Systems Section Manager

Department of Administrative and Financial Services•Augusta, GA

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) Office of Information Technology (MaineIT) provides information technology support to over 13,000 employees. MaineIT oversees large scale enterprise applications that support the critical and diverse business needs of the State of Maine and its agencies. MaineIT is seeking an experienced Systems Section Manager who exemplifies MaineIT’s C.A.R.E. values: Customer focus – Actively listens and ensures partner needs are understood and met Accountability – Demonstrates transparency, ownership, and integrity in all actions Responsiveness – Provides timely follow-up and proactive communication Empathy – Applies emotional intelligence, respect, and support in all interactions. This role requires an experienced IT professional who seeks to be an effective technology leader, not a hands-on-technical lead. We seek a candidate who will manage, develop, and encourage their teams to use critical thinking to identify and resolve issues, apply consistency to best practices, and foster an environment of collaboration to address areas that require change. This position works collaboratively with other leaders to strengthen and modernize business processes by applying strong technical knowledge, public‑sector IT governance awareness, and service‑focused decision‑making. The role emphasizes building effective relationships across agencies, vendors, and MaineIT by modeling clear communication, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards, and promoting best practices in technology and service delivery. The Systems Section Manager provides guidance and coaching to team leaders who serve as key relationship managers, supporting them in navigating competing priorities, resolving operational issues, and improving the performance and maturity of MaineIT’s application development and operational teams.

Requirements

Ten (10) years data processing/telecommunication system experience including at least six (6) years experience in the appropriate area of specialization and two (2) years of supervisory/ managerial experience -OR- a related Bachelors Degree and 6 years data processing/telecommunication system experience including at least four (4) years experience in the appropriate area of specialization and two (2) years of supervisory/ managerial experience -OR- a related Masters Degree and four (4) years data processing/telecommunication system experience including at least two (2) years experience in the appropriate area of specialization and two (2) years of supervisory/ managerial experience.
Understanding of public-sector IT governance, compliance, procurement rules, and enterprise architecture standards
Strong familiarity with vendor management practices, contract terms, service level agreements (SLAs), performance monitoring, and escalation procedures
Knowledge of customer relationship management principles, especially 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 (SDLC) across complex enterprise systems
Understanding of organizational change management and cross‑agency communication dynamics
Skill in guiding team leaders who serve 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, especially in balancing competing priorities between agencies, vendors, and internal IT
Skill in analyzing operational data, identifying service trends, and translating insights into actionable improvements
Skill in presenting complex technical issues in clear, plain language to non‑technical audiences
Skill in coordinating collaborative planning sessions, requirements gathering, and multi‑stakeholder decision-making
Ability to build and maintain positive, trust‑based relationships with vendors, agency program leaders, MaineIT staff and partners
Ability to oversee and coach team leaders, developing their maturity in technical leadership, relationship management and issue resolution
Ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, shifting resources as priorities change across agencies
Ability to anticipate operational risks or service delivery disruptions and implement mitigation strategies
Ability to ensure alignment of agency needs with enterprise standards, security expectations, and governance processes
Ability to foster a culture of accountability, transparency, communication, and continuous service improvement

Responsibilities

Lead day‑to‑day operations by coordinating closely with operational support, testing teams, vendors, project management, and agency stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery of technology services
Serve as a strategic partner to program leaders by actively understanding their goals, challenges, and operational priorities; guide them in forecasting technology needs and planning budgets that align with enterprise standards
Oversee section‑level budgeting, technology planning, and resource prioritization, supporting senior leadership in making informed, data‑driven decisions about systems, services, and investment strategies
Ensure services meet agency expectations by monitoring delivery performance, resolving service barriers quickly, and maintaining strong communication between agencies, vendors, and MaineIT
Mentor team leads and staff to strengthen their ability to manage relationships, communicate proactively, and apply “big‑picture” thinking that balances operational realities with strategic objectives
Evaluate business requests and Use Cases to coach team leaders on how to develop clear, actionable functional requirements, including accurate cost, risk, and timeline considerations
Participate in code and feature reviews, requirements walk‑throughs, design discussions, feasibility assessments, and quality checkpoints to support well‑designed, secure, and sustainable systems
Establish training expectations, professional standards, and performance goals; empower team leads to conduct timely and meaningful performance reviews that support continuous development
Ensure compliance with all applicable human resources policies, including ADA/EEO, classification rules, performance management requirements, security and confidentiality standards, workplace safety expectations, and contract administration guidelines

Benefits

13 paid holidays
12 days of sick leave
3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
Health Insurance Coverage (State pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums)
Health Insurance Premium Credit (decreases employee-only premiums by 5%)
Dental Insurance (State pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums)
Retirement Plan (State contributes 14.11% of pay to MainePERS)
Gym Membership Reimbursement (up to $40 per month)
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility
Living Resources Program (employee assistance program)
Parental leave (42 consecutive calendar days of fully paid leave for welcoming a child)
Voluntary Deferred Compensation (MaineSaves 457(b) account)