Human Service Worker II

Salary : $54,330.43 - $90,550.51 Annually
Location : PENNINO BUILDING, 12011 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY, FAIRFAX (EJ27), VA
Job Type: FT Hourly W BN
Job Number: 26-00790
Department: Family Services
Opening Date: 05/23/2026
Closing Date: 6/5/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S19
Posting Type: Open to General Public


Job Announcement


Fairfax County's Division of Public Assistance & Employment Services (PAES) is looking for compassionate and driven individuals to join our team as Human Service Worker II (HSW II).

At DFS, we are more than just a government agency - we are a crucial part of our community, dedicated to strengthening the well-being of individuals, children, and families. We do this by providing vital resources, creating partnerships, and delivering high-quality services. If you're ready to use your skills to make a positive impact, this is the opportunity for you!

Why join us?

• Impactful Work: Help vulnerable populations get access to life-changing programs like SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and more.
• Diverse Community: Work with people from all walks of life in one of the most multicultural counties in the nation.
• Room to Grow: Potential for advancement, training, and professional development.
• Flexibility: Telework eligible after your first 30 days of employment.
• Competitive Salary: Starting at $54,330.43- $90,550.51 annually.
• Impactful Work: Be part of a team dedicated to uplifting underserved communities.
• Growth Opportunities: Whether you're starting as an HSW II or at an entry-level position (Human Service Worker I), our training programs will prepare you for future success and promotional opportunities within the division.
• Work-Life Balance: Telework options, training support, and a team-oriented environment.

Job Description - What You'll Be Doing

• Be the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking assistance through public programs.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments for medical and financial needs.
• Perform in-depth phone interviews, gather necessary information, and assist clients with applications.
• Interpret and explain complex federal, state, and local program policies to clients in a clear and empathetic manner.
• Make referrals to other resources and services to ensure clients' diverse needs are met.
• Manage high caseloads in a fast-paced environment using state and local IT systems.

Your work makes an immediate difference by helping clients access public benefits, coordinating services, and offering a foundation for their future success.

This position may be filled as an underfill at the Human Service Worker I level. Underfill requirements are noted below in the Employment Standards section.

Illustrative Duties


(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
Maintains knowledge of current public assistance and employment policies and applies, explains and interprets federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;
Conducts in-depth interviews of clients to determine and reassess eligibility of clients for financial, publicly supported medical services and/or medical public assistance programs;
Performs client needs assessments to aid in making appropriate referrals to other services;
Works with clients to assist with gathering the information required to establish eligibility;
Compiles and maintains data and documents and may prepare written narratives to support eligibility determinations;
Ensures timely processing of applications to meet client needs and program policy mandates;
Authorizes public assistance (e.g., medical aid, financial assistance, food stamps) based on client circumstances and public assistance program requirements;
Uses various forms of automated technology to document, obtain, and verify information, to generate reports, and to authorize benefits and services for clients; providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities


(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
Knowledge of complex federal, state and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform;
Ability to read, interpret and apply complex program policies and procedures;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to make mathematical computations;
Ability to schedule, organize and manage workload sufficient to meet deadlines;
Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records;
Ability to handle multiple deadlines, computer systems, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and other human service providers;
Ability to work effectively with people under stress and those from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds;
Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
Ability to provide excellent customer service;
Ability to work in a team environment;
Ability to maintain flexibility;
Ability to manage a complex caseload.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus one year of professional work experience in human services or a related field.

Some positions in this classification may be assigned to the Public Assistance Program in which the one year of professional level human services or related experience referenced above must specifically be in public assistance programs. Candidates appointed to these positions without the requisite year of professional public assistance programs experience will be hired at the Human Service Worker I grade level, and upon satisfactory completion of a one year Public Assistance Program training appointees will be eligible for a non-competitive promotion to the Human Service Worker II grade level.
Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.

UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
This position may be underfilled as an I (Grade S18; $50,839.78 - $84,732.96 Annually). The employment standards for the Human Service Worker I are: any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree. Candidates appointed to these positions at the Human Service Worker I grade level will be eligible for a non-competitive promotion to the Human Service Worker II grade level upon successful completion of the underfill agreement.

Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of the Human Service Worker II within two years of the job announcement's closing date of 6/5/26.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 1 year of current or recent experience determining eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, and/or other public assistance programs in the state of Virginia. Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws governing Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Relief, and/or Refugee Cash Assistance programs and the ability to apply them correctly.
• Experience in using Virginia state systems; VaCMS, MMIS, and SPIDeR.
• Clear and concise oral and written communications skills.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to schedule and manage large workloads and the ability to meet stringent deadlines.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel computer software applications; and the willingness to learn new applications and systems as needed.
• Ability to be flexible, multi-task, prioritize, and manage multiple activities simultaneously in a face-paced, changing environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Team player with the ability to take initiative and work well independently.
• Past or present work experience as a Human Service Worker for Fairfax County.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and a Child Protective Services Registry check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to perform repetitive hand, arm, wrist and shoulder movements. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include practical exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including ) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.


Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY View phone number on click.appcast.io. View email address on click.appcast.io EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-RS1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:


For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01


What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02


Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Elementary childhood education
• Elementary education
• Family services
• Psychology
• Social work
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

03


If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list the discipline of your degree. If this question does not pertain to you or you do not possess a degree, enter "N/A".
04


If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

05


How many years of full-time equivalent professional work experience do you have in human services or a related field?Note: "Human Services" is defined as work whose objective is to meet human needs and focuses on prevention and the remediation of problems. It is committed to improving the overall quality of life of the served populations.

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six or more years

06


How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have performing comprehensive assessments of clients to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for public assistance programs, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Relief, and/or Refugee Cash Assistance programs?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07


Do you have direct professional work experience determining eligibility for any of the following human services or public assistance program areas? Check all that apply.

• Energy assistance
• General relief
• Medicaid
• Refugee cash assistance
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Other
• None of the above

08


If you answered "Other" for the previous question, please list the human services or public assistance program area(s). If you do not have experience in any human services program areas or answered "None of the above", enter "N/A".
09


Do you have work experience using any of the following human services case management systems? Check all that apply.

• Application Benefit Delivery Automation Project (ADAPTRO)
• Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS)
• Virginia Case Management System (VaCMS)
• Systems Partnering In a Demographic Repository (SPIDeR)
• Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS)
• Other
• None of the above

10


If you answered "Other" for the previous question, please list the case management system(s). If you do not have experience using a case management system or answered "None of the above", enter "N/A
11


Are you proficient in any of the following Microsoft Office Suite applications? Check all that apply.

• Outlook (Composing email messages; sending and receiving email messages; organizing email messages into folders; managing contacts; scheduling appointments & meetings, managing tasks)
• Word (Knowledge of common functions such as creating a title; using, modifying, and creating styles; indenting paragraphs; using tabs and tables; inserting a hard page break; using page numbering; creating headers and footers; inserting graphics; adding comments and tracking changes)
• PowerPoint (Creating a template and working with a design template; working with graphics, animation and multimedia; building interactive presentations using hyperlinks)
• Excel (Basic knowledge of creating a worksheet; performing calculations in a worksheet; modifying and formatting a worksheet; printing workbook contents; creating and modifying pivot tables; using formulas and links to other cells/worksheets)
• None of the above

12


Which best applies to your professional experience?

• Presently work for Fairfax County as a Human Service Worker
• Previously worked for Fairfax County as a Human Service Worker or a Human Services Assistant
• None of the above

13


When are you available to work full-time at Fairfax County?

• Immediately
• Within 2 - 3 weeks
• Within 4 - 5 weeks
• In more than 6 weeks

Required Question