Work Incentives Consultant
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) — 242 West Federal Street, Suite 403, Youngstown, OH 44503. Compensation: $27.48/hour. Permanent full‑time, Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Classified position, SEIU/1199 bargaining unit. Primary skill area: Vocational Rehabilitation.
About the Role
OOD empowers Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. The agency partners with businesses, education, and non‑profits to create customized employment plans, helps employers recruit and retain workers with disabilities, and serves as Ohio’s sole determiner for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) medical/vocational eligibility.
This position sits within the Division of Policy & Partnerships, which leads Vocational Rehabilitation policy, training, provider oversight, interagency partnerships, federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) compliance, and the Ohio OOD Council.
Responsibilities
- Help individuals understand public benefits and work incentives that support their employment goals.
- Conduct planning sessions and produce written reports translating complex benefit rules into clear, actionable guidance.
- Provide detailed, individualized benefits analysis for Social Security and other public program beneficiaries.
- Perform ongoing follow‑up with beneficiaries to ensure accurate, complete, and timely information.
- Collaborate with statewide partners, technical experts, and internal staff to support consistent policy interpretation and improved service delivery.
- Handle sensitive personal information with strict confidentiality.
- Travel statewide for meetings, training, and conferences.
- Review technical information, communicate effectively with customers, and apply problem‑solving skills.
- Manage and prioritize workload, develop complex reports and plans, perform calculations, and use sound research methods.
- Deliver presentations using various platforms.
Qualifications
- Undergraduate core program in business or public administration, human services, or a related field (e.g., health administration, social work, psychology, sociology, special education, speech pathology).
- OR undergraduate core program in an academic field commensurate with the program area per the approved Position Description.
- OR current Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) or Work Incentive Practitioner (WIP) certification.
- OR equivalent of the minimum class qualifications noted above.
Skills
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Budgeting
- Customer Service
- Human Services
- Technical Writing
- Interpreting Data
- Organizing and Planning
- Problem Solving
- Written Communication
Pay
Starting salary at step 1 of the classification range, subject to law or union contract requirements. Step increases occur after 6 months and annually thereafter. Annual cost‑of‑living adjustments apply; longevity supplements begin after 5 years of service. Full pay tables for all State of Ohio classifications are available at das.ohio.gov.
Schedule
Permanent full‑time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Benefits
- Medical coverage
- Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after eligibility period
- Paid time off: vacation, personal leave, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year
- Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave
- Education and development opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, etc.)
- Public retirement systems (OPERS, STRS, SERS, HPRS) and optional deferred compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
Location & Travel
- Primarily in‑office to foster collaboration; some locations may have adjusted on‑site requirements based on space availability.
- Daytime travel within Ohio may be required.
- Selected candidate must provide own transportation or hold a valid driver’s license to operate a state vehicle.
- Employees must reside within a reasonable response time to workplace reporting requirements.