State Comptroller Assistant Division Director

State of Connecticut•Hartford, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented State Comptroller Assistant Division Director to work in our Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services Division. This position provides senior leadership and strategic oversight for the administration, fiscal management, vendor performance, policy implementation, and operational effectiveness of the State of Connecticut's employee and retiree health benefit programs, including the State Partnership Plan. This position works closely with division leadership, the Comptroller and Executive Team, state agencies, vendors, labor representatives, consultants, and other stakeholders to ensure the health plan operates effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with State priorities and applicable requirements.

Requirements

Nine (9) years of experience in the administration of employee pension plans or employee health care or other employee benefits programs or legal experience in the area of benefits administration.
Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.
Considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations.
Considerable knowledge of legal and administrative issues concerning employee pension and benefits plans.
Knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices.
Knowledge of health care delivery systems.
Knowledge of collective bargaining, legislative and retirement administrative appeal processes.
Considerable interpersonal skills.
Considerable oral and written communication skills.
Considerable ability in analysis and preparation of complex and comprehensive financial statements and reports.

Nice To Haves

Experience administering or overseeing a large public-sector employee, retiree, or municipal health plan, including familiarity with health benefits, and collective bargaining agreements.
Experience managing complex healthcare programs, vendor contracts, performance guarantees, budgets, and operational functions.
Experience in healthcare financing, insurance markets, Medicare, health plan administration, and healthcare cost drivers, including claims utilization, rate development, and financial analysis.
Experience interpreting and implementing federal and state healthcare requirements, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and related reporting and compliance requirements.
Experience managing vendor relationships and holding contractors accountable for contractual and performance requirements.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, major health benefit implementations, open enrollment, system implementations, or organizational change initiatives.
Experience working with labor organizations, vendors, policymakers, healthcare consultants, and other public-sector stakeholders, with the ability to communicate complex financial, operational, and policy matters clearly to senior leadership.

Responsibilities

Lead assigned operational functions and multidisciplinary staff within the Healthcare Policy & Benefit Services Division.
Establish priorities and performance expectations, manage staffing and organizational resources, develop staff, and coordinate administrative and program activities to support division and health plan objectives.
Provide oversight of the annual health plan open enrollment process, agency training and education, and member communications to ensure effective implementation of benefit changes and consistent understanding of health plan programs and requirements.
Provide senior-level oversight of the State’s employee, retiree, and Partnership health benefit programs, ensuring effective administration and compliance with statutory, regulatory, and collective bargaining requirements.
Lead major benefit implementations, annual open enrollment, policy and legislative responses, and resolution of complex health plan issues.
Provide executive oversight of major healthcare vendors and contracts, ensuring compliance with contractual requirements, performance guarantees, service standards, and member service expectations.
Monitor vendor performance, resolve escalated issues, lead executive-level vendor discussions, and identify opportunities to improve accountability, service delivery, operational efficiency, and member experience.
Provide senior-level oversight of the State’s approximately $3.4 billion healthcare expenditures, including budget monitoring, rate development, financial analysis, and fiscal reporting.
Evaluate the financial impact of benefit and policy changes, oversee related fiscal and contractual requirements, and provide financial recommendations to division leadership and the Healthcare Cost Containment Committee.
Assists in directing staff and operations of a major division with statewide impact.
Assists in coordinating, planning, and managing program functions within a division.
Assists in formulating program goals and objectives.
Assists in developing related policy.
Assists in implementation of new procedures and procedural revisions.
Assists in interpreting and administering pertinent laws.
Evaluates staff.
Assists in preparing division budgets.
Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact program activities.
Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection.
May coordinate subpoena responses and Freedom of Information requests.
May assist in directing employee benefits functions.
May assist in directing timely processing of all state payrolls and related documents.
May assist in directing auditing, validation, and payment of all claims against the State.
May assist in directing maintenance of official accounting records of the State.
May interpret state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to retirement or employee benefits.
May provide counsel to state agency staff with respect to retirement benefits in connection with resolution of labor disputes.
May prepare contracts for services required by SERC and the State Comptroller to administer employee or retiree benefits.
May assist in coordination of various health care delivery systems including health promotion and wellness initiatives.