Position: Energy Assistance Program (EAP) Processor 

Number of Openings: 1

Location: Grand Rapids, MN

Work Arrangement: In-Person

Job Summary

Support the agency mission by assisting low-income households to reduce energy burden. Work as part of a team to process Energy Assistance Program Applications. Assist applicants with program enrollment and confirmation of applicant supplied information. Perform application determination status and payment authorizations, as well as advocate and partner on clients behalves. Provide follow up communications and support for households in crisis.

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Job Posting Information

Job Summary

Support the agency mission by assisting low-income households to reduce energy burden. Work as part of a team to process Energy Assistance Program Applications. Assist applicants with program enrollment and confirmation of applicant supplied information. Perform application determination status and payment authorizations, as well as advocate and partner on clients behalves.  Provide follow up communications and support for households in crisis.

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • Office Experience
  • Proficiency with computers and software
  • Background Study Clearance

Schedule/Location

  • 40 Hours/week for 6-9 months/year following heating season (September through May)
  • Daytime weekday shift- no nights, weekends, or holiday shifts.
  • Grand Rapids, MN

 Compensation

  • Starting wage of $18.89/hour
  • Wage Scale of $18.89 to $27.15
  • Scheduled Raises & Cost of Living Allowances

Benefits

  • Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO) Package + 14 Paid Holidays/year
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability Insurances
  • Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account options.
  • Retirement Plan with option for employer contribution
  • Tuition Assistance opportunities & Loan Forgiveness qualifying credit
  • Many Training and Professional Development opportunities.

Job Description

Qualifications

  • Education
    • High School Diploma
  • Experience
    • Less than 1 year office experience
  • Authorizations
    • BCA Background Study
  • Skills
    • Ability to proficiently operate copy/fax machines, telephone, and computers and software, including email, spreadsheets and word processing.
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
    • Ability to manage time that results in both a satisfactory quantity and quality of work.
  • Abilities
    • Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member.
    • Must be able to handle diverse work problems on a daily basis.
    • Must be able to organize a work schedule, set priorities and work effectively to meet deadlines without supervision.
    • Must be able to adjust to changes necessitated by last minute assignments and deadline requests that may prove stressful.
    • Must be able to work flexible hours as needed in order to meet the needs of the clients.
    • Attend trainings, classes, and meetings as necessary to improve job skills and maintain an acceptable level of job performance.
  • Other Knowledge
    • Knowledge of Community resources.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned.

Area 1: Program Operations

  • Identify, interpret, and acquire data for enrollment in the Energy Assistance Program.
  • Prepare, sort, prioritize, and verify information on incoming applications.
  • Responsible for final application determination status and payment authorizations.
  • Responsible for second accurate final application determinations including 2nd file reviews on work performed by others, as well as 2nd Over Income reviews on Processor I applications.
  • Responsible for accurate emergency/crisis benefit determinations for new and approved households.
  • Perform calculations to determine eligibility for households.
  • Consult and interpret complex written policy as necessary for eligibility determinations. Refund processing, and payment distribution.
  • Process employee, board member, and Safe at Home applications.

Area 2: Program Compliance

  • Maintain confidentiality of all client private data. Provide signed waiver for eHEAT web access.
  • Interpret and comprehend program policies and procedures.
  • Scan to and work within document imaging workflow systems.
  • Maintain various tracking sheets that are used to meet program compliance

Area 3: Program Communications

  • Prepare mailings to vendors and households.
  • Refer to or coordinate with vendors or community service organizations to resolve client credit issues and resulting needs including negotiation of client payment schedules.

Area 4: Development Assistance

  • Assist the EAP Coordinator with vendor monitoring activities and vendor agreement processing.
  • Assist the EAP Coordinator in developing and maintaining standards of operation for the EAP Program, including regular database report evaluation, to identify departmental workflow changes that are necessary to meet program needs.
  • Provide policy direction, policy related training, and support for co-workers as needed.

Job Factors

Supervision of Others: 

  • Not responsible for supervision of others

Safety of Others

  • Minimal responsibility for the safety of others.  Probability of injury to self or others is remote.

Contacts

  • Contact is within own department, and with other departments, customers, vendors, or the public.

Physical Demand

  • Must be able to lift 25 pounds
  • Requires sitting, standing, bending, stooping and reaching.

Travel

  • Must have reliable transportation.
  • Must have valid driver’s license and current auto insurance coverage in compliance with Minnesota State guidelines on the vehicle used for work related travel.
  • Travel for completion of job duties, trainings and meetings as required.

General Agency Requirements

Professionalism:

  • Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good relations with clients, customers, co-workers, providers, volunteers, and supervisors.
  • Treat clients, co-workers, and the public in a respectful and courteous manner at all times.
  • Continue to develop skills and abilities.

Community Representation:

  • Represent KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc. in a positive manner.
  • Adhere to the Community Action Code of Ethics.
  • Seek to understand poverty and the barriers faced by community members.

Confidentiality:

  • Maintain confidentiality of agency, program, and client information.

KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA) Employer. We recruit, hire, place, promote, terminate, layoff, recall, transfer, compensate, and train without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This information will be made available in alternative formats upon request.