All Positions Require a 3.00 GPA and US Citizenship Work Authorization

SPRING 2011 Social Security Administration (SSA) Academic Internship Program w/ the Erickson School for Aging Studies and The Shriver Center at UMBC

All positions require a 3.00 GPA and US Citizenship Work Authorization.

POSITION 1

Component:Office of International Programs

Name and Title of Supervisor:Scott Cash, Supervisory Social Insurance Specialist

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): International Relations, Economics, FEIC, Public Policy, or Political Science

Position Description:

The intern will work in the Office of Agreements Negotiations and Analysis. This office is responsible for the negotiation of agreements under the U.S. Totalization Program. Totalization agreements improve benefit protection for workers who have divided their careers between the U.S. and another country. They also eliminate dual social security coverage and taxes for multinational companies and expatriate workers. The intern will conduct research on the Social Security system of potential negotiating partners. The work will be done in a team setting and include contacts with policy and research components within SSA.

This position requires:

- Outstanding research and writing skills

- Ability to work in a team setting

POSITION 2

Component: Office of Communications, Office of External Affairs

Name and Title of Supervisor: Rae Whelchel, Office Director

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Any Information Technology Discipline – BTA, IS, CMSC

Position Description:

VOCUS is a public relations web-based application, which helps Social Security communicate with the media and the public. By automating and integrating the essential elements of public relation functions, VOCUS allows the Agency to communicate electronically with key external organizations and advocacy groups.

The VOCUS Administrator serves as a specialist in the Office of National Affairs and is responsible for research and maintenance of the Vocus database. The Administrator’s duties also include projects related to the dissemination of information to national organizations and advocacy groups. Duties include:

Development and release of e-mail campaigns,
Evaluating, maintaining, and recommending improvements to the process,
Researching websites, and contacting national organizations to verify and update contact information,
Generating reports to be shared with management staff,
Identifies training needs for staff and makes recommendations to management.
Monitor organization websites, the media, blogs and other social networking sites for organizational changes and agendas related to Social Security.
Assists in the preparation of briefing materials, talking points, and other resource documents for advocate meetings and conferences.

Knowledge Required by the Position

General knowledge of research and analysis techniques with the ability to apply them in maintaining an extensive national contacts database.

Knowledge of SSA organization, the field structure, and overall functional responsibilities in order to obtain appropriate input for reports. General knowledge of evaluation techniques to be applied for national campaigns.

POSITION 3

Component:Office of Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Security

Name and Title of Supervisor:Roslyn Torella, Deputy Associate CIO, OIS

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Information Systems, BTA, CMSC, or similar

Position Description:

Assist with security awareness training by conducting research and developing materials, conduct analysis and research on information security issues such as Web 2.0 technology and prepare background papers and analysis for OCIO senior staff.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

Ability to conduct research and perform analysis of technical issues.

POSITION 4

Component: Office of Electronic Services, Division of Electronic Services, Support and Communications

Name and Title of Supervisor: Chuck Liptz , Director

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Communications, Marketing, Graphic Design, Media & Communications, Computer Science, Instructional Design, Imaging & Digital Arts

Position Description:

We are looking at creating a Facebook page and Twitter account to market Electronic Wage Reporting (sending W-2 forms to Social Security). We plan to use Facebook to begin a marketing campaign to small businesses. We also want to receive feedback from our customer base to determine the best ways to use Social Media.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

Ability to create Facebook pages. Knowledge of Twitter decks. Ability to help create scripts for You Tube videos. Ability to edit guides and handbooks. Ability to transfer paper based and web based documents to Facebook. Self starter to work with limited supervision.

POSITION 5

Component:Office of Public Service and Operations Support

Name and Title of Supervisor: Tom MacBride, Director

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): ANY-Aging Services, Public Policy, Political Science, HAPP, Sociology

Position Description:

The student will be involved in dynamic projects to improve Social Security services to the elderly and disabled. The student will assist in implementing new technology in Social Security offices and help design office layouts and features that will improve the overall experience of the elderly and disabled when visiting Social Security. The student will be working with top agency executives in SSA headquarters and throughout the nation. The student will attend frequent meetings, conference calls and presentations.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

Strong writing and analytical skills.
Strong attention to detail and ability to recognize inconsistencies.
Ability to use Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel and/or Access.

POSITION 6

Component: Office of Central Operations, Office of Disability Operations

Name and Title of Supervisor: Janet Johnson, Division Director

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Business Administration, Management, Communications

Position Description:

Management Program Analyst

The intern will be involved with the senior staff in the Office of Disability Operations and will be responsible for monitoring workloads and developing briefing materials at the division level. The assignment will involve providing guidance on workload issues and acting as a liaison between the division and the Operations Support Branch (OSB) components that assist modules with their workload processes.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

The intern will need skill in developing and interpreting statistical data. The intern needs to have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and must be able to express and present ideas and recommendations clearly, concisely, and effectively.

The intern will need excellent organizational skills and the ability to plan individual work assignments as well as plan, organize, and coordinate group activities.

The intern should have knowledge of operations and management analysis principles and techniques; and should show initiative and creativity in developing new ideas and approaches to workload issues.

POSITION 7

Component: Office of Central Operations, Division of Business Services

Name and Title of Supervisor: Fred Shaw, Deputy Director of the Division of Business Services

Address: 300 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21290

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Business Administration/Public Policy/Political Science/Economics/FEIC/Aging Services

Position Description:

Management Program Analyst

The intern will be responsible for developing tours and briefing materials for the Division of Business Services (DBS), and for coordinating tour activities. The intern will monitor various workloads and reports in DBS and provide guidance to branches and division staff on workload issues.

The intern will be responsible for reviewing Congressional inquiries and composing letters and responses, as well as making telephone follow-ups to inquiries received in DBS.

The intern will co-coordinate the Productivity Budget report, provide oversight for technical training, and serve as representative for the Employer Customer Help and Information Program (ER-CHIP).

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

The intern will need knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods in order to develop innovative approaches to operational workloads and/or business processes. This includes skill in developing and interpreting statistical data.

The intern will need excellent communication skills, both written and oral, because the position requires the ability to negotiate and collaborate with OEO management. The MPA establishes working relationships with managers and analysts in OEO and other SSA components as well as prepares correspondence for senior and executive staff. Therefore, the intern needs to be proficient in expressing and presenting ideas and recommendations clearly, concisely, and effectively.

The intern will need excellent organizational skills and the ability to effectively plan, organize, and coordinate projects

POSITION 8

Component: Office of Disability Determinations- Division of Disability Determination Services Budget

Name and Title of Supervisor: Yvette Lawson – Deputy Division Director

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Accounting, Finance, HAPP, Public Policy, Aging Services, Economics, Statistic,

Information Technology

Position Description:

Reviewing and analyzing existing financial systems in the DDSs to assure the soundness and managerial effectiveness of financial management methods and the economical and effective use of funds.
Developing and monitoring fiscal reporting systems and methods which provide information to monitor and control State Agency spending.
Developing estimates for new program/policies resulting from legislative actions and/or new policies and procedures of SSA components affecting DDS operations.
Conducting or participating in studies and analyses of workload impacts to determine the effect on budget and recommends revision in staffing, ceilings, allotments, etc.
Developing standards and policies and providing guidance in the Cost of medical services which includes State Agency medical fee schedule review, medical fee trends and/or comparison and other related matters.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

Strong analytical and or mathematical aptitude
Ability to analyze problems and issues to develop recommendations and conclusion;
Demonstrated ability to communicate orally in a group setting and to present logical and persuasive clarifications to audiences with varied levels of technical expertise;
Skill in developing and implementing financial management policies and procedures;
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to prepare reports, briefings, and presentations;
Excellent organizational skills; and,
Ability to work both independently and in a team environment and interact effectively with components within and outside of SSA and DDSs.

To perform satisfactorily in this position, the detailee should have excellent computer skills and be able to use Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, etc.). The detailee should also exhibit exceptional oral and written communication skills, be highly organized, and self-motivated.

POSITION 9

Component: Office of Disability Determinations, Disability Capacity Strategy Plan

Name and Title of Supervisor: Jason Bauer, Acting Project Manager

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Social Sciences, Health Administration, Political Science, Public Policy, Aging, etc

Position Description:

Duties will include the following:

Work collaboratively with the Capacity Core Team, consisting of staff from Office of Disability Determination (ODD) and the Regional Offices, to help implement the Disability Capacity Strategy Plan;
Assist in preparing and reviewing the documentation that communicates the disability capacity strategy with the Disability Determination Services (DDSs) and the Regional Offices;
Coordinate and schedule meetings and user reviews, prepare materials to be reviewed by workgroups (such as the State Assistance Methodology Workgroup), take and distribute notes, and prepare requirements-related briefings for the Capacity Team;
Prepare documents that communicate the research and findings; and,
Prepare presentation and training materials.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

Ability to analyze problems and issues to develop recommendations and conclusion;
Demonstrated ability to communicate orally in a group setting and to present logical and persuasive clarifications to audiences with varied levels of technical expertise;
Ability to identify policies, practices and issues impacting the sequential evaluation process;
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to prepare reports, briefings, and presentations;
Demonstrated proficiency in using MS Office products with an emphasis on MS Word and Power Point;
Excellent organizational skills; and,
Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
Interact effectively with components within and outside of SSA and DDSs.

POSITION 10

Component: Office of Disability Determinations, Division of DDS Systems Technology

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Information Technology, Public Policy, Health Administration, Media & Communication Studies, Aging, BTA, Political Science

Position Description:

Serve as project lead for video service delivery project to expand use of video service delivery (VSD) in state disability determination offices that adjudicate SSA disability claims.
Reviewing and analyzing proposals and proposed business uses for video service delivery equipment.
Develop evaluation criteria to be used in determining expansion recommendations.
Conduct Cost Benefit Analysis for VSD expansion proposals
Participate in cross component workgroups related to VSD technology and expansion
Prepare recommendations for VSD expansion and present those recommendations to ODD management.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

Strong analytical skills
Ability to analyze issues to develop recommendations and conclusion;
Demonstrated ability to communicate orally in a group setting and to present logical and persuasive clarifications to audiences with varied levels of technical expertise;
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to prepare reports, briefings, and presentations;
Excellent organizational skills; and,
Ability to work both independently and in a team environment and interact effectively with components within and outside of SSA and DDSs.

POSITION 11

Component: Division of Central Operations, Office of Automation Support

Name and Title of Supervisor: Rick Larry, Director - Project Coordination & Administrative Applications Support

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): Public Policy, Public Administration, Strategic Planning, Political Science, Aging Services, BTA

Position Description:

Project: Strategic IT Assessment and Review (SITAR) - This process allocates the Agency's resources to automation projects that best enable the Agency to achieve its short and long-term goals, and to manage those investments to successful completion. This includes aligning projects to the Agency’s strategic goals, monitoring and reporting on project status, and evaluating return on investment.

Duties/Responsibilities: Attending meetings, preparing documents such as spreadsheets and reports, drafting correspondence, preparing/delivering informational briefings, developing recommendations, providing training and writing instructions

Contacts will include interactions with senior-level executives and their staffs throughout Operations and across the agency.

Knowledge and experience required for effective performance in the assignment:

Excellent analytical skills
Good organizational and time management skills
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
Experience using Microsoft Office Applications; i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel
Familiarity with the structure and interaction of the three branches of the Federal Government is helpful, but not required.

POSITION 12

Component:Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, Office of Deputy Commissioner, Backlog Plan Initiatives Staff

Name and Title of Supervisor:Marjorie Swiecicki, Supervisory Program Analyst/Senior Advisor (BPIS)

Preferred Student Status: Junior Senior Graduate StudentAny

List Preferred Major(s): English, Social Work, Public Health, Political Science, Aging, or Public Administration

Position Description:

The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) July 29, 2009, memorandum 09-26, “Managing the Multi-Sector Workforce” directed agencies to conduct a human capital analysis on one program, project, or activity where the agency may be relying on contactors excessively, and therefore, undermining its ability to accomplish its mission. As a result of our multi-sector workforce review, we plan to in-source the verbatim hearing recorder (VHR) function.

This project aligns with our mission, goals, and objectives as well as our Strategic Human Capital Plan.

The Social Security Administration ’s mission statement is to ”Deliver Social Security services that meet the challenging needs of the public.” The Agency’s Strategic Plan (ASP) lays out the strategies and goals necessary to achieve that mission. Eliminating the hearings backlog is one of the ASP goals. One objective under this ASP goal is to “Increase ODAR’s capacity to hear and decide cases.” This VHR pilot project, to shift most of the Verbatim Hearing Reporter (VHR) functions from contractors to Federal employees, supports this objective.