RHTP Initiative Lead

State of Maine•Augusta, ME

About The Position

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a major statewide initiative administered by DHHS, aiming to build a resilient, integrated rural health system that delivers accessible, high-value care and improved outcomes for all Mainers. The RHTP is a grant opportunity administered by CMS that provides $50B to states to transform rural health. Maine has applied for $1B of funding ($200M/year) across five years to deliver transformative change in rural health across five key initiatives: Population Health, Rural Workforce Development, Innovation, Access & Affordability, and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems. Position Summary Maine has set forth five key initiatives in the RHTP: Population Health, Workforce, Access, Innovation, and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems. Because each of these initiatives involve complex federal requirements, extensive cross-agency coordination, and management of multi-million-dollar contracts and vendor relationships, dedicated Initiative Leads are necessary to maintain compliance, ensure timely implementation, and achieve required outcomes. Candidates hired into these positions will be responsible for managing implementation of all of the activities within one or more of the RHTP initiatives mentioned above. The Initiative Lead will work closely with rural health providers and systems, key rural health stakeholders, health programs, vendors, and Maine State employees and programs. Additionally, the Initiative Lead will: • Serve as the central coordination point between implementation activities within their assigned initiative(s) and the RHTP management team, through the RHTP Deputy Director. • Provides strategic direction and alignment for activities for their assigned initiative(s). • Provide cross-Departmental direction to and oversight over state staff that are involved with activities under their initiative(s). • Report to the RHTP Deputy Director, with functional accountability to the Program Director. DHHS will be hiring up to five (5) candidates to fill Initiative Lead positions within the RHTP. Candidates should consider which of the Initiative Lead positions (Population Health, Workforce, Access, Innovation, and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems) they are best qualified or suited to fill.

Requirements

A 9-year combination of education, training and experience in public health, health administration, economics, health informatics, IT, healthcare administration, nursing, community-health administration, epidemiology, biostatistics, public policy or related field.
Experience must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in healthcare finance, payment reform, hospital operations, data management, digital-health, program evaluation, health-IT leadership, managing population-health, behavioral-health initiatives, healthcare analytics, government administration or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of MaineCare payment policy and rural health economics.
Knowledge of Maine’s health-information environment and provider networks.
Familiarity with Medicaid reimbursement and community-based care models.
Knowledge of CMS reporting requirements and State-level health data systems.
Experience managing evaluation for large health transformation or Medicaid programs.
Experience leading federally funded healthcare transformation projects.
For leadership of the Innovation initiative: o Experience managing federal or multi-agency health IT initiatives. o Experience with data integration, cybersecurity, and telehealth programs and regulations.
For leadership of the Population Health initiative: o Experience with managing cross-Departmental initiatives o Experience managing programs impacting population health
For leadership of the Workforce initiative: o Experience with implementing health care workforce programs or initiatives o Knowledge of the rural health workforce landscape of Maine
For leadership of the Access initiative: o Experience with administration of Medicaid programs and payments/claims systems.
For leadership of the Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems initiative: o Knowledge of rural health care systems and budgets. o Experience with Medicaid payments systems and claims.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of activities within an assigned initiative.
Oversee contracts, vendors, and programs for each activity.
Develop project plans, timelines, and implementation plans.
Monitor contractor and vendor performance and compliance with 2 CFR Part 200.
Provide leadership and operational oversight of all initiative activities.
Identify risks, operational barriers, and opportunities for improvement.
Ensure initiative activities align with RHTP strategic goals and federal requirements.
Coordinate within and across DHHS Offices regarding activities within an initiative.
Represent RHTP on interdepartmental workforce committees and task forces, including the RHTP Advisory Committee.
Facilitate information sharing, data integration, and consistent reporting among partners.
Build and maintain partnerships as needed with internal and external partners like hospitals, rural providers, EMS agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations.
Coordinate with partners to align policy, program activities, and reporting requirements.
Support the development and reporting of metrics, data, and outcomes pertaining to each activity under an initiative.
Ensure quality measurable outcomes for each activity.
Use data, dashboards, and vendor/staff reports to inform decisions and monitor outcomes.
Prepare reports, briefings, and updates as requested for RHTP leadership, legislators, and federal partners.
Support continuous quality improvement, performance monitoring, and data-informed planning.

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.
Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%.
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 fathers 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.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume