Program Eligibility Specialist

UNITED WAY OF SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS Program Eligibility Specialist

Title: Program Eligibility Specialist

Department: Community Impact

Report To: Manager Financial Stability

Date Created: 2/20/2025

Why Work for United Way Do you want to leave work every day knowing that you made an impact? At United Way of South

Hampton Roads (UWSHR), you’ll work in a fun and supportive environment where every day there is a

new opportunity to make a difference. If you talk to our employees, the single trait we all have in common

is passion. We work hard because we love what we do, and we know how much our community needs

us. You’ll learn from some of the best in the business and be constantly challenged in an ever-changing

industry. Plus, we offer excellent benefits and opportunities for advancement. If you want to be great

while doing good, join the United Way team.

Objectives & Expectations

United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good

to help all residents thrive and live the best version of themselves. We all benefit when a child succeeds

in school, when someone finds a job that sustains a family, or when more people get quality, affordable

healthcare.

The Program Eligibility Program Eligibility Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for individuals

referred throughout the United Way of South Hampton Roads (UWSHR). This role is crucial in assessing

the needs of individuals and connecting them with the appropriate programs, including Thrive, Mission

United, and Healthy Communities. The Program Eligibility Specialist ensures accurate eligibility

determinations, program alignment, and seamless support to participants.

The Program Eligibility Specialist must possess a deep understanding of UWSHR's direct programs,

maintain a comprehensive caseload spreadsheet for assigning participants to mentors, and demonstrate

empathy, organization, and exceptional communication skills to support those in need.

Commitment to equity, diversity & inclusion

We take the broadest possible view of diversity.

We value the visible and invisible qualities that make you who you are.

We welcome that every person brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission and

progress our fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.

We believe that each United Way community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee must have

equal access to solving community problems.

We strive to include diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the center of our daily work.

We commit to using these practices for our business and our communities.

Cultural Competence: The Eligibility Program Eligibility Specialist adapts a lens of cultural competency that

conveys empathy, support, and an understanding of the people they work with both internally and externally,

engage with, and the people they serve. This competency helps to build trust and effective engagement, build

stronger relationships, expand our organization’s reach, and more effectively and respectfully engage with

people regardless of background.

Core Competencies are characteristics that all employees are expected to exhibit as a member of the

UWSHR team. For complete details that include attributes and behaviors please see the United Way Core

Competencies Checklist in the shared Human Resources Network Folder. These include:

• Mission Focused: The top priority is creating real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.

• Relationship Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.

• Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.

• Results Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.

• Brand Steward: Understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the organization, and thus, the greater network.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Serve as the main point of contact for calls and referrals from UWSHR, conducting

thorough needs assessments for individuals.
• Determine program eligibility and connect participants to the appropriate program (Thrive,

Mission United, or Healthy Communities).
• Schedule and complete an in-depth intake assessment with all new referrals sent by the

Program Eligibility Specialist.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of eligibility criteria and program requirements

for all UWSHR direct services.
• Ensure all participants have the most up to date acceptable forms of documentation submitted
• Thorough documentation of all completed appointments and communication
• Maintain a detailed caseload spreadsheet by department, ensuring timely and accurate assignment of

participants to mentors for ongoing support
• Support Outreach and Engagement in the evenings and weekends as needed.

Program and Participant Support
• Provide empathetic and responsive support to individuals, understanding and addressing their unique

needs
• Ensure all required documentation is submitted and up to date for program eligibility
• Accurately document all appointments, communications, and participant interactions in accordance

with organizational policies.
• Schedule and conduct comprehensive introduction and intake appointments for all referrals.

Education and Professional Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience

• 1-2 years of experience in human services programs requiring direct client interactions required

• Knowledge of best practices in human services and of systems addressing the needs of the

ALICE, Low- income households, Mission United, and Healthy Communities. The Program

Eligibility Specialist ensures accurate eligibility determinations, program alignment, and

seamless support to participants.

• Ability to maintain respect for the confidentiality of information divulged by or on behalf of participants

• Possess the ability to relate to people of diverse educational, cultural, and economic backgrounds

• A consummate team player with an innovative, enthusiastic, and flexible approach

• Ability to build credible relationships with community members and partners

• Proven ability to collaborate and work in a team environment as well as work independently and

make sound decisions

Core Skills

• Able to multi-task, meet deadlines, keep schedules, manage relationships, and perform in a high-

paced environment

• Commitment to assisting the community to achieve self-sufficiency
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency with MS Outlook, Word, and Excel, PowerPoint
• Strong detail orientation and self-organized

• Administrative experience preferred

Work Demands & Environment
• Ability to stoop, lift, finger – for example, pick, pinch, or type and grasp
• Ability to clearly and concisely express and exchange detailed information and ideas to others

accurately via spoken word

• Exerting up to 20 of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry,push, pull or otherwise move objects

• Ability to inspect and analyze figures, accounting items, written materials, newsprint, computer terminal characters, transcription, and other similar objects at distances generally close to the eyes.

• The worker is subject to a variety of inside environmental conditions that may occur in an office, a

private home, or elsewhere in the community including temperature variations, unpleasant odors,

and potential allergens

• Although inside work is the rule, it is required that the individual be able to travel and may be

exposed to a variety of weather conditions

• Current driver’s license, auto insurance and acceptable driving record

Interested? Please send your cover letter and resume to humanresources@unitedwayshr.org. We will continue accepting applications until the position is filled.

mailto:humanresources@unitedwayshr.org

United Way of South Hampton Roads is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at UWSHR will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. UWSHR does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or genetics. Please Note: Requirements, skills, and abilities described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements be interpreted as all-inclusive.