ABOUT US
King William County Department of Social Services seeks an energetic and versatile team player, committed to working towards the best outcomes possible for our families in the community to join our agency in a Family Services Specialist position.
King William County, Virginia offers the best of both worlds: the calm, scenic beauty of rural life with easy access to urban amenities. With a growing population of roughly 19,200 people, the area has a strong sense of community without the congestion of a big city. Nestled in the Middle Peninsula, King William lies just 30 miles northeast of Richmond, making for a manageable commute or day ‐trip to the capital for work, culture, or dining. The landscape is lush and gently rolling, with rivers, farmland, and ample outdoor space — ideal if you appreciate nature, quiet roads, and neighbors who know your name. Housing is more affordable than many urban and suburban areas, the pace of life is peaceful, but you’re still close enough to schools, shops, healthcare, and the vibrant hubs of VA. If you’re looking for work where you can make a difference — and a place where balance matters — King William is a beautiful place to plant roots!
As an agency, we believe in the power of the team, exercising creativity and commitment in meeting the needs of our clients and community, and growing our agency and ourselves. Empathy and Work-Life harmony is an agency core value.
At King William DSS, we are looking for professionals who want more than a job— a career where empathy, character, and dedication are just as important as education and experience. If you are ready to join a mission-driven team that values flexibility, professional growth, and making a difference every single day, we want to hear from you.
Benefits & Incentives
Benefit Programs Specialist I represents the entry level in the occupational group for employees working under close supervision while being trained in determining eligibility for a variety of social services government assistance programs. Upon recommendation by the supervisor, approval by the director, and successful completion of the training program, the employee shall be redefined to full-performance Benefit Programs Specialist II with a corresponding salary increase as indicated by the local department’s compensation plan. Benefit Programs Specialist I is distinguished from the Benefit Programs Specialist II by the latter’s performing all the assigned eligibility duties independently and making judgments following agency practices and procedures and mandated federal, state, or local laws and policies.
Benefit Programs Specialist II represents the full performance level in the Benefit Programs Specialist occupational group. Employees’ responsibilities are related to the determination and re-determination of eligibility of individuals and families for financial assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, and for other social services’ benefit programs. The work is performed within established policies, procedures and guidelines, but certain aspects of eligibility determination require independent judgment, especially as related to evaluation of social factors influencing eligibility. Employees seek supervisory help for difficult or unusual situations only. The Benefit Programs Specialist II is distinguished from the Benefit Programs Specialist III by the latter’s performing advanced technical work requiring depth and breadth of knowledge to understand, analyze and act on complex cases. Also, the Benefit Programs Specialist III serves as a technical resource for others regarding social services’ eligibility programs.
This position is ideal for candidates who are dedicated, empathetic, and of high character—individuals who find fulfillment in making a lasting impact on the lives of children, families, and vulnerable adults in our community.
General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only)
Education and Experience
Minimal Qualifications - High school diploma supplemented with additional training and related work experience OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Preferred qualifications - Experience working in the Department of Social Services setting with Benefit Program processing experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge – Some knowledge of: basic human behavior; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation
Skills – Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.
Abilities – Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, gather information, and evaluate situations; analyze information; apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access and retrieve data, create reports and manipulate data; maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.
Special Requirements
This position is covered under Code of Virginia §63.2- 1601.1 or §63.2-1720 requiring the finalist candidate to submit to fingerprinting and provide personal descriptive information for a criminal history record check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange and a search of the Virginia Child Abuse Central Registry. Applicants may be subject to additional background checks including a DMV/driving record check, pre-employment drug screening, local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment}, credit checks (relevant to employment), and other checks as determined necessary and appropriate to the position to be filled.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website of www.jobs.virginia.gov Mailed, e-mailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications will not be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to provide a complete relevant listing of work experience and qualifications in the applicable sections of application. Selection of candidates for interviews is based upon the information contained in the application package.
Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. It was the 10th state to be admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788. Home to approximately 8 million residents, Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the United States. The capital is Richmond, and its most populous city is Virginia Beach.
The narrative history of the Commonwealth of Virginia often begins with the founding of Jamestown in 1607, near what is now modern day Williamsburg, Virginia. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and the Virginia General Assembly, established on July 30, 1619, is now recognized as the oldest legislative body in the western hemisphere. When Virginia became a royal colony in 1624, the robust tobacco trade that had been developing in Virginia helped establish the American colonies as a powerful economic force. During the American Revolution, Virginia witnessed the final surrender of British forces at Yorktown and later became known as the birthplace of many revolution-era figures and future American presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. To date, 8 United States presidents have been born in Virginia, more than in any other state.
The modern government of Virginia is nearly identical in structure to the federal government, and is divided into 3 branches, these being the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. The Virginia General Assembly is comprised of the 100-member House of Delegates and the 40-member Senate. A governor and lieutenant governor are elected every 4 years. Governors cannot be elected to or serve consecutive terms. Virginia’s judicial system consists of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the Circuit Courts, and the lower General District Courts and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. Virginia has 13 electoral votes in presidential elections, and possesses 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
