DHHS Program Specialist (Adult Protective Services)

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:
Health & Human Services - Agency 25
Location:
Statewide, NE
Hiring Rate:
$24.862
Job Posting:
JR2026-00029474 DHHS Program Specialist (Adult Protective Services) (Open)
Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):
10-01-2026
Job Description:
State of Nebraska, DHHS, is seeking an APS Program Specialist to provide statewide leadership and policy support for Adult Protective Services. This role is the single point of statewide policy support for all 53 APS staff, providing clarification on complex cases, service needs, and statutory requirements. The Program Specialist position is critical to protecting federal funding, maintaining compliance with newly implemented federal APS requirements, and ensuring APS staff statewide have the daily guidance they need to safely serve vulnerable adults.

PLEASE NOTE: Position location will be pending office space availability. Preferred locations are: Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Lexington, York, Lincoln, or Omaha.

Examples of Work

Primary Duties of this position include but are not limited to:

- Assurance of spending accuracy, reconciles monthly accounting reports, communicates with ACL (Administration for Community Living) auditors, and prevents misuse or loss of federal funds.
- Implementing Medicaid Administrative Claiming for APS activities.
- Developing of the State APS Plan and APS Operational Plan, to ensure Nebraska’s APS Program compliance with the new Federal APS Final Rule.
- Researching, reviewing, analyzing, and reporting on federal regulations, state laws and their administrative requirements to formulate appropriate policies, procedures, and interpretations for the Adult Protective Services Program.
- Drafts, develops, and implements policy, procedure and program regulations related to Adult Protective Services.
- Develops, maintains, and monitors contracts and contractors, providing recommended action steps on contractor performance, develop and negotiate contacts using the RFP Process.
- Serves as a representative for Nebraska APS on committees, boards, councils and/or advisory groups (State and National Level) that coordinate safety planning, policy development, and resource sharing for vulnerable adults in order to establish and maintain APS partnerships, develop and maintain low-cost service options, and enhance the program’s ability to respond effectively to community safety needs.
- Provides presentations and education on Adult Protective Services and Vulnerable Adults to local communities as well as statewide agencies.
- Handles communications with the AG’s Office, Ombudsman’s Office, and Governor’s Office involving APS case inquiries, requests, and constituent complaints/concerns.

Requirements/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent coursework/training, in public administration, social/behavioral sciences, healthcare, human services or other program related field. Professional experience working in a human/social service or health care agency with responsibility for planning or evaluation services, programs or operational policies and practices may substitute in lieu of the educational requirement.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience working with vulnerable adults age 18 and older.
- Budget management and policy writing experience for a program or agency.
- Experience with case management in the human services field.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge of:  the principles and practices of public administration; policy and procedure development; methods and techniques of program planning; federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to health and human services programs; public funds and budgeting methods; quality assurance mechanisms; principles and techniques of planning, monitoring and evaluating human services programs and service delivery systems.

Skill in:  interpreting and/or clarifying policy to interested groups; conducting formal presentations to provide education and share information regarding the Nebraska Adult Protection & Safety Program.

Ability to: plan, organize, and direct a major program; work collaboratively within a team setting; analyze, develop and organize materials; establish and maintain positive relationships with agency staff, service providers/contractors, community organizations and clients; communicate electronically, on paper or in person to promote, explain, discuss, advise and interact with interested groups on various program issues and problems; prepare and review technical documents such as summaries of state and federal regulations, action plans, reports, contracts and grants; understand, interpret and apply instructions, laws, rules, policies and procedures pertinent to the Adult Protective Services Program; exercise independent critical thinking skills; maintain liaison with community representatives and other governmental agencies; ability to travel statewide when needed.

If you're currently employed by the State of Nebraska, please don't apply through this external career site. Instead, log in to Workday and open the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page. You can access Workday anytime through the Link web page: https://link.nebraska.gov/

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.