Systems Section Manager

State of Maine•Augusta, GA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Systems Section Manager is a managerial professional-services role in the Office of Information Technology (MaineIT), Department of Administrative and Financial Services. The position directs a major section within the Bureau of Information Services and supervises professional, technical, and support personnel. Work is performed under administrative direction. This role manages team leaders whose teams provide IT systems support to agencies and offices within the Department of Health and Human Services, including services supporting MaineCare, SNAP, TANF, General Assistance, mental health and substance use disorder services, family eligibility determinations, Drug Courts, and Children’s Behavioral Health services. The position calls for an experienced IT professional and technology leader focused on managing and developing teams rather than serving as a hands-on technical lead. The manager coaches team leaders, promotes critical thinking and consistent best practices, and fosters collaboration and change. Working with other leaders, agencies, vendors, and MaineIT teams, the manager helps modernize business processes and deliver services aligned with enterprise standards, governance, and security expectations. The role currently offers a hybrid work opportunity, with the possibility of working from home up to 90% of the time. The employee must work in the office at least once every two weeks, and remote work must be performed within Maine. The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions. Applicants must submit a cover letter, current resume listing month and year for relevant experience and the duties of each position, and three professional references. The selected candidate must pass required background checks; fingerprinting may be required.

Requirements

Meet one of the following minimum qualification pathways: 10 years of data processing/telecommunication system experience, including at least 6 years in the appropriate specialization and 2 years of supervisory/managerial experience; or a related bachelor’s degree and 6 years of data processing/telecommunication system experience, including at least 4 years in the appropriate specialization and 2 years of supervisory/managerial experience; or a related master’s degree and 4 years of data processing/telecommunication system experience, including at least 2 years in the appropriate specialization and 2 years of supervisory/managerial experience.
Understanding of public-sector IT governance, compliance, procurement rules, and enterprise architecture standards.
Familiarity with vendor management, contract terms, service-level agreements, performance monitoring, and escalation procedures.
Knowledge of customer relationship management, particularly in multi-agency technology environments.
Awareness of cybersecurity, data privacy laws, accessibility standards, and state-level security protocols.
Knowledge of IT service delivery, operational workflows, and software development lifecycle management across complex enterprise systems.
Understanding of organizational change management and cross-agency communication dynamics.
Ability to guide team leaders serving as technical leads and relationship managers, ensuring consistent communication, priority alignment, and stakeholder satisfaction.
Skill in negotiating with vendors and agency partners to balance technical needs, timelines, and contractual obligations.
Skill in conflict resolution among agencies, vendors, and internal IT teams.
Skill in analyzing operational data, identifying service trends, and translating insights into actionable improvements.
Skill in explaining complex technical issues clearly to nontechnical audiences.
Skill in coordinating collaborative planning sessions, requirements gathering, and multi-stakeholder decision-making.
Ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships with vendors, agency program leaders, MaineIT staff, and partners.
Ability to oversee and coach team leaders in technical leadership, relationship management, and issue resolution.
Ability to manage concurrent initiatives and shift resources as agency priorities change.
Ability to anticipate operational risks or service disruptions and implement mitigation strategies.
Ability to align agency needs with enterprise standards, security expectations, and governance processes.
Ability to foster accountability, transparency, communication, and continuous service improvement.
Submit a cover letter, current resume, and three professional references; include month and year for relevant experience and identify experience that was not full-time.
Pass required background checks as a condition of employment; fingerprinting may be required.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day operations in coordination with operational support, testing teams, vendors, project management, and agency stakeholders to ensure technology services are delivered smoothly.
Serve as a Program Sponsor for enterprise-wide programs and initiatives by setting strategic direction, aligning stakeholders, managing risks, and ensuring adherence to enterprise governance, security, and technology standards.
Partner with program leaders to understand their goals, challenges, and operational priorities, and guide technology-needs forecasting and budget planning.
Oversee section-level budgeting, technology planning, and resource prioritization, supporting data-driven decisions about systems, services, and investments.
Monitor service delivery performance, resolve barriers, and maintain effective communication among agencies, vendors, and MaineIT.
Mentor team leads and staff in relationship management, proactive communication, issue resolution, and strategic thinking.
Evaluate business requests and use cases and coach team leaders in developing clear functional requirements with accurate cost, risk, and timeline considerations.
Participate in code and feature reviews, requirements walkthroughs, design discussions, feasibility assessments, and quality checkpoints.
Establish training expectations, professional standards, and performance goals, and empower team leads to conduct timely, meaningful performance reviews.
Ensure compliance with applicable human resources policies and requirements, including ADA/EEO, classification rules, performance management, security and confidentiality, workplace safety, and contract administration.
Direct and oversee a major section within the Bureau of Information Services and supervise professional, technical, and support personnel.

Benefits

13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3 or more weeks of vacation leave annually; vacation accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
The State pays 85%–100% of employee-only health insurance premiums, depending on salary; health insurance premium credit can reduce employee-only premiums by 5% subject to program requirements.
The State pays 100% of employee-only dental insurance premiums.
The State contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility through the State as a qualified employer.
Living Resources employee assistance program.
Forty-two consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child; additional unpaid leave may be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.
Additional wellness benefits for State employees.