Certification Project Specialist

This position is assigned to the Advanced Planning Office (APO) Certification and Compliance Unit (C&C). The role leads the Certification Workstream for projects and collaborates with the Business Leads, Project Teams, functional / matrix managers, vendors and other stakeholders to ensure that CMS criteria are met, and project tasks are delivered on schedule, within budget, and positioned for a successful MMIS / CMS Certification, consistent with Program Management guidelines / processes and CMS expectations. The CPS will be responsible and play a key role in supporting the Leadership / Managers to maintain the relationship in planning and executing CMS certification activities in conjunction with project team implementing complex systems in support of NC Department of Health and Human Service programs.

• Responsible for leading project teams through certification tasks
• Executes the certification strategy for assigned projects
• Leads certification workstream meetings
• Assists in determining the State's future goals by leading meetings with internal stakeholders and vendors to map the State's certification strategy in alignment with the "To-Be" MITA 3.0 maturity levels
• Updates document repository for CMS certification artifacts per project
• Manages the Certification Evidence Tracker
• Responsible for pulling, recommending, and managing evidence from the implemented solution to meet CMS Certification requirements
• Assists with composing narratives to accompany evidence
• Oversees system demonstrations for the Business and CMS, as required, to achieve CMS Certification
• Follows up with CMS on all exceptions and action items pertaining to CMS Certification
• Provides education to project team members and stakeholders on CMS certification process, including process documentation / training materials
• Maintains awareness of CMS certification program and policy updates, organization communication as applicable
• Provides project schedule activities to project team for CMS effort aligned with scope of contract for a specific project (for integration into project schedules), drives work execution from the detailed work plan
• The resource will ensure the utilization of industry best practices for compliance with CMS and State-defined performance standards.

MMIS / CMS certification experience

Required

Years

State government / public sector experience with health and human services programs (such as Medicaid, MMIS, claims processing, eligibility, HHS)

Required

Years

Project management experience including experience managing staff in a matrix or direct reporting relationship

Required

Years

Experience managing multiple priorities / projects including project scope, schedules, quality, change management and project financials

Required

Years

Experience implementing information systems in client facing role

Required

Years

CMS Medicaid Enterprise Certification Life Cycle process experience

Required

Years

Experience in healthcare related knowledge, ideally in analytics, reporting or related

Highly desired

Years

Implementation / SDLC methodologies, e.g. Agile, waterfall, hybrid and / or iterative

Highly desired

Years

CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) experience

Highly desired

Years

Medicaid, MMIS, claims process or related experience

Highly desired

Years

Demonstrated experience using project tracking tools (Microsoft Project, (e.g. Jira, MITAPulse)

Required

Years