Who We Are

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) supports Ohioans and their families through the following programs:

• Cash and Food Assistance
• Employment Services and Workforce Development
• Unemployment Insurance
• Adult Protective Services
• Child Support

Public service is an honorable way to serve the community in a hands-on dedicated way. You can make a difference in someone’s world!

Guiding Principles

• We will be a leader in customer satisfaction.
• We will have a reputation that attracts and retains talented, diverse, and dedicated employees.
• We get better at what we do every day.

Office of Family Assistance

The Office of Family Assistance provides policy, operational, technical assistance and training support for safety net programs that assist low-income Ohioans. This includes: ​​​​​Cash assistance programs funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, including Ohio Works First (OWF) and the Prevention Retention and Contingency programs; Food assistance programs including, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Summer EBT Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); Program Integrity; and Adult Protective Services. Learn more about the office by visiting the Office of Family Assistance webpage.​

What You Will Do

This position supports the Ohio Benefits system, which manages public assistance programs such as SNAP, TANF, and OWF. The role works closely with IT staff, county agencies, and program areas to ensure the system meets user needs, follows state and federal requirements, and operates effectively. Under general supervision, this position helps review system changes, test updates, troubleshoot issues, and support users. The role also assists with training, communication, and monitoring to ensure the system is being used correctly and consistently across the state.

Job Duties

• Help define system requirements based on program rules, policies, and legislation
• Review technical and design documents to ensure alignment with program needs
• Create and execute test scenarios to validate system changes and functionality
• Support system implementation activities, including transitions from legacy processes
• Respond to user questions and troubleshoot system issues
• Identify whether issues are related to system functionality, user error, or external factors
• Work with IT staff and vendors to resolve defects and system problems
• Develop user guides, job aids, and training materials
• Provide training and guidance to internal users and external partners
• Maintain documentation, reports, and records related to assigned work
• Attend meetings, trainings, and support special projects as assigned
• Provide training and guidance to internal users and external partners

Challenges

• Work priorities may shift based on system issues, policy changes, or operational needs
• System behavior may not always align with program expectations and may require investigation
• Issues may involve multiple partners, requiring coordination across teams and agencies
• Users may have varying levels of system knowledge and require different levels of support
• Managing multiple assignments and deadlines at the same time

Recommended Skills

• Ability to use a personal computer and standard software applications
• Ability to understand and apply program rules and system functionality
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adjust to changing workloads
• Ability to work with both technical and non-technical staff
• Attention to detail and ability to identify issues or inconsistencies
• Familiarity with eligibility systems or public assistance programs preferred

Schedule: Full-time

Hours: Standard workdays are Monday through Friday. Hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m

Location: This position will be headquartered in an ODJFS Facility in one of the following cities - Columbus, Akron, or Dayton. This determination will take into account the proximity to the applicant's home address.

Rhodes State Officer Tower - 30 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Akron - 172 S. Broadway Street, Akron, OH 44308
Dayton - 6680 Poe Avenue, Dayton, OH 45414

Travel: Occasional travel within the state of Ohio.

PN(s): 20042219

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

The ideal candidate, at minimum, must have the following:

Option 1:

• Completion of undergraduate core coursework or 2 years experience in social or behavioral science, pre-medicine, business administration, public administration, human services as defined in series purpose, or comparable field (note: this required education and/or experience shall not be applied to satisfy one of the following);

AND

• 24 months recent experience (i.e., within the past 5 years) in delivery of human services that included explaining and applying public assistance laws, policies and procedures mandated by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and using Ohio Benefits;

AND

• 6 months training or 6 months experience in operating personal computer and using Microsoft Office system software, that is Microsoft Excel, Power Point, or like software package.
  

Or Option 2:

• Equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above.

Tips For Your Application

When completing the different sections of this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your Work Experience and Education & Certifications if you do not provide that information in your online application. Information in attached resumes or cover letters must be entered into your application in the appropriate Work Experience or Education & Certification sections to be considered.

Pay Information

This position is in the State of Ohio’s SEIU/1199 Pay Schedule, Pay Range 13. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $34.96 per hour). These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases. With continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Cost of Living Adjustments increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. The current step progression wages are in the table below.

ADA Notice

If you require an accommodation based on a disability for any step of the selection process, please contact ada_public@jfs.ohio.gov.

Selection Priority Notice SEIU/1199

Current employees of ODJFS in the SEIU/1199 union have selection rights before all other applicants. Applications from all other candidates will only be considered if an internal SEIU/1199 applicant is not selected for this position.

Background check information

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Some positions may require drug testing and/or fingerprinting. Criminal convictions do not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.