Eligibility Specialist Lead

Benefit Eligibility:

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY: 

The Eligibility Specialist Lead determines eligibility for the following programs: Adult Financial and Medical Assistance, Food Assistance, Family Medical, Colorado Child Care Assistance, and Colorado Works. The Lead Worker interprets and applies county, state and federal regulations, and assists Eligibility Specialists and Supervisors, as well as other staff within the department. This individual also serves as a technical expert in functions of the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS). The Eligibility Specialist Lead assists with training, reviews eligibility specialists work assignments, and provides backup support to team members when a supervisor is not available. The Eligibility Specialist Lead gathers information for all state reports and assists in managing the team’s caseload. 

SCHEDULE: 

This position is available for schedules of 5/8s (8-hour workdays, Monday-Friday) or 4/10s (10-hour workdays, any combination of days Monday-Friday). This position is hybrid, with remote work and in-office work assigned as needed. 

COMPENSATION:  

Hiring Range:  $28.90-$30.34 USD Hourly 

Compensation will be determined based on education, experience and skills. 

BENEFITS: 

Jefferson County offers a generous benefits package that supports your personal and professional life. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off and holidays, including a starting bank of 40 hours of PTO for new hires; retirement matching; wellness programs; tuition reimbursement; flexible schedules; remote work options; and more. For more information, click here for our Total Rewards summary.   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:   

Eligibility Program Support and Technical Guidance 

• Support supervisors in monitoring and assisting eligibility staff with the determination and redetermination of eligibility across multiple assistance programs. 

• Provide technical guidance and interpret program rules, regulations, and policies to support accurate, consistent, and timely eligibility determinations. 

• Troubleshoot eligibility system errors within CBMS and identify appropriate courses of action to resolve system-related issues. 

• Assist staff with complex cases, eligibility questions, and procedural concerns to promote compliance with federal, state, and county requirements. 

• Interpret and communicate changes to program rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to support consistent implementation across the division. 

Quality Assurance and Case Review 

• Conduct consistent, timely, and meaningful case reviews to assess accuracy, compliance, documentation, and adherence to established eligibility policies and procedures. 

• Document all completed case reviews in the designated QA database to support quality tracking, identification of trends, and evaluation of opportunities for additional coaching and training. 

• Identify errors, patterns, and areas for improvement through case reviews and provide constructive, actionable feedback that supports employee development and continuous improvement. 

• Collaborate with peers, supervisors, Quality Assurance (QA), and Training staff to promote consistent interpretation and application of quality standards across CAD. 

• Seek clarification when questions arise regarding error findings, quality expectations, or policy interpretation. Bring unresolved questions and differing perspectives to Quality and Training Excellence (QTE) meetings to support shared understanding and consistent practices. 

• Share case review findings, emerging trends, and lessons learned with appropriate staff to strengthen program knowledge, improve accuracy, and support consistent eligibility outcomes. 

Employee Training, Mentoring, and Development 

• Train, mentor, and provide ongoing technical support to new and established employees to strengthen program knowledge, system proficiency, and job performance. 

• Provide guidance and constructive feedback to staff regarding case processing, documentation, application of policy, and quality expectations. 

• Support staff development by identifying learning opportunities and collaborating with supervisors, QA, and Training to address knowledge gaps and recurring errors. 

• Promote a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, accountability, and shared responsibility for quality outcomes. 

Customer Service and Issue Resolution 

• Assist customers with completing forms and submitting documentation necessary to process applications and maintain eligibility. 

• Request, review, and verify information necessary to establish or continue eligibility based on applicable financial and non-financial criteria. 

• Assist in resolving customer complaints, escalated concerns, and complex service issues by communicating effectively, de-escalating difficult situations, and working toward appropriate resolutions. 

• Provide on-site customer assistance and support staff in the Human Services lobby, as needed. 

• Coordinate with provider agencies and other external partners to resolve eligibility or service-related issues and support effective service delivery. 

Operational Support and Team Coordination 

• Partner with supervisors and team members to support daily operations, promote consistency, share resources, and address workflow challenges. 

• Assist with the preparation and completion of required monthly and other reports in accordance with applicable federal, state, and county requirements. 

• Perform designated interim leadership and operational duties when a supervisor is unavailable, including addressing unit needs, responding to staff questions, and assigning or redistributing workload as necessary and authorized. 

• Support communication and coordination across teams to promote efficient workflow, consistent practices, and timely completion of assigned responsibilities. 

• Perform eligibility-related functions, including approving or denying benefits, when authorized and within applicable program requirements. 

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting. If you are reading this and hesitating to click “apply” for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience. 

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Education: High School diploma or GED    

• Experience: Minimum of three (3) years’ work-related experience  

• One year of determining eligibility for Medicaid, Food Assistance, Colorado Works and/or Adult Financial programs   
• *Note: An equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Three years of determining eligibility for Medicaid, Food Assistance, Colorado Works and/or Adult Financial programs   

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Services   

• Current knowledge of CBMS  

• Ability to take direction, adapt to change, establish relationships, and work in a team environment.   

• Proficiency in excel and outlook. 

• Strong customer service skills.   

• Strong written and oral communication skills.  

• Ability to provide administrative and technical support to colleagues.    

• Strong time management and prioritization skills.    

Please note, this is not a case management position. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• An offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check including criminal history, motor vehicle report, education verification, and/or references.   

• Criminal history must not include but not limited to convictions for theft, forgery, counterfeiting, crimes against a person, or other related charges. (Felonies within the last 7 years, misdemeanors within the last 3 years, or a pattern of convictions).  

• Once in the background step, we will ask you to provide five references including two supervisors. To prevent the process from slowing, we recommend you have the email addresses of your references ready and have notified them they may be contacted. Options for references could include; supervisor/manager, peer, professor, career counselor, someone you volunteer with, or anyone who can speak to how you work.   

• Accommodations Statement: We encourage people with disabilities to apply and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout our hiring process. For assistance with applications, interviews, or other hiring-related accommodations, contact careertalent@jeffco.us. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot provide application status updates. 

APPLICATION: 

Apply Now! Jefferson County Colorado Career Opportunities 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply! 

Please submit your online application by 11:59PM on the posted closing date. 

A resume and cover letter are welcome and encourage but do not replace the information asked for in the application. Please complete all required sections of the application. 

You may remove or hide age-related information from your application materials, such as your age, date of birth, or school attendance and graduation dates. You will not be penalized for removing this information. 

We will review applications to make sure applicants meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job posting. If you are selected to move forward, the hiring team will contact you. 

You can check your application status by logging into your candidate portal.     

For more information about the hiring process, visit: https://www.jeffco.us/1860/FAQs  

Questions? Contact the Jefferson County Recruitment Team at 303-271-8420 or CareerTalent@Jeffco.us