Contract Manager at The ARC Of Southern Maryland – Lexington Park, Maryland

JOB TITLE: Contract Manager

SALARY: $55k-$60K

JOB PURPOSE:

• Under general supervision, the Contract Manager oversees daily operations of an assigned group of people receiving employment in the tri county area. This support is generally provided as needed for the job site. The Contract Manager without the assistance of supervisors directs and guides staff to match specific supports and interventions to the unique needs of the people receiving services; recognizing the importance of friends, family and community relationships. The Contract Manager substitutes for direct service staff, as necessary, to fulfill any support duties. The Contract Manager ensures that activities in all locations are in compliance with guidelines established by the agency, the State of Maryland and the businesses in which support employment occurs. The Contract Manager provides supervision and guidance to support staff, as assigned. The Contract Manager should maintain cooperative professional relationships with all support team members; following ethical standards of practice (confidentiality, informed consent, etc.). The Contract Manager is responsible to maintain adequate staffing, safety and program activities of assigned services within the established budgetary guidelines. The Contract Manager assures that the people assigned to him/her have access to the community, participating in activities of their choosing and making decisions that directly impact their lives. The Contract Manager complies with any contractual obligations with the business community. The Contract Manager is responsible for ordering supplies for all contract sites and offices, making sure they are accurate and ordered in a timely manner.
• This Contract Manager has an additional responsibility of serving as a mentor or on the job trainer for direct service staff across all three counties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Health & wellbeing of people assigned-Assures a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for people with funding for assigned employment staffing:
• Behavior issues-Monitors behavioral issues of assigned consumers
• Crisis prevention & intervention-Monitors potential crisis situations, discussing incidents with authorized staff and people receiving supports, adjusting supports, and complying with regulations for reporting. Responds appropriately in emergency situations to assure safety and well being for everyone.
• Individual Plans-Develops and implements person-centered planning and individualizes implementation of goals for assigned people.
• Community Involvement-Assures access to community volunteer and employment support. Assists and supports people to plan, make informed choices, follows through on responsibilities. Arranges transportation for consumers for medical appointments, community functions, etc.
• Advocacy-Provides information on rights; increasing awareness of self-advocacy methods and techniques; encourages and assists people to speak on their own behalf; and provides information on peer support and self-advocacy groups. Advocates for, maintains and/or obtains consumer entitlements. Assists and/or represents people when there are barriers to their service needs and enlists the support of decision makers, when appropriate, to overcome barriers to services.
• Interpersonal communication-Uses effective communication and basic counseling skills to establish cooperative relationships among the people receiving services, families, consultants, businesses and agency staff. Maintains current knowledge of the formal and informal supports available in his or her community and assists people receiving services to identify and access these supports
• Staffing-Assures staffing support that enhances and guides consumers.
• 24/7-For 100% of assigned responsibilities, responds to staff issues as they arise during the work day.
• Supervise-Supervises assigned staff by guiding, interviewing, evaluating, counseling and/or terminating
• Train-Provides on the job training and mentoring for assigned staff.
• Time & attendance-Assures the accuracy of the time and attendance system for all staff that this manager supervises.
• Substitutes for staff-Substitutes for direct service staff, as necessary, to fulfill any support duties.
• Financial-Develops, implements, maintains and monitors budgets with particular emphasis on staffing line items
• Oversees assigned budgets-Manages budget without creating overtime costs.
• Schedules staff-Schedules staff to provide adequate support for the individuals receiving services within budgetary guidelines.
• Documentation-Completes, approves and/or reviews paperwork (e.g. attendance documents, IP packets, monthly summaries, incident reporting, community involvement forms, progress reports, expenditure vouchers, sheets and travel vouchers.
• Service Funding plans-Develops Services Funding plans as necessary for new people or changes in people currently receiving supports.
• Funding-Prepares necessary paperwork to change funding streams for assigned individuals.
• Data collection-Maintains accurate records, collects, compiles and evaluates data; submits reports; and develops a system to manage documentation.
• Incident Reports-Completes incident reports when needed as required by the State of Maryland.
• Billable hours-Tracks billable hours accurately and in a timely manner. Submits bills, as necessary in a timely manner.
• Mentoring-Mentors direct service staff in all aspects of the duties and responsibilities of their positions in the tri county area.

Job Development-

• Oversees the development or develops employment opportunities for assigned people
• Researches and recommend methods, which may lead to improved productivity at various community employment sites.
• Develops, implements and monitors procedures for DOL compliance with regard to time studies, pay rates and wages.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with the business community to attain and retain employment and volunteer opportunities for assigned people.
• Maintains active participation in local chambers of commerce.
• Works with employer sites to overcome any potential barriers to continued employment.
• Maintains positive and ongoing relationships with staff from DORS, the school system and other community organization.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Investigates abuse and neglect situations when requested.
• Assures that all assigned staff meets agency requirements for training.
• Attends transition fairs.
• Provides coverage in the absence of other Managers or the Director, as required.
• Demonstrates appropriate role model behavior at all times.
• Keeps up-to-date on information and technology affecting functional area(s) to increase innovation and ensure compliance.
• Prepares and maintains position manual for the position.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings.
• Accomplishes all tasks as appropriately assigned or requested.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Possesses an associate’s degree in a related field and or High School diploma and five years’ experience with managing contracts.
• Supervisory experience; knowledge & understanding of IPs, crisis management & behavior change principles.

JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Possesses a proficiency in computer-based software, e.g. Excel, Word and various databases
• Has a good command of the English language both oral and written and demonstrates these skills.
• Possesses the ability to be forward thinking and creative.
• Must be willing to work in the tri-county area, as assigned.
• Has demonstrated knowledge.
• Is well organized and self-directed, and a team player.
• Has the ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Has a working knowledge of funding streams from DDA
• Demonstrates effective supervisory and leadership skills.
• Has the ability and willingness to accept emergency phone calls and respond to emergencies, when necessary.
• Possesses a valid driving license with a good driving record, and access to a safe vehicle for transporting people receiving services.
• Possesses the ability to pass the criminal background check mandated by the State of Maryland.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS (PHYSICAL DEMANDS)

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit for long periods of time; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Usual office working conditions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, generally, the employee is not exposed to weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, though at times the noise level may be greater than moderate.

The Arc Southern Maryland is a drug-free employer. All offers of employment will be contingent on a successful background check. The Arc Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, religious and or political beliefs. We recruit, employ, retain, compensate, train, promote, discipline, terminate and treat all employees and job applicants based solely on qualification, performance, and competence.