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Job Announcement
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Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact in your community? At the Department of Family Services (DFS), we are committed to improving the well-being of Fairfax County residents by working together to protect, empower, and guide individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. We're searching for a dedicated Human Service Worker IV to join the Public Assistance & Employment Services Division, and lead caseworkers in delivering essential public assistance services. If you're ready to turn your expertise, leadership skills, and passion into action, this opportunity is for you!
What You'll Do:
As a Human Service Worker IV, you will:
- Supervise a team of caseworkers conducting eligibility determinations for public assistance services.
- Collaborate with the management team to ensure services are delivered effectively and consistently across our branch offices.
- Lead staff allocation efforts to meet high-demand times and balance workloads.
- Identify and address gaps in service delivery to enhance operations and maximize impact.
- Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to maintain full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Analyze complex data, generate actionable insights, and create detailed reports to monitor program performance.
- Leverage technology to streamline operations and ensure accurate documentation while consistently applying policies to assist those in need.
Why Join Us?
In PAES, we don't just offer jobs-we offer careers with purpose. You'll have:
- The opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of community members.
- A hybrid telework schedule option (after just 30 days of employment).
- Access to professional growth opportunities alongside a collaborative and dedicated team.
- A workplace culture that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, where you can thrive in making an impact.
The current vacancy is located in the Fairfax office, but this announcement may be used to fill positions in other locations, including Annandale, Reston, and Alexandria.
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Illustrative Duties
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(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
As a member of the management team, collaborates with other supervisors and managers to ensure that staff, the community, and other human service providers work together to provide a holistic program of services;
Provides day-to-day guidance, direction, and mentoring to a group of professional staff on case related issues, policies and procedures, agency initiatives, and professional development;
Plans caseloads, assigns cases and reviews case records;
Ensures all program timeframes and performance outcomes are met;
Communicates performance expectations and monitors performance and accomplishments of staff and overall unit against the goals and objectives of the program;
Regularly conducts individual conferences with staff to discuss specific case problems and monitors casework progress;
Interviews job applicants and makes recommendations for hiring;
Prepares and conducts formal and informal performance evaluations in a timely manner;
Handles performance and discipline issues in a timely manner and in accordance with County personnel policy;
Plans for and facilitates the professional growth of staff;
Interprets, applies, and explains complex federal, state and County policies to applicants, service providers, the general public and other interested parties;
Participates in inter and intra agency multidisciplinary work groups and teams;
Makes public presentations on programs and services;
Monitors and assures efficient, effective coordination of services provided to clients, identifies service delivery gaps and takes action to improve operations;
Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations;
May participate in the evaluation of service providers and provide feedback to program management staff;
Prepares or oversees and presents narrative and statistical reports documenting the work of the unit and/or in relation to case activity.
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Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
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(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Thorough knowledge of complex federal, state and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform;
Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
Knowledge of social, economic, health and cultural factors which can serve as barriers to employment;
Knowledge of best practices in workforce development and case management;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to make mathematical computations;
Ability to schedule, organize, and manage workload of self and others sufficient to meet deadlines;
Ability to read, interpret and apply program policies and procedures;
Ability to use automated technology to conduct research, to establish and maintain case records, and to produce correspondence and reports;
Ability to interpret and analyze data;
Ability to handle multiple deadlines, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, other human service providers and the general public;
Ability to work well with clients and coworkers from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds;
Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
Ability to work in a team environment;
Ability to work effectively with people under stress;
Ability to provide excellent customer service;
Ability to identify clients in crisis and intervene to stabilize the situation;
Ability to identify client issues requiring referral to other human service providers (e.g., substance abuse, spousal abuse);
Ability to supervise the work of others effectively;
Ability to provide ongoing, timely, and constructive feedback to staff regarding case work;
Ability to develop, train, mentor, and motivate staff;
Ability to review cases for consistency, best practice, timeliness, accuracy and appropriateness of action;
Ability to accept changes in work assignments and environment;
Ability to recognize and implement best proactive approaches to service delivery;
Ability to make public presentations.
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Employment Standards
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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree plus four years of professional human services or related work experience.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
None.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and a Child Protective Services Registry check to the satisfaction of the employer.
This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated ability to interpret, understand, and effectively apply complex policies, regulations, and procedures with precision and confidence.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly, concisely, and professionally to diverse audiences.
- Proven ability to excel under pressure, managing competing priorities with a calm and focused approach.
- Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, clients, and community partners.
- Leadership experience guiding professional staff, providing constructive feedback, coaching for professional growth, and coordinating team workloads to meet deadlines and organizational goals.
- Direct experience determining eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needed Families (TANF), General Relief and Refugee Cash Assistance program.
- Familiarity with Virginia Department of Social Services' computer systems and programs, with the ability to effectively navigate and utilize these tools.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications.
- Past or present professional experience as a Human Service Worker in Fairfax County.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
Ability to perform repetitive hand, arm, wrist, and shoulder movements.
All duties are performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include a practical exercise. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.
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Fairfax County Government
$68,774.37 - $114,625.06 Annually
medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, child care, retirement plan
Dec 13, 2025