Director of Strategic Operations and Special Projects

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Brief Job Description:

The HHSC Medicaid and CHIP Services (MCS) division seeks a highly qualified candidate to fill the position of Director of Strategic Operations and Special Projects in the Managed Care Contracts and Oversight (MCCO) Department. MCS is driven by its mission to deliver quality, cost-effective services to Texans. This position makes a significant contribution to MCS’s mission by ensuring that MCCO meets statutory requirements and implements audit recommendations within prescribed timeframes. The Director of Strategic Operations and Special Projects will collaborate with staff across MCCO and MCS to identify areas of efficiency and process improvement for the MCCO department. The ideal candidate must be highly competent and thrive in an environment that highlights the ability to plan many different kinds of operational activities; engage in and foster teamwork to achieve goals; achieve excellence through high professional standards and personal accountability; maintain curiosity to continuously grow and learn; use critical thinking for effective execution; and maintain integrity to do things right even when doing what is right is not easy.

The Director of Stategic Operations and Special Projects performs advanced, senior-level managerial work providing direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning. Work involves driving organizational excellence through our projects, people, and processes to include establishing the strategic plan and goals and objectives; developing policies, procedures, and guidelines; establishing priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining vendor contractual compliance and monitoring staff oversight activities; coordinating and evaluating program activities and/or business functions; and provides consultative services and technical assistance to program staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, or the general public. The Director of Stategic Operations and Special Projects contributes to the development and continuous improvement of services, policies, processes, and programs delivered and must be an excellent and resilient leader who thinks critically and can discover the most efficient ways to collaboratively safeguard and augment the efficiency of MCCO’s operations to facilitate development and long-term success. This position reports to the Deputy Associate Commissioner of MCCO and supervises the work of others under minimal supervision, and with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs duties as assigned.
(40%) Directs the performance of a variety of functions within MCCO, to include training, special projects, network adequacy, technical, training, research, planning, policy, bill analysis and legislative implementations, program assessment, and administrative activities within MCCO. Develops and implements techniques for evaluating program activities and/or business functions; and identifies need for changes. Must work with MCCO and various department leaders across the agency to ensure MCCO’s work with the other departments is operating efficiently.
(30%) Develops and establishes goals and objectives consistent with the agency’s strategic plan. Develops policies, procedures, and guidelines and monitors compliance. Develops and oversees the implementation of long-range and short-term plans. Reviews and provides recommendations as to department impact and implementation of results of special investigations, internal audits, research studies, forecasts, and modeling exercises to provide direction and guidance. Coordinates third-party performance audits, to including developing scopes of work.
(15%) Establishes and maintains collaborative and effective working relationships and communication with agency staff as well as those from other agencies and organizations, appropriately interacts with others, and provides complete and timely responses to requests and inquiries. Represents the agency at business meetings, legislative sessions, or on boards, panels, and committees in a positive manner.
(15%) Plans, develops, and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and directs evaluation activities. Evaluates regularly the efficiency of business procedures according to organizational objectives and apply improvements. Reviews and approves management, productivity, and financial reports and studies. Supervises the work of others. Performs related work as assigned, timely and accurately.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations relevant to program areas and of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
Knowledge of federal laws, regulations, and processes regarding Medicaid and CHIP.
Knowledge of audit principles, to include third-party audits and developing scope of work.
Knowledge of bill analysis processes and implementing legislative changes.
 

Skill in working collaboratively and cooperatively with diverse groups.

Skill in written and oral communication, including the ability to speak publicly and serve as agency spokesperson in matters related to program management and operations.
 

Ability to think critically, analyze and solve problems, to make decisions affecting overall operations, and to comprehensively and accurately prepare and evaluate reports in a highly complex environment.
Ability to plan, assign and supervise the work of others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) preferred, or must be obtained within the first 12 months of employment. 

Initial Screening Criteria:

A minimum of 120 semester hours from an accredited college with major course work in a field related to health and human services. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in management, healthcare administration, or health information technology is generally preferred. Experience and education may be substituted for one another. Experience in managing staff. Experience with contract management principles and techniques is required. Experience with audits, to include third-party audits and implementing audit recommendations, and network adequacy contract requirements preferred. Experience with Medicaid and CHIP is preferred.

Additional Information:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee service center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position. All active duty, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply. HHS agencies use E-Verify. 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form