Associate Director Disability Determination Services

About the position The Office for Family Independence (OFI) is looking for an Associate Director for its Disability Determination Services (DDS) program. In addition to serving as OFI’s primary DDS ambassador to the public and various stakeholder groups, this position will be responsible for the overall administration of the DDS purpose. Typical duties for this position include: Lead, plan, organize, and coordinate division operations, staff, contractors, and functions to establish and implement operational priorities and ensure defined objectives, policies, procedures, and standards are maintained. Ensure coordination of all division activities, both collective and program specific, through work with supervisors to ensure quality planning and implementation using a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to address prioritized disability determination issues. Conduct division-wide strategic planning to align division and program efforts with national best practices, priorities or performance measures associated with available funding, and emerging needs within Maine. Provide fiscal and administrative oversight of the division. Provide contract management for the division’s workplan. Develop and implement division policies and procedures. Ensure collaboration throughout the division and across division/program areas of DDS and other offices of DHHS, as appropriate. Provide staff development and supervise program staff including hiring, performance management, coaching, and personnel actions, as necessary. Represent DDS and DHHS on relevant committees and work groups as needed and appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Lead, plan, organize, and coordinate division operations, staff, contractors, and functions to establish and implement operational priorities and ensure defined objectives, policies, procedures, and standards are maintained.
• Ensure coordination of all division activities, both collective and program specific, through work with supervisors to ensure quality planning and implementation using a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to address prioritized disability determination issues.
• Conduct division-wide strategic planning to align division and program efforts with national best practices, priorities or performance measures associated with available funding, and emerging needs within Maine.
• Provide fiscal and administrative oversight of the division.
• Provide contract management for the division’s workplan.
• Develop and implement division policies and procedures.
• Ensure collaboration throughout the division and across division/program areas of DDS and other offices of DHHS, as appropriate.
• Provide staff development and supervise program staff including hiring, performance management, coaching, and personnel actions, as necessary.
• Represent DDS and DHHS on relevant committees and work groups as needed and appropriate.

Requirements

• To qualify, your background must include a ten-year combination of education and professional level administrative or supervisory experience in business, human services programming, management, or related functions.
• A proven ability to successfully manage mission critical programs and operations within a large organization.
• A history of being an effective leader and project manager, delegating and holding others accountable for their work products, and bringing initiatives to successful implementation.
• The ability to establish effective internal and interagency working relationships.
• Exceptional communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• A record consistently demonstrating strong personal attributes including coaching/mentoring/ team-building skills, self-organizational skills, effective decision-making, and professional integrity.

Nice-to-haves

• Leadership – Demonstrated ability to manage, coach, inspire, and motivate staff and others to accomplish mission and goals by providing clear direction and positive interpersonal influence.
• Achievement orientation – A record of achieving agency goals through measuring and monitoring organizational and individual performance.
• Employee Development – Accurately accesses strengths and development needs of employees. Provides challenging assignments and opportunities for development.
• Customer service orientation – Commitment to meeting consumer needs and building partnerships with constituents, staff, and other state agencies.

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 non-birthing 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.