Chief of Staff

State of Montana • Helena, MT

14d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief of Staff serves as a senior executive leader in the DPHHS Director’s Office and acts as the Director's principal strategic advisor, integrator, and executive coordinator across the department's management areas, executive office functions, and key external relationships. The position helps translate the Director’s priorities into coordinated action by aligning executive decision-making, cross-functional initiatives, communications, legislative and stakeholder engagement, and follow-through across the Director's Office and department leadership structure. The Chief of Staff provides leadership for functions such as project management, research and data analytics, data management, communications, and related strategic coordination, while partnering closely with the Principal Deputy Director, Director’s Office Manager, legal counsel, State Medical Officer, and program executives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, public health, health policy, business administration, communications, law, political science, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in executive leadership support, policy, strategic planning operations, public or private administration, or human services work, including substantial experience in coordinating complex issues across organizational boundaries.
• Ability to synthesize complex information, identify key issues, evaluate options, and provide clear, actionable recommendations to executive leadership.
• Ability to exercise exceptional judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and political awareness in handling confidential, controversial, or high-visibility matters.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a state public health, Medicaid, or human services agency.
• Experience supporting a cabinet-level official, agency director, secretary, commissioner, or a similarly situated executive.
• Experience with legislative-session support, executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and cross-agency coordination.
• Experience leading project management, policy implementation, communications coordination, data management, or enterprise issue management in a large public or private organization.
• Familiarity with DPHHS programs, State of Montana government operations, and tribal, provider, and community partner environments.

Responsibilities

• Acts as the Director's principal strategic advisor, integrator, and executive coordinator.
• Translates the Director’s priorities into coordinated action by aligning executive decision-making, cross-functional initiatives, communications, legislative and stakeholder engagement, and follow-through.
• Provides leadership for functions such as project management, research and data analytics, data management, communications, and related strategic coordination.
• Partners closely with the Principal Deputy Director, Director’s Office Manager, legal counsel, State Medical Officer, and program executives.
• Lead meetings, guide executive follow-through, manage special projects, and ensure accountability without relying solely on formal authority.

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: Executive