Eligibility Services Specialist

Role Overview

The Early Learning Coalition of Duval is hiring an Eligibility Services Specialist for the Eligibility Services Department. This non-exempt role reports to the Eligibility Services Manager and focuses on determining family eligibility for child care assistance, School Readiness, and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten services.

Bilingual Spanish candidates may be given preference. Applicants are expected to live in Duval County, Florida, or in nearby surrounding areas.

What You’ll Do

• Assess family applications and decide eligibility for child care-related assistance programs.
• Conduct face-to-face interviews, collect information, enter data, and maintain accurate case records and files.
• Provide guidance, resources, and customer support to families and community members.
• Support reporting needs by supplying statistical and tracking data as requested.
• Help maintain the CCR&R database and community resource guide.
• Follow the eligibility workflow for School Readiness and VPK services.
• Coordinate with child care providers when services are approved, transferred, or ended.
• Document every case action in the database and manage assigned caseloads.
• Handle walk-in customers, telephone inquiries, referrals, and resource requests from families and providers.
• Represent the coalition and CCR&R network at community events, visibility activities, meetings, and trainings.
• Work collaboratively with team members while managing multiple priorities and projects.
• Take on additional duties assigned by the manager.

Requirements

• High school diploma is required; an associate degree is preferred.
• Prior experience in social work, child advocacy, educational advocacy, or familiarity with DCF standards for VPK and early learning care is preferred.
• Strong organizational ability and close attention to detail.
• Comfort handling several projects and priorities at once in a professional setting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with families, providers, and staff at all levels.
• Proactive problem-solving mindset and strong customer service orientation.
• Experience working as part of a team.
• Comfort using computer hardware and software in a Windows-based environment.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Willingness to travel for meetings, training sessions, and outreach events.
• Ability to sit for long periods, perform some bending and stooping, and lift up to 30 lbs.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based. It may involve extended sitting, travel for meetings and events, and occasional night or weekend work for training or special occasions.

Additional Information

Last updated: June 2021.

The position requires reliable attendance, punctuality, and the ability to handle daily responsibilities consistently. It also calls for a strong commitment to helping people solve problems and for respectful interaction across diverse groups of coworkers, customers, and stakeholders.