Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date: May 9, 2024

Closing Date: May 24, 2024

Job Class Code: 0603
Grade: 25
Salary: $52,832 – $71,240/yr.
Position Number: 02000-3927

Location: Augusta

This is open to current State of Maine employees with promotional status within the Department of Health and Human Services

Core Responsibilities:

The Senior Planner positions will assist the Office for Family Independence in administering the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE) Program. The HOPE Program will assist parents with low incomes with completion of training and education required to meet their employment goals. These positions are responsible for all operational and administrative functions in support of the program and will assist the HOPE Program Manager in collection of program information and evaluation of the program.
Typical duties for these positions include:
• Acting as a liaison between the Department and HOPE Program stakeholders.
• Monitoring program procedures and processes for efficiency, accuracy and overall service quality.
• Evaluating information received from Department vendors. 
• Collecting and evaluating program applications and applying program rules to determine eligibility.
• Administering issuance of program support services applying program rules.
• Coordinating, developing, and providing program outreach, training and ongoing policy interpretation to vendor staff and other stakeholders as needed.
• Representing the Department at administrative hearings.
• Coordinating data reporting internally and in coordination with Department vendors.
• Overseeing quality, quantity and effectiveness of services provided by program vendors.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, you must have a Bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in the development, delivery, or administration of public sector eligibility, healthcare, or social service programs, or comparable experience in a public administration, legal, or business environment. Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.

The background of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate the following competencies:
1. A proven aptitude for fostering collaborative relationships, communicating regularly and respectfully, documenting and reporting relevant information, and practicing a high level of professionalism. A background working with families with low incomes is preferred.
2. An ability to oversee the type, nature and frequency of services delivered, identify trends in service delivery, evaluate program performance, and help enhance practices and systems to maintain the mission, integrity, and efficiency of the program.
3. An ability to identify, assess and analyze statistical data and develop management reports summarizing program performance for state and federal reporting purposes and departmental decision making.
4. An ability to balance competing priorities under tight deadlines, employing exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and using strong, professional writing ability to be an informative, helpful point of contact for applicants, participants, vendors, and/or stakeholders.
5. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Access, and Word, with a high level of expertise with Excel preferred, including the ability to import, query, and visually present data.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information: 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office for Family Independence (OFI) is responsible for administration of eligibility determination for a number of programs, including MaineCare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Supplement, and Child Support. The Office for Family Independence currently has a vacancy in Augusta, ME.

Application Information:

 Please submit all documents or files in PDF format.

For additional information about this position please contact Marcus Hatch, Recruitment & Retention Specialist at 890-6810 or by email at Marcus.Hatch@Maine.gov. 

To request a paper application, please contact Ashley Smith at Ashley.Smith@maine.gov . To apply, please upload a resume, cover letter, and transcript (transcript needed only if education is used to meet the minimum qualifications). 

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• 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 ($10,523.28-$12,380.40 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costsfor you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.41% 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 fathers 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. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for part-time employment.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.