Chief Operating Officer

State of Maine • Augusta, ME

3d • $92,851 - $131,518 • Hybrid

About The Position

As Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Office for Family Independence (OFI), you will work in partnership with the Director and Senior Management Team to implement the Office’s strategic priorities, operations, technology, and compliance functions. You will lead by example and serve as a thought partner to the Director and collaborative manager for your direct reports. Key challenges and opportunities that you will address in the first two years include: • Ensuring that Maine’s SNAP Payment Error Rate reaches 6% by October 2026 and eventually sustains itself at 5% in Federal Fiscal Year 2027. • Ensuring 90-95% of applications, renewals, and other tasks are processed within internal and external timeline targets. • Operationalizing MaineCare community engagement requirements in 2027. • Managing large vendor-led technology projects to budget and schedule. Additional responsibilities include: • leading multidisciplinary teams to successful outcomes • making decisions that are in the best interest of the people that OFI serves as well as the Department • providing oversight of the Office’s regional and central operations, disability determinations, business technology, HR, compliance, fraud, and contracting functions • collaborating across the Department to balance priorities and ensure unity of effort • coordinating teams and resources to achieve milestones for key projects • engaging with Federal partners and other key stakeholders especially for final approval of technology projects and operational program waivers • working with the Program Financial Officer (PFO) to maintain the financial health of the office, including developing the annual budget and reviewing/approving transactions • managing key vendor contracts and competitive procurements in close collaboration with the Department’s Division of Contract Management (DCM) and others • attending meetings or making decisions in place of the Director in their absence

Requirements

• To qualify, your background must include a 10-year combination of education and experience in health or human services or related areas. At least five of those years must be in a senior level role managing multiple teams of professional staff.
• A proven ability to successfully manage the delivery of health and human services programs and operations within a large organization.
• A history of being an effective project manager—delegating and holding others accountable for their work products, bringing initiatives to successful implementation across multiple teams.
• Large project management expertise, especially related to technology project and managing large groups of staff performing similar functions to meet organization objectives (ie eligibility determinations in OFI’s case)
• The ability to establish effective internal and interagency working relationships.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• A record consistently demonstrating strong personal attributes including coaching/mentoring/ team-building skills, self-organizational skills, effective decision-making, and professional integrity.

Nice To Haves

• Professional or lived experience with Medicaid, SNAP, and/or TANF.

Responsibilities

• leading multidisciplinary teams to successful outcomes
• making decisions that are in the best interest of the people that OFI serves as well as the Department
• providing oversight of the Office’s regional and central operations, disability determinations, business technology, HR, compliance, fraud, and contracting functions
• collaborating across the Department to balance priorities and ensure unity of effort
• coordinating teams and resources to achieve milestones for key projects
• engaging with Federal partners and other key stakeholders especially for final approval of technology projects and operational program waivers
• working with the Program Financial Officer (PFO) to maintain the financial health of the office, including developing the annual budget and reviewing/approving transactions
• managing key vendor contracts and competitive procurements in close collaboration with the Department’s Division of Contract Management (DCM) and others
• attending meetings or making decisions in place of the Director in their absence

Benefits

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 18.91% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed