Job Description

Requisition No: 868077

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR-SES - 48007186 (BLIND SERVICES)

Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 48007186

Salary: $66,300.00 to $70,000.00 Annually

Posting Closing Date: 02/12/2026

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Florida Department of Education

Division of Blind Services

State Office/Human Resources

Location: Tallahassee (Leon County) – Turlington Building

Position Title: Program Administrator (Selected Exempt Service)

Salary Range: $66,300.00 to $70,000.00 Annually

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY

This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS:

Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:
  • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• * Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.
• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

Office Contact:

Bridget Giles, Bureau Chief

Phone: 850-245-0300

This position works in the Bureau of Client Services and is responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluating statewide rehabilitative programs within the Division of Blind Services. The employee will confer with internal and external individuals to determine needs and provide recommendations to management to meet those needs. The employee will ensure organizational policies are up-to-date, consistently written, and maintained on the intranet and internet. The employee will provide management with status reports on programs, services, and quality initiatives. Additionally, the employee will ensure consistency is maintained across districts regarding policies and procedures.

Duties & Responsibilities:

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

• Oversee the Social Security Reimbursement process, including regular follow-up with staff responsible for this process and review monthly reports to ensure DBS gets the maximum reimbursement amount due.
• Collaborate with the District Administrators and district staff on the activities performed by the Human Services Program Consultants to ensure successful employment outcomes and ensure performance standards are consistently achieved with elevated levels of customer satisfaction.
• Communicate with, motivate, provide or coordinate training, and direct the workload of his/her subordinates. Utilize effective counseling and coaching strategies in accordance with agency personnel policies and procedures to ensure acceptable job performance of subordinates. In addition, the employee must complete performance appraisals, develop accurate work plans, and approve monthly attendance and leave for each position under his/her direct report. The employee has the authority to make hiring and disciplinary recommendations.
• Analyze internal processes and plan/implement approved agency or program-wide procedural and policy changes to improve operations. Participate in the development of policies and procedures as a member of the policy team and ensure consistent implementation.
• Assist with completion of state/federal reports.
• Supervise the development and implementation of approved annual employment strategies to foster successful outcomes.
• Collaborate with the local workforce boards to facilitate effective linkage with employers statewide and ensure workforce investment activities meet the needs of employers.
• Work with public, non-profit, government and other employers to establish partnerships leading the expansion of employment and work-based learning opportunities for blind and visually impaired consumers.
• Develop and implement a statewide model for career pathways. Work with the Quality Assurance Program Administrator to evaluate effectiveness of the model and change as necessary to improve employment outcomes for clients.
• Ensure staff have a 21st century understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of blind and low vision clients, through proper training and supervision. This includes the utilization of workforce data and tools such as Labor Market Information (LMI), Sector Strategies, Career Pathways, Apprenticeships, and industry certifications, and other programs leading to competitive integrated employment.
• Ensure constant focus on business improvement and development for successful employment outcomes by establishing and monitoring district level performance goals.
• Ensure staff are conducting job prospecting/job development techniques to capitalize employment leads and perform routine follow-up on job placements and work-based learning experiences.
• Provide monthly status reports related to data and trends towards agency goals. This includes working with the Quality Assurance Program Administrator to ensure deficiencies are addressed appropriately and timely.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of vocational rehabilitation.
• Ability to review and approve rehabilitation plans and expenditures for services, to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage people and communicate effectively.
• Ability to assess budgetary needs and develop various reports.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Who We’re Looking For:

The ideal incumbent must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The incumbent must interact courteously with others. The performance and behavior of all employees must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit. Attendance is an essential function.

Other Miscellaneous Duties:

• • Performs other duties as requested.
  • Travel is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study reasonably related to systems analysis, management analysis, program planning, program research, program evaluation, engineering or administrative work; or
• Four years of professional experience in systems analysis, management analysis, program planning, program research, program evaluation, engineering or administrative work. Preference will be given to those with a bachelor’s degree.

Division of Blind Services Mission Statement:

The Division of Blind Services ensure blind and visually impaired Floridians have the tools, support and opportunities to achieve success. In partnership with others, we create a barrier-free environment in the lives of Floridians with visual disabilities. The Florida Division of Blind Services helps blind and visually impaired individuals achieve their goals and live their lives with as much independence and self-direction as possible. The Division serves thousands of Floridians through its plethora of programs and services. District and Satellite Offices located throughout the state, as well as the Career, Technology and Training Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CTTC), and the Braille and Talking Books Library. The Division of Blind Servies has become a national model in education, employment and other services that foster independence for blind and visually impaired Floridians.

FLDOE: Division of Blind Services

Working for the State of Florida has Benefits!

* State Group Insurance Coverage options+ (health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental options)

* Nine paid holidays and a Personal Holiday each year.

*Student Loan Forgiveness Program (Eligibility required).

*Tuition Fee Waivers (Accepted by major Florida colleges/universities).

*Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits.

*Retirement plan options, including employer contributions ( www.myfrs.com).

*Annual and Sick Leave Benefits.

*Flexible Spending Accounts.

*Ongoing comprehensive training provided.

*Highly skilled, professional environment.

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

*We care about the success of our employees.

*We care about the success of our clients.

*We are always improving our technology, our tools, our customers' experiences and ourselves.

*We offer rewarding experiences for reliable, compassionate and professional employees.

Leave Information: (SES)

• • Annual Leave - Employees in Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
  • Sick Leave – Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 104 hours of sick leave upon appointment. In subsequent years the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.

Background Screening Requirement:

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct the required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

Selective Service System (SSS) and Requirement:

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.