Office Support Specialist (Public Benefit Specialist - Entry)

About the role

The Oregon Department of Human Services is committed to empowering every individual to thrive—with dignity, independence, and respect. As an Office Support Specialist (Public Benefits Specialist – Entry), you will work in The Dalles office on Klindt Drive assisting Oregonians in-person, providing essential office support and a welcoming environment for families to interact with the department.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service as the first face of contact in field offices for Oregonians.
• Support the day-to-day operations of the office infrastructure.
• Aid Oregonians in person, by phone, or by email to resolve questions or concerns using the Oregon Eligibility system.
• Provide technical and administrative support to a local Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) office, including management, eligibility workers, case managers, adult protective service workers, and transition coordinators.
• Assist Oregonians through a trauma-informed lens.
• Provide administrative support for business functions within the office.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of experience working in a reception area or call center either interviewing to obtain information or providing customer service, involving a high volume of work such as data entry, verifying application completeness and accuracy, and completing necessary documents.
• OR an associate degree in Behavioral Science, Social Science, or a closely related field AND six months of experience working in a busy reception area or call center either interviewing to obtain information or providing customer service.
• OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience relative to the class concept.

Essential Attributes

• Experience delivering customer service with strong communication skills in-person and over the phone.
• Experience collaborating in a professional environment with peers and community partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a team to collaborate, problem solve, and support daily goals.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt communication styles to effectively convey complex rules, regulations, and procedures to diverse audiences.
• Experience accurately entering and verifying detailed data.

Working Conditions

• Work schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, with rare overtime as needed.
• Travel may be required to support other offices in the district, including in inclement weather.
• May work with individuals experiencing trauma or crisis, including those who struggle to manage emotions and may become hostile or highly distressed.
• High volume of computer work using various programs in a fast-paced team environment.
• Priorities and procedures may change daily, requiring flexibility in application.