WIC Program Investigator, Bilingual English/Spanish (Investigator 2)

WIC Program Investigator, Bilingual English/Spanish (Investigator 2) - Limited Duration (17 months)

Close Date: 03/06/2023

Salary: $3,885 - $5,936 per month

Location: Portland, OR

The salary listed is the full-time salary at 40 hours per week. This position is part time or 20 hours per week. The salary will be adjusted to reflect part time at the offer step.

This is a part-time, limited duration, classified position which is represented by a union.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD), Oregon Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program in Portland, OR is recruiting for a WIC Program Investigator to conduct investigations of participants and vendors to monitor compliance with program rules, policies and procedures.  This individual represents the WIC program by preparing and conducting investigations of reported vendor, farmers' market and participant program fraud and abuse by analyzing the results of those investigations.

The Oregon Health Authority’s strategic goal is to end all health inequities by 2030.

OHA values health equity, service excellence, integrity, leadership, partnership, innovation, and transparency. OHA’s health equity definition is “Oregon will have established a health system that creates health equity when all people can reach their full potential and well-being and are not disadvantaged by their race, ethnicity, language, disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, intersections among these communities or identities, or other socially determined circumstances. Achieving health equity requires the ongoing collaboration of all regions and sectors of the state, including tribal governments to address: the equitable distribution or redistributing of resources and power; and recognizing, reconciling, and rectifying historical and contemporary injustices.” OHA’s 10-year goal is to eliminate health inequities.

OHA values service excellence, leadership, integrity, health equity and partnership.

Most of this work may be performed remotely at an alternative worksite with full access to the needed operating systems and technology.

What will you do?

As the WIC Program Investigator, you will perform the following duties:

• Work with compliance coordinator to identify vendors and participants for investigation.
• Pose as a WIC participant to conduct covert compliance buys at grocery retailers, farm stands, and farmers’ markets.
• Identify the appropriate method of investigation prior to completing pre-investigative reports and creating investigation files.
• Identify which rules, regulations, or policies were violated during compliance buys.
• Travel throughout Oregon under the guise of a WIC participant to conduct covert vendor compliance buys.
• Donate foods purchased during investigations and enter investigation results in the WIC data system.
• Monitor online social media sites for participants selling WIC issued items including breast pumps.
• Investigate and follow up on complaints of WIC issued items being sold online by participants currently on WIC.
• Interview participants as necessary to investigate allegations of program abuse.
• Conduct routine farmers’ market or farm stand monitoring as scheduled which may require working weekends.
• Outline route of travel and coordinate with any vendor buys.
• Work with farmers’ market coordinator and WIC compliance coordinator to identify potential violations involving farmers or markets.
• Perform under cover buys at markets and stands if warranted working with WIC compliance coordinator.
• Identify the rules, regulations, or policies that were violated during buys and monitoring and educate farmer about problems.
• Testify at public hearings on rules and rule revisions.

What's in it for you?
The public health division is a team of passionate individuals working to promote health across the lifespan of individuals, families, and communities. We value and support unique perspectives using a trauma-informed approach and aim to reflect these values in our hiring practices, professional development, and workplace. We are committed to racial equity as a driving factor to improve health outcomes for all communities that experience inequities.

We offer full medical, vision and dental benefits with paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 10 paid holidays per year plus pension and retirement plans. If you are an experienced investigator with experience in WIC, don't delay, apply today!

What are we looking for?

Special Qualifications

Bilingual English/Spanish with the ability to read, write and speak both English and Spanish proficiently. Proficiency will be tested.

Minimum Qualifications

Two years of recent (within the last five years) investigative experience which included gathering facts, collecting evidence, examining records, and conducting interviews to verify or disprove claims of suspected law violations.

College-level courses in law enforcement, criminal justice, law, accounting, auditing, or a closely related field may be substituted on a year-by-year basis for up to one year of the required experience.

Requested Skills

• Preference will be given to applicants who can proficiently speak, read, and write in both English and Spanish languages and who have experience conducting investigations.
• Knowledge of WIC program laws, rules and regulations is desirable.
• Experience working with social service benefit programs and eligibility.
• Experience conducting overt and covert investigations to determine compliance with regulations, laws, policies, and guidelines.
• Experience evaluating and interpreting regulations, laws, policies, and guidelines and applying to real life situations.
• Experience writing clear, concise, and accurate reports.
• Experience effectively handling difficult or angry people and diffusing tense situations.
• Experience promoting a culturally competent and diverse work environment.
• Driver’s license with good driving record as travel is required for this position.

How to Apply:

To view the announcement and apply, please visit the following link:

https://oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/SOR_External_Career_Site/job/Portland--OHA--Oregon-Street/WIC-Program-Investigator--Bilingual-English-Spanish--Investigator-2----Limited-duration--17-months-_REQ-118676

https://oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/SOR_External_Career_Site/job/Portland--OHA--Oregon-Street/WIC-Program-Investigator--Bilingual-English-Spanish--Investigator-2----Limited-duration--17-months-_REQ-118676