Chief of IT and Program Operations

Chief of IT and Program Operations

Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $140,000 - $160,000

Starting Salary Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

The State Corporation Commission’s (“SCC”) Health Benefit Exchange (“HBE” or “Exchange”) Division seeks a talented people leader for a Chief of IT and Program Operations position on its senior leadership team. The selected candidate for this position will collaborate to develop and then lead the implementation of strategic plans for the Exchange’s IT Operations and Program Management functions, including management and oversight of mission-critical outsourced IT infrastructure and applications, ensuring system reliability, change and release management, quality assurance, performance, and data quality in compliance with state and federal regulations. The Chief of IT and Program Operations is responsible for developing comprehensive strategies connecting program activities to the organization’s mission, maintaining high-quality service delivery, maintaining alignment and compliance with changes to federal and state regulations, and serving as part of the division leadership team by participating in strategic decisions and guiding the organization through frequent and rapid change.

Essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leading strategic planning for next generation functionality, features, and technology
• Providing strategic leadership and guidance to the managers of various functional areas within the Exchange, which currently includes data analytics, IT operations, program management, and quality assurance
• Overseeing initiatives such as new product launches, business initiatives, and changes in technology
• Providing leadership and direction to foster a culture of innovation, resilience, and continuous improvement
• Overseeing the design, planning, and implementation of new projects, ensuring they meet identified needs and are scalable and sustainable
• Fostering an environment of collaboration across the various HBE teams
• Collaborating with the contract management staff to develop contract change requests and statements of work, ensuring compliance with contractual SLAs, and developing strategies to address supplier performance issues
• Actively participating as a member of the HBE leadership team and acting as a bridge between that team and HBE staff to facilitate an understanding of strategic initiatives, operational priorities, and connected thinking across the organization
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with HBE peers, business users, partner state and federal agencies, vendors, and other stakeholders to secure program support and alignment
• Preparing budget requests and other operational functions in support of the Exchange
• Performing related work as required.

The Chief of IT and Program Operations position offers a hybrid work schedule (some in-office and telework days each week) as well as a variety of professional development and training opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10 or more years of progressively responsible roles in program or project management and/or IT operations
• Exceptional track record of leadership and years of experience managing professional staff
• Certification or credentials in project management, program management, business analysis, or ITIL is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field is preferred but not required with considerable qualifications
• Experience in state or local government and/or in healthcare or health insurance technology or health insurance program management is an advantage
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable operational plans
• Ability to communicate effectively up and down the management chain in the appropriate language, with the right level of detail and context tailored for the audience
• Resourceful and analytical with exceptional communication skills
• Aptitude for problem-solving
• Strong project management skills
• Ability to manage, develop, train, coach, and evaluate staff
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities to accomplish defined goals
• Ability to quickly and gracefully pivot, adapt, and lead a team to success when circumstances dictate a change in direction
• Ability to work collaboratively across organizations and with external partners to achieve common goals
• Ability to effectively manage up

How to Apply

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by April 30, 2026.

Qualified internal and external candidates are encouraged to apply. If you are an external candidate, apply on the SCC Career Center website at https://careercenter.scc.virginia.gov. If you are an internal candidate, apply using eSCC (Oracle) - iRecruitment Employee Candidate.