Office Specialist 2, Bilingual required: English/Spanish

Initial Posting Date: 08/28/2024 Application Deadline: 09/15/2024 Agency: Department of Human Services Salary Range: $3,218 - $4,338 Position Type: Employee Position Title: Office Specialist 2, Bilingual required: English/Spanish 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! Step into a rewarding career where you can be the friendly face of Child Welfare! Help families navigate important services and provide essential support to those in need. Bilingual requirement (English/Spanish) This position is bilingual and requires duties to be carried out in both English and Spanish. The job offer will be contingent upon passing test(s) evaluating your proficiency in the bilingual requirements of the position. This position may receive a 5% differential pay based on passing the required language test Summary of Duties As an employee working within the Child Welfare Program , you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. Your dedication will help us achieve the Child Welfare Vision for Transformation that will support children and young adults to be safer, healthier, experience less trauma and achieve a greater well-being. As an Office Specialist 2, you will: Clerical Duties: Greets the public for Child Welfare team. Receive incoming telephone calls and responds to in-person appointments or inquiries. Answer questions about specific agency/program information and services or directs inquires as necessary. Explain or clarify laws, rules, process and procedures to clientele and provides information if applicable. Utilizes Language Line capabilities for other non-English speaking agency clientele. Customer Service: Treats customers, partners, vendors and co-workers with dignity and respect. Maintains a work environment that respects, understands, and honors the lived experiences of our clients, colleagues, and the communities we serve. Compliance Management: Ensures compliance with State and Federal laws, by coordinating timely production of payments, policy compliance, forms, and letters in alignment with ODHS policies. Document Management and Data Entry: Handle a substantial volume of administrative documentation and electronic data entry, including filing documents into case files, closing, and transferring cases, creating case and assessment files, and managing personnel records. Reception Duties: Answer incoming phone calls and direct them to the right staff members. Be the first point of contact for in-person customer service, helping with general questions and referring clients to other services as needed. Handle and process mail. Provide explanations or clarifications on rules, processes, and procedures. Minimum Qualifications A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record are required for this position. Two years of general clerical experience that includes keyboarding, word processing, or other experience generating documents; OR An associate degree in any field; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience. Bilingual in English and Spanish (the job offer will be contingent upon passing test(s) evaluating your proficiency in the bilingual requirements of the position). Essential Attributes We are looking for candidates with: Customer service skills that include demonstrated experience consistently going beyond meeting the customer’s basic needs. Experience providing services and resources to children and families while working or volunteering in a social services-related field. Experience using computer skills for word processing and navigating different databases. Experience conducting work that requires attention to detail, particularly when creating or reviewing documents. Experience assessing complex situations with a trauma-informed approach. Attention all candidates! 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 This is in an in-person position. The employee must be able to work with frequent interruptions or distractions. Position may require some travel to do purchases with SPOTS card. There may be prolonged periods of sitting or standing in front of a computer. You will be working in an open office environment with noise from telephones, printers and other staff. The nature of conversations you may overhear may include uncomfortable topics related to child abuse and neglect. A valid driver’s license from the state in which they reside is required and must have an acceptable driving record as determined by the Background Check Unit. Occasional compensated overtime during evening or weekend hours may be required. May include travel, some of which may be under hazardous conditions, due to inclement weather. You may interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions. This a flexible work position with a portion of hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. In the interest of operational needs, the starting and stopping time for a particular day may be adjusted by supervisory personnel. 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. 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. Finalists must be cleared by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) through a fingerprint-based criminal records check. Benefits ODHS Employee Resource Group communities that promote shared learning. Cost of Living Adjustments. Annual salary increases (until you reach the top of the listed salary range). Amazing benefits package . Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program . Employment Preference Veterans’ preference: Veterans’ preference information . How to submit your Veteran documents for preference . Please do not attach your Veterans’ preference documentation in the Resume/CV field of your application. Malheur County preference: If your primary residence is in Malheur County, you may choose to receive 5 percent preference points. The application process includes a required question where you can indicate if you’d like to receive preference or not. General Information This is a permanent, full-time position and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 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 Sugei Hernandez. If you contact the recruiter, please include the job requisition number: REQ-164345. Email: Sugei.Hernandez@odhs.oregon.gov Phone (call or text): 971-375-8675