Continuous Improvement Section Chief

State of Montana•Helena, MT

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you looking for a position where you get to work with a great group of professionals who love what they do and are dedicated to public service? Are you looking for a work environment that places high value on customer focus, individual responsibility, continuous improvement, and professional growth? If so, then you may be interested in the Continuous Improvement Section Chief position. MISSION STATEMENT: Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity. DLI CORE VALUES: Responsiveness Respect Integrity Excellence Cohesiveness It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team-based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here. Position Overview: The Section Chief of the Continuous Improvement Unit serves as a key leader within the Employment Standards Division and oversees a high performance project team responsible for driving division wide change initiatives. The position leads strategic planning and project management efforts to support and advance division goals and objectives through continuous improvement practices.

Requirements

Leadership and people management: Principles and practices of leadership, vision setting, mentorship, and human resources management, including recruitment, onboarding, training, development, performance management, discipline, and off boarding, while building trust and strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Strategic, business, and program management: Application of business and management principles to strategic planning, resource allocation, production methods, coordination of people and resources, strategic planning methodologies, and program assessment techniques, including serving as a change agent to implement and reinforce division and bureau objectives.
State regulation and rulemaking: Knowledge of applicable state regulation and rules governing division programs, as well as legislative and administrative rule development, processes, implementation, and compliance, and the ability to adapt to an evolving regulatory and work environment.
Project and technology management: Proficiency in project management principles and methodologies, technology systems development and integration across division sections, translating business requirements into functional IT specifications (including the software development life cycle), managing customer and vendor relationships, and serving as an effective liaison between business stakeholders and IT.
Analytical, problem solving, and data skills: Ability to use both traditional and non traditional analytical thinking to develop innovative solutions, perform cost/benefit analysis, assess business risks, identify success measures, and work with relational databases to gather, analyze, and present numerical data and configure system features and automation.
Communication, negotiation, and customer service: Strong skills in public speaking and written and verbal communication to technical and nontechnical audiences; effective negotiation and collaboration (rapport building, active listening, distinguishing wants from needs, and influencing through reasoned, tactful, and assertive communication); and delivering high quality customer service while coaching staff to maintain a customer focused approach.
Effective Public Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in public settings by delivering clear, engaging, and informative presentations tailored to diverse audiences, including staff, leadership, and external stakeholders.
Professional Presentation Development: Skilled in developing professional presentation materials that convey complex information in an accessible and visually compelling manner, ensuring audience understanding and engagement.
Demonstrated ability in leading professional staff, including responsibility for recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and coaching.
Demonstrated experience in managing complex projects or initiatives using established project management principles and methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to apply strategic planning or continuous improvement methods to align operations with organizational goals.
Demonstrated experience collaborating with technical or information technology teams to translate business needs into system or process solutions.
Demonstrated experience working with or interpreting state laws, rules, or policies in a regulatory, compliance, or program administration environment.
Demonstrated experience using data and analytical tools to assess performance, conduct cost/benefit or risk analyses, and support decision making.
Demonstrated experience communicating complex or technical information clearly to varied audiences, including through presentations, facilitation, or stakeholder meetings.

Nice To Haves

A degree in business administration, communications, public administration, strategic management or related degree may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage by directing a diverse, high performance project team and ensuring alignment with division strategic objectives and goals.
Provide effective leadership by modeling professional conduct, resolving conflicts, facilitating organizational change, and offering guidance and technical expertise to staff.
Oversee daily operations by addressing operational issues and crises, deploying unit resources efficiently, and serving as a cross bureau liaison to promote information sharing, coordination, and continuity of operations.
Plan, organize, and monitor work by establishing and revising work plans, priorities, and procedures; conducting staff meetings; and using data to support program, Bureau, and Division goals.
Manage Section staff, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, evaluation, and performance management, ensuring compliance with State and departmental personnel rules, regulations, and policies.
Develop staff by coordinating and evaluating training based on program needs, staff input, professional development goals, and budget considerations.
Provide project management leadership through Division Road Map and other strategic projects, using established project management principles and methodologies.
Plan and facilitate projects by facilitating meetings and work sessions; develop and maintain project life cycle documentation; report progress and outcomes to stakeholders; and prioritize and allocate resources.
Collaboration with Technical Services Division by aligning business needs with IT development and implementation efforts.

Benefits

Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP
Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan
Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73%25 - 9.07%25 of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness
Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1, 2026.
This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)