Address:  Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
1701 North 4th Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004

Salary: $49,000 - $51,000 

Grade: 19

Closing Date: January 2, 2025

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. 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 a Business Operations Specialist. 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 with principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• District liaison for providing technical support and direction on facilities related matters, which may include office moves, rebuilds, closures, etc.
• Work through resolution provider authorization and/or provider service payment denials, which may include researching and putting in corrective action for any issues identified and elevated to the Business Operations level.
• Provide authorization, billing and technical support to the Support Coordination and provider community as needed.
• Maintain up-to-date log of district equipment, including cell phones, projectors, copiers, vehicles, printers, etc.
• Working with District Management to identify needs; log and track approvals, procurement and costs of identified items.
• Assume a share of the responsibility for processing regular district purchasing and supply request orders including research state contracted vendors for best prices; obtain quotes when necessary
• Develop simple and edit moderately complex coding/queries using MS Access and SQL to customize and generate reports to pull service and fiscal data from various systems.
• Produce and QA data integrity for ad hoc and production reports based on complex data analysis, research and fiscal trends, cost effectiveness, budget, personnel, services, facilities and operations.
• Assist the Business Operations Manager in providing all fiscal and business management and direction for a large District.

Knowledge in:

• Principles and practices of operations/project and business management
• Principles and techniques of application programming; mainframe and database programs
• Database Management
• Federal rules and regulations as it applies to federally funded programs (AHCCCS, service delivery, fraud, waste and abuse, auditing practices)
• Lean principles and promoting process improvement
• State government purchasing system and practices

Skills in:

• Intermediate code and query writing using MS Access and SOL and other platforms to extract fiscal, statistical and service data for management of complex cost and data analysis, and end user reports
• Advanced in MS Excel
• Professional oral and written communication
• Problem solving, conflict resolution, mediation and negotiations
• Planning and time management
• Researching, prioritizing, and following up on incoming issues and concerns

Ability to:

• Analyze and evaluate facilities/operations systems, deficiencies, strengths and situations, and apply corrective measures or best practices as appropriate
• Extract data from a variety of systems
• Organize, prioritize and multi-task while managing a very heavy workload, with shifting priorities
• Handle confidential information with discretion
• Builds relationships and collaborate effectively with stakeholders

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Proven strong business leadership and management background, with demonstrated proficiency in utilizing complex coding and queries for MS Access, SQL and Report Builder, exhibiting extensive experience in producing complex statistical and fiscal data analysis. Five years of supervisory experience preferred.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

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
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot 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 Jared Dechantigny at 480-486-8723 or jdechantigny@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 480-486-8723 or jdechantigny@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.