LIHEAP Operations Specialist

Job Description

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga , a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College , our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future-famously powered by the nation's first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City," the first of its kind in the United States.
Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga's workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you'd like to call Chattanooga home - or maybe you already do! - and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we'd love to talk to you.

Salary: $20.55 per hour

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments, or projects.*

Work Location: 6098 Debra Road, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is a Non-Exempt, Grant-Funded position.

Department: Community Development, Office of Family Empowerment

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:

Incumbents in this position are responsible for supporting program operations and service delivery to clients receiving assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Responsibilities include assisting staff with technical issues related to program software, providing instruction and information to community partners about the program, processing client applications, and ensuring that program guidelines are met and upheld. Work is performed under general supervision, working from defined policies and procedures.

SERIES LEVEL:
The LIHEAP Operations Specialist is a stand-alone position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

Assists the OFE Program Coordinator with Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) operations.

Serves as intermediary between OFE Program Coordinator and LIHEAP Data Entry Clerks, acting as the first point of contact for program guidance for staff and handling routine inquiries from internal and external customers.

Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the current LIHEAP software program(s) and assists staff with troubleshooting and escalating technical issues as needed.

Assists with presenting program information to community partners and provides support and instruction on program guidelines to community entities that may assist LIHEAP applicants.

Provides support as able/available to applicants visiting OFE's offices who may need to use public computer workstations to submit their applications.

Maintains familiarity with available community resources and is able to make referrals to partner organizations when necessary to support applicants.

Processes both regular and crisis LIHEAP applications.

Serves as primary staff for all crisis LIHEAP applications.

Responds to inquiries about the program via email and telephone as needed.

May prepare reports generated from the software system to assist in measuring outcome metrics.

Provides excellent customer service and counsels clients in maintaining family stability and accessing available resources.


Coordinates with other OFE programs and with community partners to support client outcomes.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs other duties as assigned.


DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):
None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, public administration, or social work supplemented by a minimum of two (2) years of experience working with clients in similar situations; or any equivalent combination of education, experience, or training sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:
Valid Driver's License

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class typically require fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Safety Sensitive: NO
Child Sensitive: NO
Dept of Transportation (CDL): NO

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

KNV 4/23/2026

KM260446