Food and Nutrition Services Policy Consultant

About the role

• Agency
• Dept of Health and Human Services
• Division
• Child and Family Well Being
• Job Classification Title
• Human Services Program Consultant I (NS)
• Position Number
• 65044709
• Grade
• NC14

Description of Work

The Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Policy Consultant is responsible for developing policy instructions for county staff use to determine FNS eligibility and benefit amounts.

This position interprets federal and state laws and regulations and applies practical questions a caseworker must answer which households are affected, what evidence is needed and when a change takes effect to ensure policies are developed clearly and accurately. The Policy Consultant researches difficult issues, drafts manual revisions and explains the basis for the proposed interpretation.

This position incorporates recurring Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) findings into the policy review process. The Policy Consultant works closely with the FNS Policy Manager, Training Staff, Continuous Quality Improvement Specialists (CQIS) and technology partners and assists counties apply policy consistently while reducing unnecessary work for staff and households.

Key responsibilities include

• Policy development and maintenance: Research federal and state requirements and drafts FNS Manual sections, change notices and administrative letters.
• Identifies controlling authority, exceptions, effective dates and transition instructions.
• Reviews related manual provisions, forms and notices for consistency.
• Prepares implementation analyses that explain the effect on county procedures, system requirements and households.

Drafts policy papers, policy requirements and expected results for North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology (NC FAST) change requests assigned by the Policy Manager, and reviews test scenarios and test results against policy.

• Policy consultation: Answers escalated questions from CQIS, county agencies and the FNS Help Desk with documented analysis and direct references to authority.
• Identifies questions that require the Policy Manager's decision or counsel's review.
• Develops examples that explain how the rule applies to difficult facts.
• Records recurring questions so a statewide clarification can replace repeated individual responses.

• Coordination and presentation: Explains approved policy changes to county staff and work groups.
• Coordinates implementation questions with the NC FAST eligibility system, other departmental units and the officials responsible for each affected process.
• Uses QA and QC findings to identify unclear instructions.
• Works with training staff and CQIS on accurate case exercises, worker references and practical implementation resources.

Compliance support: Prepares assigned policy analyses and supporting records for federal reporting, Management Evaluations, waiver requests and follow-up on review findings. Tracks required policy changes through approval and implementation. Documents unresolved compliance questions and the program decision needed to close them.

Preferred experience with NC FAST and FNS eligibility policy.

Salary Range: $70,487 - $123,336

Recruitment Range $70,487 - $96,908

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they have the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The following Management Preferences are not required, but applicants that possess these skills are preferred:

• Demonstrated knowledge of public assistance policy and the relationship between eligibility rules, benefit calculations and county administration.
• Demonstrated ability to research statutes, regulations and program guidance and explain how the controlling requirement applies to specific facts.
• Demonstrated ability to write precise policy instructions, identify exceptions and resolve inconsistencies among related materials.
• Experience explaining complex program requirements to workers, supervisors or other program partners.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate the operational effect of a policy change and work with training and technology staff on implementation.

Physical Requirements (If Applicable)

• Ability to operate office equipment such as computer, printer, copier, and scanner. Lifting up to 10 pounds.

• Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date
• Position is funded in part through federal funds.

About the Nc Division of Child and Family Well-Being

The Division of Child and Family Well-Being is a division at the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) that will focus on supporting whole child and family health and well-being for North Carolinians with several sections including nutrition programs (WIC, SNAP and Child and Adult Care Food Program), health & prevention services for children and youth, children's behavioral health programs, and early intervention programs. The Operations Unit is in the Community Nutrition Services Section (CNSS) in the Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW).

Compensation and Benefits

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit website for state benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governor's Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.
• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.

Degree/College Credit Verification

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

Veterans' and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of their DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations

CONTACT INFORMATION: Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience."
• If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both.
• See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

• Master's degree in a discipline relative to the program from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of related experience.
• OR
• Bachelor's degree in a discipline relative to the program area from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of related experience.
• OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.