Division Director - Benefit Programs

Salary: $93,168.00 - $116,000.00 Annually
Location : Washington Hwy, Ashland, VA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number:
Department: Social Services - Administration
Opening Date: 10/20/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
Are you passionate about helping others, empowering individuals and families, and leading a team committed to meaningful community impact?
Hanover County Department of Social Services is seeking a results-driven Division Director of Benefit Programs to lead program operations, develop staff, ensure program integrity, and implement innovative solutions that improve access to essential benefits. Join our leadership team and help deliver high-quality services that make a meaningful difference.

General Description:This is an executive level professional position. The incumbent is a Division Director and performs difficult and complex tasks to provide direct social services to residents of Hanover County, to include planning, organizing, and managing the work and performance of all eligibility programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Auxiliary Grants, Child Care, Fraud, Title IV-E Foster Care, Virginia Imitative for Education and Work (VIEW), Percentage Income Payment Program (PIPP), and Energy Assistance Programs. The incumbent reviews and evaluates public assistance program policy and the effects of new programs/revisions on the agency, its staff, and resources. The incumbent is also responsible for serving as a member of both the Management and Leadership Teams and providing support and expertise to all aspects of the agency's operations.

Organization:The Division Director - Benefit Programs reports to the Director of Social Services. The incumbent provides leadership within the organization and directly supervises Benefit Programs Supervisors, the Fraud Investigator, the Self Sufficiency Specialist, and indirectly supervises all employees within the division.

Essential Functions:

• Supervises management staff, performing related human resources functions, completing necessary paperwork; including an evaluation of training opportunities and needs.
• Acts in place of the Director of Social Services when absent.
• Plans, organizes, and directs staff/programs, conducting meetings as necessary.
• Reviews and evaluates agency and program policy; directs, advises, and consults with program supervisors on operational and policy issues and related courses of action and procedures.
• Interprets federal, state, and local financial assistance programs and makes policy recommendations and ensures agency compliance with existing policy.
• Consults with and advises the Director of Social Services on major operational and program matters.
• Plans and coordinates the implementation of specialized divisional administrative or operational programs of the department.
• Participates and leads special projects.
• Prepares reports as needed.
• Assists with development of department budget.
• Coordinates audits and prepares audit narratives as needed.
• Leads or participates in special projects.
• Interacts with and develops positive relationships with other community organizations or agencies.
• Monitors programs for compliance with federal and state standards.
• Identifies and seeks resources for program development, tracks, and reports expenditures.
• Provides consultation and education for other agencies and community groups.
• Compiles data, maintains records and submits reports as requested.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• May work outside of regular business hours.

Working Conditions:

• Hazards
  1. May interact with challenging family situations.
• Environment
  1. Office
  2. Field
• Physical Effort
  1. Minimal
• FLSA
  1. Exempt
  2. No compensatory leave accrual

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Knowledge of human services program delivery, required. Considerable knowledge of the current social, economic, and health issues relating to clients in jurisdiction; Social Security Act; laws and regulations on administration of welfare services; human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; principles and processes for providing customer and personal services; business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling; leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources; and principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, and personnel information systems. Demonstrated ability to: plan, direct, implement, and monitor assigned programs; supervise and direct the work of the Supervisors; represent the Social Service Director before the Boards, staff, and other committee assignment or government meetings; and to analyze problems and develop logical conclusions; must be able to establish and maintain successful working relationships with other Division Director, County staff, other government officials, community partners, private providers, and the public. Must be able to communicate effectively-both orally and in writing. Computer literacy required, preferably in Microsoft Excel/Word/PowerPoint.

Education, Experience, and Training:Bachelor's degree required (master's in public administration or related field preferred) with at least three (3) years' related experience in eligibility and/or social services, one (1) of which must have been in a supervisory or management position- OR - Any equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities is acceptable.

Special Conditions:

• Criminal Records Check, including fingerprinting.
• Valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License
• Child Protective Services background check
• Twelve-month probationary period
• This position requires mandatory participation in the Citizen Emergency Response On-Call Plan.

01

Do you have a degree in Social Work, Public Administration, or related field?

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of experience do you have in Social Services?

• None
• 1-2 years
• 3-4 years
• 5-6 years
• 7+ years

03

How many years of experience do you have supervising multiple employees in Social Services?

• None
• 1-2 years
• 3-4 years
• 5-6 years
• 7+ years

04

How many years of experience do you have in local government at the managerial level?

• None
• 1-2 years
• 3-4 years
• 5-6 years
• 7+ years

05

Please describe your experience overseeing and/or administering Benefit and Services Programs.
Required Question