Description

Contact Information:
Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email jobs@des.wa.gov.

Duties

Some of what you'll enjoy doing:

Direct Customer Service

• Serves as the point of first contact for individuals applying for blindness & visual impairment services with the agency
• Orients the applicant to the services available
• Participates in providing direct services throughout the customer process:
• Initial information gathering and application intake
• Coordinates with external resources and service providers to facilitate best customer services and success
• Performs a full range of administrative and fiscal tasks to ensure that the goods and services necessary to support the customer's independence and vocational needs are provided efficiently and timely
• Maintains documentation of the customer record, data collection and entry, maintenance of case files, security of case records and order processing and purchase of essential goods and services
• Provides on-going monitoring of plans of service and provide direct counseling guidance to customers to encourage and assist them to overcome barriers to employment

Administrative Support Activities :

• Documents direct service activities
• Collects medical and other pertinent vocational information; coordinates eye, medical, and specialty examinations to assist with establishing eligibility and assessment by counseling staff
• Engages in internal control activities to ensure compliance with state and federal policies
• Tracks and incorporates existing equipment inventory into purchasing processes
• Utilizes and provides support to staff for activity due reports
• Prepares correspondence and performs other clerical duties
• Initiates, tracks, and requests payment for authorizations for purchases

Office Support

• Provides coverage of front desk duties
• Provides daily mailroom tasks that include distributes incoming mail and prepares outgoing mail and packaging for Consolidated Mail Services
• Orders office supplies
• Provides a high level of customer service to agency personnel and participants, community partners, other public/private entities, and the general public through phone and face-to-face communications

Qualifications

REQUIRED:
Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling,
OR
Bachelor’s Degree with 18-quarter credit hours vocational rehabilitation related subjects.

**Direct customer services experience in a vocational rehabilitation program will substitute year for year, for the bachelor’s degree, but not for the 18-quarter credit of vocational rehabilitation related subjects.

NOTE:
Travel Requirements: This position may require occasional travel (attending trainings and/or providing direct customer services in the field), but work is primarily conducted in the office. Use of a state vehicle is preferred when conducting work away from the office.

Customer Interactions: Incumbent has regular contact with internal and external stakeholders, customers and clients by phone, email, fax and in-person. This may include uncooperative or angry individuals.

PREFERRED/DESIRED:

• Knowledge of the specialized needs of and/or resources available to blind, visually impaired and disabled persons
• Ability to proofread and edit written material, correcting errors and improving clarity of content
• Advanced data entry skills, including 10-key by touch

The preferred candidate would also possess the following competencies:

• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
• A strong customer-service focus with the ability to handle all situations with a high level of professionalism and in a confidential manner
• The ability to work independently, manage multiple competing priorities, and problem solve
• The ability to prepare correspondence based on current guidelines such as memos and letters, reports, system documentation, and merge

Supplemental Information

Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

• A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting;
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education; and
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

NOTE: By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section of the application. Please do not refer to resume for detail, or your application may be disqualified.

Background Check Notice:
Prior to any new appointment into the Department of Enterprise Services, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Conditions of employment:

• Prior to new appointment, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Union Inclusion:
This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Opportunity for All:
The Department of Services for the Blind celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information:
Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email jobs@des.wa.gov.