcare resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education.

Job Summary:

The CAPS Scholarship Administration Specialist, Special Teams is responsible for conducting programmatic and operational activities of the scholarship administration function/section of the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program within the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). This includes the eligibility determination process for participation in the CAPS program for both initial and renewal applications. The successful candidate must have policy and procedural knowledge of the Georgia Childcare and Parent Services program with a focus on the foster care, TANF and specialized populations. This position is home based and may require some statewide travel.

Reliable attendance is an essential function of this position; consistent availability to work scheduled appointments and adhere to report deadlines is required.

Job Responsibilities:

• The CAPS Scholarship Administration Specialist, Special Teams will perform tasks involving:
• Processing assigned electronic and hard copy initial applications/referrals for CAPS scholarships to determine program eligibility.
• Processing assigned electronic and hard copy renewal applications/referrals for CAPS scholarships to determine ongoing eligibility.
• Processing assigned electronic and hard copy changes requests applications/referrals for CAPS scholarships to determine ongoing eligibility
• Verifying eligibility through appropriate documents and contact with consumer's employer, education institution, and any other third-party entity that may verify eligibility; and applying eligibility policies accordingly.
• Processing referrals from Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and/or partner agencies for CAPS scholarships to determine eligibility.
• Providing resolution to customer concerns and issues that arise.
• Providing initial consumer education.
• Conducting research using a variety of sources to complete, prepare, assemble, process, and/or report findings and other documentation, or to respond to inquiries, questions or requests.
• Entering data from forms, records, reports, and/or other sources into data systems for purposes such as maintaining databases.

Required Qualifications:

High school diploma/GED and three (3) years of related experience; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Economic Support Cons 1 (SSP050) or position equivalent.

Agency Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and Two years of experience in child serving, state or community program or organization.

• Current or previous CAPS program work experience
• Current work experience in another DECAL program
• Two years or more of experience in child serving, state or community program or organization
• Two years or more of experience working with vulnerable populations, including families experiencing homelessness, children with disabilities, and those whose home language is not English
• Two years or more of experience working with low-income families.
• Two years or more of experience managing or overseeing an application or eligibility process in a human services program
• Knowledge and training in creating a customer service centered culture and integrating exemplary customer service into processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of Child Care Development Fund federal regulations

Technical Competencies:

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and Two years of experience in child serving, state or community program or organization.

• Current or previous CAPS program work experience
• Current work experience in another DECAL program
• Two years or more of experience in child serving, state or community program or organization
• Two years or more of experience working with vulnerable populations, including families experiencing homelessness, children with disabilities, and those whose home language is not English
• Two years or more of experience working with low-income families.
• Two years or more of experience managing or overseeing an application or eligibility process in a human services program
• Knowledge and training in creating a customer service centered culture and integrating exemplary customer service into processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of Child Care Development Fund federal regulations

Physical Position Requirements:

· Work is typically performed in an office environment with intermittent sitting, standing, or walking in various settings.

· Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification.

· Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

· The ability to speak clearly, to hear and understand at a normal conversational level, and to receive detailed information through verbal communication

· Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading and visual inspection.

· Full range of hand and finger motion for data entry purposes.

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is a family-friendly employer offering flexible work schedules (at supervisory discretion) and a comprehensive compensation package that includes retirement, 401K match, and elective options for health, life, dental, and vision insurance. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer. A background check will be completed upon hire, which may consist of any of the following: criminal history, credit history, employment history, educational records, IRS records, and driving records.

“If you are an individual with a disability who may require assistance or other reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the selection process for this position, you may contact our HR department at 404-656-3922. Due to the volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application or interview status cannot be provided in writing, over the phone, or in person. Only qualified candidates who are selected for an interview will be notified when this vacancy is filled. All applicants who submit a complete application package will be considered but may not necessarily receive notification or an interview. The job posting may be closed at any time without notice.