Chief Operating Officer - Division of Licensing & Certification

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Service Manager III

Opening Date : November 7, 2025

Closing Date : November 21, 2025

Job Class Code : MA34

Grade : 34 (Confidential)

Salary : $84,697.60 - 120,265.60 per year

Position Number : 02000-4038

Location : Augusta

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides supportive, preventive, public health and intervention services that protect the public health and assist our customers in meeting their needs.

The Division of Licensing and Certification provides regulatory oversight to protect vulnerable populations from harm and substandard quality of care by enforcing state and federal regulations related to the provision of health and social services.

Core Responsibilities :

As the Chief Operating Officer for the Division of Licensing and Certification (DLC), you will be responsible for day-to-day operational and management oversight of the organization including finance, federal and state budgets, grants and contract management, human resources coordination, legislation, policy and compliance, information technology coordination, and business system management. You will also be responsible for implementing, administering, and evaluating diverse business operations and establishing and following a set of policies and processes. As a key member of the executive team, you will act on behalf of the Director as delegated. You will set comprehensive goals for performance and growth to ensure maximum performance.

You will also :

• Identify operational risks and work with the executive team to mitigate risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Work with the executive team to develop and implement robust risk management strategies and contingency plans.
• Collaborate with the Director, executive team, and the Commissioner's Office to develop and implement plans for operational infrastructure of systems, policies, processes, and staff.
• Oversee the development and delivery of operational readiness for business systems implementation.
• Provide operational advisement to leadership on key initiatives.
• Establish effective working relationships with DHHS Offices regarding programs that intersect with DLC as well as other Departments to define areas of intersecting services, develop a comprehensive and integrated system of processes for Department programs to maximize use of resources.
• Collaborate with the Director and executive team to formulate and implement the organization's strategic goals and objectives. Provide input on operational strategies and initiatives to improve efficiency and drive operational excellence.

Minimum Qualifications :

To qualify, your background must include a 8-year combination of education and experience in executive level leadership in governmental agencies or large, complex organizations in the areas of operational oversight, finance, procurement and contractual oversight, and business system implementation. Educational requirement is a bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, or other comparable field with a focus on business.

Preferred candidates will also have :

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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 Division of Licensing & Certification (DLC) within DHHS provides regulatory oversight of medical and long-term care facilities in Maine. This includes oversight of the CNA registry, criminal background checks for employers to ensure staff are safe to care for our vulnerable citizens, and investigations into allegations of unsafe practices / events in facilities as diverse as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, behavioral health agencies, group homes and other community support providers.

Application Information :

For additional information about this position please contact Rebecca.Butterfield@Maine.gov

To apply, please upload a current resume and cover letter addressing the competency areas identified in the Requirements Section.

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.Hernandez@Maine.gov

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 :

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 anything less than full-time.

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.

If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.