Bureau Chief (10014)

State of Montana

18d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity within the Disability Employment and Transitions Division. The mission of Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services is to promote opportunities for Montanans with disabilities to have rewarding careers and achieve maximum personal potential. The Blind and Low Vision Services (BLVS) Bureau Chief provides strategic leadership for the agency's programs serving Montanans who are blind or have visual disabilities. The role also oversees Vocational Rehabilitation's Business Services staff and initiatives and directs Vocational Rehabilitation's self-employment work to ensure effective service delivery and support for clients statewide.

This position provides leadership, supervision, and management of Blind and Low Vision Services programs statewide, oversees Vocational Rehabilitation's Business Services team and initiatives, and directs Vocational Rehabilitation's self-employment program. This executive leadership position plans, organizes, directs, supervises, evaluates, and manages a variety of Bureau activities in 5 field offices across the state of Montana. The Bureau operates under a complex body of state and federal regulations which govern the expenditure of both state and federal funding. The Bureau's programs works with statewide partners and stakeholder groups and this position leads projects that advance competitive integrated employment initiatives. This position reports to the DETD Administrator directly or indirectly supervises approximately 25 personnel who provide a variety of services to eligible individuals to help them prepare for and engage in competitive integrated employment and maximizing independent living.

Why Join DPHHS
Our mission at DPHHS is serving Montanans in their communities to improve health, safety, well-being, and empower independence. By joining our department, you will have the opportunity to perform meaningful work in public service to our state and its residents.

The State of Montana's comprehensive benefits package includes healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, work/life balance, and eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In addition, DPHHS is the largest state agency with a wide range of advancement opportunities whether you are joining the workforce or have several years of experience.

Requirements

• Modern, forward-looking understanding of workforce trends and the needs of individuals with disabilities.
• Knowledge and understanding of how to build program linkages and partnerships with other Departments at the federal, state, and local governments.
• Expertise in serving individuals who are blind or experiencing vision loss, including deep knowledge of visual disabilities, barriers to independence and employment, accessibility standards, assistive technology, rehabilitation strategies, and the development of individualized supports that promote competitive integrated employment and community inclusion.
• Knowledge of personnel management and supervision policies and practices.
• Effective project planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze systems, identify problems and recommend solutions.
• Ability to speak effectively before large audiences in a variety of situations, including confrontational or delicate situations.
• Ability to be flexible and balance between literal adherence to rules and the use of policies as a guide.
• Ability to acquire the knowledge and awareness of the political environment, interests, alignment, approaches, and consequences of actions with each stakeholder.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to make decisions and be accountable for those decisions.
• Ability to create a harmonious and team approach to meeting agency goals and program objectives.
• Bachelor's degree in a field of study reasonably related to vocational rehabilitation counseling, disability studies, human services, business administration, human resources, special education, psychology, communications, or another field that reasonably prepares individuals to work with consumers and employers.
• Five years of experience in work with individuals with disabilities in direct service or advocacy activities, or direct experience in competitive integrated employment initiatives.
• Two years of supervisory or statewide administrative experience.
• Demonstrated experience engaging businesses and workforce partners to promote the value proposition of disability employment.
• Knowledge and experience supporting self-employment and entrepreneurship as viable career pathways for individuals with disabilities.
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, law, social work, psychology, disability studies, business administration, or another field that reasonably provides competence in the employment sector, in a disability field, or both.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, supervision, and management of Blind and Low Vision Services programs statewide
• Oversees Vocational Rehabilitation's Business Services team and initiatives
• Directs Vocational Rehabilitation's self-employment program
• Plans, organizes, directs, supervises, evaluates, and manages a variety of Bureau activities in 5 field offices across the state of Montana
• Leads projects that advance competitive integrated employment initiatives

Benefits

• healthcare coverage
• retirement plans
• paid vacation
• sick leave
• holidays
• work/life balance
• eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees