Address:  801 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Must reside in the state of Arizona.

Salary:  $85,000 - $95,000

Grade: 25

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

This position is eligible for full-time remote work (including virtual office arrangement in Arizona).

A career in public service awaits you. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

A great benefit of working for the State of Arizona is a fantastic work/life balance. State employees enjoy challenging work, popular remote work options, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and career growth opportunities.

What You'll Do:

We are searching for someone who understands both project management and process improvement - these are two big elements in this position with AHCCCS.

In collaboration with Agency Leadership and the Governor's Transformation Office, the purpose of this position will be to work with leaders throughout the agency to change processes to provide for better outcomes for AHCCCS members and stakeholders. Additionally, this position oversees the project management team in the Division of Public Policy and Strategic Planning (DPPSP) which administers large scale projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders. Finally, this position will work with AHCCCS leadership and the Governor's Office to create the AHCCCS strategic plan and measure progress towards the agency goals.

The Project Management and Process Improvement Administrator will work with leaders and staff throughout the agency to understand AHCCCS systems and processes and identify potential areas for improvement. This role will utilize their knowledge and experience to recommend tools and methods to leaders and staff to improve processes and track outcomes.

The Project Management and Process Improvement Administrator will oversee the DPPSP project management team which leads enterprise-wide projects. This role will require the administrator to know how to utilize project management tools to organize and lead large teams and balance competing priorities. This role will also establish a project management community of practice in the agency to create best practices for project management.

The Project Management and Process Improvement Administrator is charged with assisting Executive Management in establishing and advancing a strategic vision for the agency. The role will be charged with updating the Agency Strategic Plan, administering internal workgroups, and tracking agency progress towards strategic goals.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Lead, plan, perform, and implement process improvement initiatives. Diagram and evaluate existing processes. Delegate and be accountable for project research, action item completion, overall schedule and achievement of goals. Organize, lead and facilitate cross-functional project teams, communicate team progress. Provide consultation on the re-engineering techniques to improve process performance and the quality of services provided. Build and maintain working relationships with executive and middle management, process improvement project team members, and the Government Transformation Office (GTO) Team.
• Oversee the DPPSP project management team, provide updates to leadership on enterprise wide projects, establish and administer a project management community of practice.
• Update the agency strategic objectives to reflect executive direction, provide project management support to teams administering the strategic plan, track progress towards strategic plan outcomes.
• Develop metrics that provide data for process measurement, identifying indicators for future improvement opportunities. Collect data to identify root cause of problems. Measure performance against process requirements. Align improvement to performance shortfalls.
• Track agency successes and provide updates to the Governor's Office. Participate in cross agency government transformation teams and share best practices.

Knowledge:
• Leading Kaizen or team-based problem solving events
• Principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs and work
• Arizona Revised Statutes
• State government organization, operations, processes and procedures
• Concepts and techniques associated with strategic planning, quality management, and change management
• Business concepts and techniques
• Budgeting practices

Skills:
• Microsoft Office; Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Producing written information in a succinct and organized manner that is appropriate for intended audience
• Making clear and convincing oral presentations
• Highly effective communication skills with the ability to deliver information concisely to a variety of audiences
• Developing and maintaining interpersonal skills and relationships
• Analytical processes and project management
• Negotiation

Abilities:
• Effectively build and maintain rapport and advise and interface with all levels of management, and teams for the purpose of developing and using measures and techniques, inform and improve performance, and identify gaps in performance and opportunities to improve performance
• Identify, define and resolve problems
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Influence, motivate, and challenge others
• Adapt leadership style to a variety of situations
• Listen to others and attend to nonverbal cues and respond appropriately
• Adapt behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles
• Effectively deal with ambiguity
• Work cross-functionally as well as on multiple projects under time constraints
• Deliver training in continuous improvement tools and principles (Lean)

Minimum:
• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Operations Management, Business Administration, or closely related. At least three years of experience with lean tools and leading improvement efforts.

Preferred:
• Black Belt or MBB. Demonstrated track record of successful improvement efforts.

• Successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify), applicable to all newly hired State employees.
• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.) AND have an acceptable driving record for the last 39 months including no DUI, suspension or revocations and less than 8 points on your license. If an Out of State Driver License was held within the last 39 months, a copy of your MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) is required prior to driving for State Business. Employees may be required to use their own transportation as well as maintaining valid motor vehicle insurance and current Arizona vehicle registration; however, mileage will be reimbursed.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

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

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

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

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.