DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona.

DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona.

DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life.

SENIOR POLICY AND RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR

Office of the Director (OOD)
1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007
www.azdes.gov

Salary: $110,532 - $120,532 

Grade: 26

Closing Date: December 12, 2024

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 who 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, Office of the Director (OOD) / Governance and Innovation Administration (GIA) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Senior Policy and Research Administrator (Policy and Research Administrator Senior). The DES Senior Policy and Research Administrator is responsible for high-level leadership, managerial work of considerable complexity, and for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, evaluating, and partnering with colleagues, leaders, customers, and federal, state and local stakeholders to develop, prioritize, and implement strategies around the overarching vision of improving client outcomes and employee engagement, modernizing Department governance and service delivery, and mitigating risk through policy and process efficiencies, innovations, and cross-divisional alignment. This position oversees a team of governance leaders and works collaboratively with agency and division leadership while also supporting coordination with other state and local agencies, employees, the general public, contracted vendors, and community partners, to strategically align services and supports that serve DES clients.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona based upon the department's 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, 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 Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for management and oversight of complex projects of considerable difficulty in fulfillment of cross-system, high-profile, media, and large-scale requests for internal and external governance support as well as coordinating support for senior level decision making, ensuring leadership is provided complete and accurate information for making policy decisions.
• Through the provision of policy direction and oversight, directs cross-Department teams in the development, implementation and continuous improvement of policy, program, and operational processes and products, including deployment, change management and accountability system measures, in support of the organization’s vision and mission.
• Provides leadership and guidance to internal and external stakeholders and performs other strategic and analytical tasks in coordination with Agency leadership, including researching and proposing program innovation and flexibilities including waiver opportunities and alignment opportunities with federal and state law and regulation to improve efficiency and overall client experience.
• Accountable for the representation of the Department with external audiences, and extensive relationship building, coordination, and collaboration across federal, state, and community agencies for system-wide improvement initiatives, as well as with agency leadership and staff, advisory committees, stakeholders, community providers and general public on matters regarding the provision of DES services.
• Supervise Governance and Innovation staff as well as provide s