JC-497919 – WIC Systems Change Management Specialist

Overview

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for over 50 years.

Extensive research has found WIC to be a cost-effective investment that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets, health care for children, and subsequently higher academic achievement for students. WIC helps families receive healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.

Like other divisions within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), WIC builds its program by addressing social determinants of health. WIC impacts the life course by promoting health practices that can ultimately improve life outcomes often experienced by vulnerable communities.

WIC serves babies and children up to age five, pregnant women, and new mothers. Dads, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC too!

Monthly, nearly one million WIC participants can find support at one of 84 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers or farmers who are authorized to serve WIC families.

In 2019 – 2020, the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system that allows WIC participants to be served more efficiently.

About the CDPH/WIC Family

Over 200 state staff work at CDPH’s WIC Division, headquartered at the Natomas campus in Sacramento. WIC is committed to a hybrid workforce and the state provides a modest stipend for those who fully and partially work from home. Staff are provided with a computer or laptop, camera, and large screen to conduct their work. We build our unit teams virtually and maintain contact with stakeholders by being on camera to solidify our relationships.

The WIC Division is led by senior managers administering a Local Policy and Health Programs Branch, Local Services Branch, Vendor Management Branch, Communications, Food, and Vendor Policy Branch, Data and Integrity Branch, WIC Systems Integration Branch, and the Operations team. Through these branches, support staff, analysts, specialists, researchers, and nutritionists serve the needs of WIC families, supports our program partners, and ensures the California WIC Program is administered appropriately and effectively.

The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.
Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

If new to California state service, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. If you are a current state employee, but do not have transfer eligibility or list eligibility, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. Please go to CalHR’s website to review the exam bulletin:
https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1191

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by advancing the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. As a member of the WIC Systems Integration Branch, the Health Program Specialist II (HPS II) serves as part of a team that supports and maintains the various eWIC systems including the WIC Web Information System Exchange (WIC WISE), the WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card, and the WIC App, as well as other auxiliary systems and services.?

The incumbent works under the direction of the Chief, WIC Change and Contract Management Section, Staff Services Manager II (SSM II). The Health Program Specialist II (HPS II) serves as a highly skilled expert in the Vendor aspects of WIC Technology, acts in an advisory capacity, and leads staff to plan, develop, and coordinate work to ensure that policies, procedures, forms, education, monitoring, training materials, and all applicable program materials pertaining to the assigned statewide projects are up to date and that service delivery partners, and state staff are trained on changes. The HPS II serves as the lead coordinator and subject matter expert on WIC technology issues related to benefits redemption, shopping, and integrity. The HPS II coordinates and performs User Acceptance Testing for defect corrections and change requests for various technologies that support benefits redemption, shopping, and integrity.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST II
Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate’s relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Experience In:

Managing, prioritizing, and meeting multiple deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
Leading workgroups, projects or teams.
Using a Management Information System (MIS)
Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting various forms of data
Preparing and facilitating meetings
Interpreting, documenting, and explaining processes and procedures to various audiences
Knowledge Of:

Project management methodology
Data-driven decision-making techniques
State and Federal policies and regulations as related to public service programs
Public Benefits and service programs
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
Technical/infrastructure standards and processes
WIC and the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) service delivery system
Skills and Abilities:

Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues
Ability to communicate effectively with staff at various levels, external agencies, and the general public
Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills
Ability to perform critical thinking, demonstrate problem-solving skills, and make informed decisions
Ability to be flexible with changing deadlines and instructions
How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=497919

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.