Chief of Staff

Make a Difference with DHSS

Our mission at the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is to improve the quality of life of Delaware citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. We prioritize personal and family independence by assisting individuals and families in a variety of life areas.

We offer numerous career opportunities and are dedicated to attracting and retaining highly talented individuals who are ready to make a difference in their community today. DHSS is a great place to kick-start your profession.

For more information, please visit https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/ today!

Summary Statement
Serves as Chief of Staff within the DMMA Office of the Director, providing expert advice and acting on behalf of the Director as assigned. Coordinates executive priorities, supports Division leadership, and helps ensure critical initiatives, decisions, and organizational priorities are effectively communicated and carried through to implementation.
Nature and Scope
The Chief of Staff reports to and receives general direction and guidance from the DMMA Director in terms of broad goals and objectives. The employee establishes methods for advancing executive priorities and assists in the administration and coordination of Division operations.
Work includes advising on administrative, operational, policy, personnel, regulatory, and organizational matters and handling critical and sensitive issues. The Chief of Staff provides guidance, consultation, and recommendations to Division leadership regarding policy implementation, agency priorities, and administrative concerns and keeps the Director apprised of relevant matters and emerging issues.
The Chief of Staff serves as the primary liaison between DMMA and the Office of the Secretary, oversees the staff and operations of the Office of the Director, and coordinates with and supports unit chiefs in advancing Division-wide priorities. The position follows up on executive decisions and assignments to ensure timely completion and assists in resolving cross-unit and competing priorities.
A significant aspect of the work involves representing the Director as assigned and coordinating with DHSS leadership, other divisions, state and federal partners, contractors, providers, stakeholders, and other organizations on matters affecting the Division.

Preference may be given to applicants with education, training and/or experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Medicaid, health and human services, health care administration, health policy, or another complex federally regulated program.
• Supporting executive leadership in a large, complex organization.
• Leading or coordinating enterprise-wide or cross-functional organizational initiatives.
• Working in a highly regulated environment involving significant federal and state requirements.
• Managing organizational change, implementation, or performance-improvement initiatives. Applicants who do not possess the preferred qualification will still be eligible to compete for this position if job requirements are met.

Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions of the position. These functions are not an exhaustive list of all job duties and may include duties of a similar kind not specifically listed here.
• Confers with the Director, Division leadership, and internal and external partners regarding policy implementation, personnel, operational, regulatory, and organizational matters and provides recommendations for action.
• Reviews significant issues, correspondence, requests, and reports; determines appropriate routing and level of response; and keeps the Director appropriately briefed.
• Serves as the Division’s primary liaison to the Office of the Secretary and coordinates executive requests, priorities, briefings, assignments, and follow-up.
• Coordinates with and supports unit chiefs in advancing Division priorities, resolving cross-unit issues, responding to executive assignments, and implementing leadership decisions.
• Gathers and analyzes information and prepares briefings, memoranda, reports, presentations, and other materials for executive decision-making.
• Coordinates and monitors high-priority initiatives and special projects and follows up with responsible staff to ensure timely completion.
• Supports coordination across DMMA, DHSS, and external partners to advance Division priorities and resolve operational or implementation issues.
• Responds to sensitive inquiries and issues and coordinates resolution of matters requiring Director’s Office involvement.
• Represents the Director at meetings, workgroups, committees, and other internal and external forums as assigned.
• Plans, coordinates, and directs Office of the Director activities and recommends and implements operating practices, policies, and procedures.
• Develops agendas, briefing materials, and programs for senior leadership meetings, retreats, and other executive activities.
• Oversees and supervises assigned Office of the Director staff, including planning, assigning, reviewing, evaluating, coaching, and developing staff.
• Performs other related duties and executive assignments as required.

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
1. Three years’ experience analyzing complex administrative, operational, policy, or organizational issues, developing alternatives, and providing recommendations and advice to management or senior leadership.
2. Two years’ experience managing complex projects or cross-functional organizational initiatives, including coordinating multiple participants or workstreams, resolving competing priorities, monitoring progress, and ensuring objectives are met.
3. Experience providing strategic and operational support and advice to executive or senior leadership.
4. Experience supervising, managing, or directing professional staff.
5. Experience evaluating programs, services, processes, or organizational operations to identify problems, assess effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
6. Coursework, training and/or work experience in budget management and control, including managing or monitoring expenditures, projecting resource needs, or supporting fiscal planning and oversight.

Please attach a resume with your online application or use the resume tab in DEL to provide a detailed description of how your education, training and/or experience meets each job requirement including employer, experience/responsibilities and dates (month/year) of employment/training.

All new hires are required to report to the Statewide New Employee Orientation (SNEO) on their first day of employment. Sessions are held at designated locations in Kent or New Castle County.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our Job Seeker Resources.

DHSS does not provide employment-based sponsorship.

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position.  It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties.  For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content.   Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email.  Please keep your contact information current.  You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at StateJobs.Delaware.gov.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. 

Individuals who use TDD may request auxiliary aid or service by calling (800) 232-5470 or by visiting delawarerelay.com. 

If you need assistance with an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or general applicant support, you may call (302) 739-5458 or email jobs@delaware.gov.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.