State Program Administrator Manager Senior - Chief Administrative Officer, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the State of Minnesota's principal economic development agency. DEED's mission is simple: to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone.

We are driven to find talented and innovative public servants, motivated by the opportunity to serve businesses, people, and the greater good. At DEED you will join a diverse team, inspired by challenging work and united by shared values that guide our work every day. At DEED we live our values by; focusing on the customer, communicating early and often, seeking solutions, creating inclusion, encouraging new ideas, and being gracious.

DEED is a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon agency and committed to proactively supporting servicemembers, veterans, and military families. DEED offers great employment opportunities with a meaningful mission to truly make a difference in the lives of those under our care and for those in communities throughout Minnesota.

Working Title: Chief Administrative Officer
Job Class: State Program Administrator, Manager Senior
Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development

• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 04/26/2024
• Closing Date: 05/16/2024
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Employ & Econ Development Dept / Employ & Econ Dev -Managerial
• Division/Unit: Paid Family & Medical Leave / PFML-Management
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Travel Required: Yes, up to 10% of the time
• Salary Range: $41.51 - $59.72 / hourly; $86,672 - $124,695 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 220 - Manager/Unrepresented
• FLSA Status: Exempt - Executive
• Telework Eligible: Yes, may be eligible to telework up to four (4) days per week
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities : Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you'll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Job Summary

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will report to the Division Director and will be responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving administrative, project management, and learning initiatives within the Division, involving partners from across the state.

Paid Leave is a new program launching in 2026. The program will provide partial wage replacement to Minnesota workers who are out of work due to a qualifying condition, such as a severe health condition that prevents them from working, or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child.

We are building a program that will be easy for every Minnesotan to use. We are engaging the people who depend on us-workers, employers, caregivers, and insurers-to learn from them and build the program around their needs. We are using modern service delivery and product practices to deliver the program.

The Paid Leave team has high standards and an unrelenting commitment to serving Minnesotans. It is a start-up environment without legacy systems or preconceived ways of working. We aim to deliver a service that delights Minnesotans.

Key Responsibilities:

• Directs the development of agency and statewide strategic and collaborative initiatives
• Lead and manage the Paid Leave project managers and staff to facilitate effective and efficient internal operations and ensure work outcomes are consistent with agency goals.
• Serves on the Paid Leave Senior Leadership team to provide strategic vision, leadership, and advice on operational and administrative systems and processes.
• Oversees division staff learning and manages program wide learning and development tools and resources.
• Provides expertise in many of the division's operations and responsibilities to:
  • Support employees across the Paid Leave division
  • Assist in developing backlogs and meeting deadlines
  • Develop, implement, and continuously improve how work is identified, assigned, tracked, and delivered to ensure successful outcomes across the division.
• Support the planning, execution, and completion of strategies, objectives, and key results within the Paid Leave division.
• Direct and facilitate procurement activities for technical services and consulting support.
• Serves on internal and statewide committees and task forces as a representative from the division.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment.

Four (4) years* of experience in a leadership position that support the planning, execution, and completion of projects/activities within a matrixed organization, with at least one (1) year in managing teams to meet the organization's productivity, quality, and goal accomplishment expectations AND managing professional service or consulting vendor relationships.

*Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Business Analytics, or another closely related field as determined by the agency may substitute one (1) year of experience; master's degree substitutes for eighteen (18) months of experience; PhD substitutes for twenty-four (24) months of experience

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualifications will be further evaluated on the following:

Knowledge of the principles and current concepts of organizational and program management and of business and project administration.

Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees communicating effectively between diverse internal stakeholders.

Experience in negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus building with diverse groups to solve complex and sensitive problems.

Understanding of staff development, supervision, and team building.

Experience managing processes including procurement and vendor management.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and current concepts of organizational and program management, and of business and project administration.
• Agency organizational responsibilities and legislative mandates sufficient to recognize the agency's vision, values, and obligations; identify problems and recommend and integrate solutions.

Skill in:

• Fostering change management techniques and work process re-design across the division.
• Strong business acumen, analytical, and planning skills.

Ability to:

• Champion change by continuously seeking and examining business practices, driving toward results and managing risk.
• Adapt to continuous organizational and program changes sufficient to work constructively under pressure and cope with ambiguity and setbacks.

Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

This position requires successful completion of the following:

Resumes of all applicants to this posting will be evaluated against the Minimum Qualifications stated above. If your skills match the required skills for this position, the department may contact you. Employee reference checks will be conducted on all finalists. This may include a review of documentation related to job performance and education. It includes contact with the applicant's current and/or former employers.

A Criminal Background Check will be conducted on all finalists for this position. A criminal conviction will not automatically remove you from consideration for employment.

When the position requires travel and the applicant drives a state owned or leased vehicle, a driver's license record check will be conducted.

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Application Details

How to Apply

Select "Apply for Job" at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers .

If you have questions about the position, contact Timothy High at timothy.high@state.mn.us .

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Talent Acquisition at talent.acquisition.deed@state.mn.us .

The Department of Employment and Economic Development is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employer, and encourages all qualified candidates to apply for job opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application and search tools, please contact Karen Lilledahl at Karen.Lilledahl@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.

Diverse Workforce

We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.

A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:

• 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency's mission
• 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
• 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
• 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule

Comprehensive Benefits

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:

• Public pension plan
• Training and professional development
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays each year
• Paid parental leave
• Low-cost medical and dental coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Vision coverage
• Wellness programs and resources
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Health care spending and savings accounts
• Dependent care spending account
• Tax-deferred compensation
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

We will make reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and indicate what assistance is needed.