Ulster County is seeking a qualified person to fill the position of Director, Office for the Aging. This is an important professional and administrative position involving responsibility for directing services and activities offered by the Office for the Aging. This office attempts to improve the status and condition of the elderly through the planning and coordination of various services and programs and in certain cases, the provision of necessary direct assistance. The work is performed under general administrative direction of the county Executive and the County Legislature in conformance with local, State and Federal Laws, Rules and Regulations, with wide latitude allowed in the administration of the overall program.  Supervision is exercised over the work of clerical and professional subordinate staff.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: Incumbents in this title may perform some or all of the following, as well as other related activities not described. 

Plans, organizes, promotes and directs varied services and activities designed to meet the needs of older people;

Evaluates and assesses the needs of older persons and the effectiveness of agencies and organizations serving or having the potential to serve older people;

Supervises administrative functions such as budgeting, finance, personnel and purchasing;

Develops and administers an area plan for programs on aging;

Coordinates services of the Office for the Aging with other community agencies such as the Social Services Department;

Contacts public officials and community leaders to obtain their cooperation and stimulates them to take action in setting up programs for the aging;

Provides leadership and advocacy in behalf of all older persons in the municipality;

Provides technical assistance to various community agencies and organizations regarding services and programs;

Assumes primary leadership and responsibility for the implementation and development of the Nutrition Program for the Elderly;

Conducts research on the needs of older persons and develops proposals and alternative approaches for meeting these needs;

Provides counseling and referral services for the aging;

Conducts training programs for staff and volunteer workers;

Conducts and attends conferences, workshops and seminars concerned with problems of the aging;

Reviews and comments upon applications filed by other community agencies for Federal and State grants or applications for aide for programs related to aging services;

Prepares or supervises the preparation and distribution of reports, press releases and related materials;

Recruits, selects and provides direction to the required staff to achieve the aims of the Office for the Aging.

Candidates must meet the following Minimum Qualifications: Either:

A. A Master’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, with major work in social or behavioral sciences, public health, public administration, recreation education, or related fields and two (2) years of full-time paid administrative experience in community organization or the field of aging; OR

B. A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, with major work in social or behavioral sciences, public health, public administration, recreation, education, or related fields and three (3) years of full-time paid experience in community organization or the field of aging including at least one year in an administrative or supervisory capacity; OR

C. An Associate's degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, with major work in social or behavioral sciences, public health, public administration, recreation, education, or related fields and five (5) years of full-time paid experience in community organization or the field of aging including at least one year in an administrative or supervisory capacity;

D. An equivalent combination of training and experience as indicated in A and B above.

Note: One year of experience as described in A or B may be substituted for one year of formal higher education.

Special Requirement for appointment to Ulster County positions: In accordance with Ulster County Legislative Local Law Number 14 of 2007 or by other State and Federal Statutes, candidates for employment to all Ulster County positions must obtain clearance for appointment from the Department of Criminal Justice Services or other mandated Federal and State regulatory authority based upon fingerprinting and a criminal history background check.

ULSTER COUNTY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, disabled veteran status, or status as a member of any other protected group or activity.