DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Division of Developmental Disabilities
1701 North 4th Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004

Salary: $61,591.00 - $70,300.05 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: August 13, 2026

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that makes Arizona stronger by helping Arizonans reach their full potential through temporary assistance for those in need, and care for the vulnerable? The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or Click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Area Program Manager. DDD provides individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, services and supports that are flexible, high-quality, and member-driven. These services provide individuals with opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities of independent decision-making and engagement in the community.

Applicants for this position cannot be licensed or certified by the DDD Office of Licensing Certification and Regulation, cannot have a principal interest in or have a spouse or close family member with a principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Managing and coordinating the Support Coordination functions for the members within their area, with emphasis on programming and ensuring all federal and state requirements are complied with and documentation is complete, including case records; ensuring consistency in Support Coordination, implementation, and overall applications.
• Working with programs/resource development to ensure services and providers are required to meet the needs of the members as ascertained by Support Coordination; establishing and maintaining good rapport and open communication.
• Hiring, training, directing, monitoring, and evaluating subordinates to ensure qualified and competent staff are capable of meeting performance standards; completing all personnel actions required, including MAP; monitoring Employee Time Entry (ETE) timecards, travel claims, and requests for out-service training.
• Attending meetings with community advocates, advisory committees, providers, managerial, and administrative staff; providing input on designs for systems and work plans; developing, approving, and implementing strategies, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and guidelines to define those systems and area operations relevant to the District and Division, as well as for the delivery of multiple services.

Knowledge in:

• Federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to service delivery, personnel, contracting, fiscal management, and Title XIX.
• Principles of human service planning and program development.
• Organizational, management, and communication chains.
• Special needs of the developmentally disabled (DD) population.

Skills in:

• Oral and written communication.
• Planning, developing, implementing, administering, managing, monitoring, and evaluating developmental disabilities support services, training programs, and health-related services.
• Coordinating and administering through subordinate supervisors a network of home and community-based services to members with developmental disabilities.
• Decision making, crisis management, negotiation, organization, supervision of personnel, delegation, and leadership.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships/communication with diverse individuals and community groups, such as members, parents/families, professionals, providers, advocates, and community planning organizations, elected officials, agency employees, media, and the general public.
• Analyze complex situations accurately and quickly adopt an effective course of action.
• Manage a complex array of projects with rapidly shifting priorities.
• Provide leadership to groups and individuals.

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in applying federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to service delivery to individuals with developmental disabilities, which must include a minimum of one (1) year of supervision of professional staff

• Arizona Level 1 Clearance Card is required
• Candidates for this position shall be subject to a search of the Child Protective Services Registry pursuant to A.R.S. § 8-804 and the Adult Protective Services Registry pursuant to A.R.S. § 46-459
• Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11). completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the Agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State-sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Laura Kaspar at (602)390-5549 or lkaspar@azdes.gov. 

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (602)390-5549 or lkaspar@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.