Job Summary
Since 1968, the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) has united municipal, county, and state governments and federal agencies to work as a single team focused solely on improving the region that now includes more than 713,000 residents.
We identify and address common regional issues, opportunities, and challenges of northeast Alabama’s municipalities and counties, including DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall.
TARCOG is seeking a dynamic Community Services Specialist to join our team. We are looking for individuals who share our core values of service, initiative, accountability, and transparent communication.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Responsible for the supervision of community service programs for the elderly in the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) region, including the Nutrition and Title III-D Programs. Responsibilities include planning, coordinating, and evaluating these programs, recruitment of volunteers, supervision of appropriate staff, training and education efforts, and interaction with service agencies and elected officials throughout the region.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Supervisor provides general guidance and sets overall objectives. Supervisor and employee, in consultation, develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be done; employee is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments; and work is reviewed only from overall standpoint.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Nutrition Program:
1. Coordinates requirements with food caterer to plan and direct the distribution of all meals, maintain quality of food and service, handle emergency situations of caterer (breakdowns, etc.), and make decisions regarding service during inclement weather.
2. Conducts quality assurance visits of nutrition centers to complete evaluation forms, observe food quality/service, assess home-delivered meals procedures, interview participants, conduct exit interviews with center managers, and foster the development of a center council at each center. Communicates with senior center Nutrition Coordinators to ensure centers are adhering to guidelines and to address concerns and complaints from participants.
3. Addresses food safety issues with senior center Nutrition Coordinators, reviewing and revising food safety guidelines as needed and communicating updates.
4. Conducts Nutrition Coordinator training as needed. Provides training and program information to Community Services’ staff, volunteers, service agencies, and other personnel to assure that program guidelines are followed.
5. Recruits certified dieticians and provides training on services provided to participants. Plans, organizes, and ensures nutrition counseling is being completed by the certified dietitians. Processes payment invoices after assessments are completed. Manages record keeping process for all clients.
Title III-D Program:
6. Assists with the planning, organizing, and monitoring of Title III-D services to ensure that funds are expended on allowable evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion programs and supporting documentation for the programs are on file with the local CoA administering the program.
7. Communicates weekly with Coordinators to ensure that they are adhering to guidelines and to address concerns and complaints received by participants.
8. Conduct visits and evaluations at senior centers to determine the effectiveness for improving the health and well-being or reducing disease, disability, and/or injury among older adults.
9. Creates new programs that may be in the best interest of seniors and the Department. Helps with training, organizing, designing, and setup of new programs. Networks with community partners for donations of products and services to support new programs.
10. Trains and provides program information to Community Services’ staff, volunteers, service agencies, and other personnel to assure that program guidelines are followed.
General Responsibilities:
11. Coordinates information with county staff, service agencies and health organizations, to provide program activity materials, establish referral sources, and compose written documents to maintain program requirements and coordinates with community providers in the implementation of Aging related services.
12. Represents TARCOG at the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) meetings, conferences, and trainings.
13. Communicates with ADSS for technical assistance and food related issues at the senior centers.
14. Reviews and analyzes monthly statistical program reports and narratives so that appropriate action can be taken to enhance all program initiatives, and submits reports as required by TARCOG and the ADSS.
15. Completes forms, composes records, designs charts of expenditures, and discusses Nutrition budget with Finance Director and county staff in order to maintain records of budget utilization and percentage of funds spent throughout the project year, so that program decisions can be made throughout the year based on current information.
16. Advocates for the needs and continuation of Aging services by interacting with funding agents, local elected officials, and other community leaders. Writes Aging Program grants and proposals for the purpose of developing new program initiatives and resources.
17. Supervises Nutrition Program Administrative Assistant, and provides oversight to county nutrition , and other staff as appropriate using meetings, correspondence, verbal conversations, etc. in order to review work, solve problems and conflicts, assign tasks, determine training needs, counsel employees on performance, and set goals. Evaluates performance of staff, using procedures, work samples, etc. in order to document such performance. Works with Undergraduate/Graduate interns placed in the Aging Program, as assignments demand.
18. Provides leadership role in other programs and activities in the region that benefit Seniors, such as Older Americans Month events, Senior Expo, Masters Games, etc.
19. Interviews applicants for all vacant supervised positions using resumes, job descriptions, references, and any other appropriate tests in order to provide recommendations to the Director of Aging Programs.
20. Plans, coordinates, organizes, and executes Senior Fun Fest in partnership with Madison County Commission. Responsible for seeking donations to cover the cost of the event. Responsible for securing volunteers for the event.
The assignment of duties is not limited by the content of the job description.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Knowledge of business administration practices.
- Knowledge and ability to do basic arithmetic including computation of percentages, adding/maintaining columns of figures, and a fundamental understanding of budgets.
- Ability to communicate, orally and in writing, as needed to work with other agencies, organizations, and individuals in resolution of disagreements, presentation or obtainment of information, recruitment of staff and volunteers, and training.
- Knowledge of basic supervisory techniques.
- Extensive knowledge of community resources and support network available to aging clientele.
- Knowledge of principles of social work related to services for the elderly.
- Ability to read and interpret guidelines and regulations and apply them to the job. Ability to write policies when directives change to ensure compliance in an effort to reduce risk with the agency.
- Knowledge of nutrition principles and food safety.
- Knowledge and ability to operate office equipment including telephone, computer, copy machine, fax machine, and calculator.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Completion of AIRs Training and obtains certification within first year of employment.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Gerontology, or related field and at least three (3) years of experience in social work or related program, experience to include supervision of support staff. Master’s degree preferred.
- Knowledge of basic physical fitness and ability to engage in physical fitness activities with participants.
- A valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
Pay: From $58,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Education:
Work Location: In person
