ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER JOB DESCRIPTION

When a public agency's budget misaligns with its federal obligations, Medicaid revenue goes unclaimed and program delivery stalls. Assistant Commissioners in state and municipal government exist to prevent exactly that, holding the financial, operational, and programmatic threads of a department together under a single accountable seat. This role sits one level below the Commissioner, with direct supervisory authority over division directors, budget officers, and compliance units spanning capital programs, social services, or revenue administration. The scope is broad by design: state procurement regulations, federal oversight bodies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and legislative budget cycles all converge here.

As the Assistant Commissioner, you carry executive accountability for aligning agency resources, personnel, and program operations with the department's statutory mission and annual budget authority. You report directly to the Commissioner and provide leadership across multiple functional divisions, with scope that typically includes fiscal oversight, regulatory compliance, and cross-agency coordination with bodies such as the Office of Management and Budget or the Comptroller's Office.

Career Impact: Serving as Assistant Commissioner builds executive-level standing in state government administration, positioning professionals who advance here as credible candidates for Commissioner appointments or senior roles in federal oversight agencies.

Business Impact: The communities served by public health, child welfare, or revenue programs depend on this role to translate legislative appropriations into services that reach them on schedule and within compliance requirements.

Growth Opportunity: The breadth of exposure, from federal Medicaid revenue claiming to capital construction oversight to social service program fidelity, accelerates the generalist executive skill set that state and municipal leadership roles demand.

• Develop the agency's annual budget request, spending plan, and mid-year adjustments in accordance with state appropriations law.
• Lead coordination with external oversight bodies, including the Comptroller's Office, Administration and Finance, and relevant federal agencies, to ensure fiscal and programmatic compliance.
• Supervise division directors and unit leads across budget, contracts, facilities, and human resources functions.
• Monitor program quality and case practice fidelity across operational units, initiating corrective action when continuous improvement reviews identify deficiencies.
• Oversee federal revenue claiming processes to ensure the agency meets its annual Medicaid or other federally funded revenue targets.
• Manage the design, permitting, and spending controls for capital construction or facilities programs within available appropriations.
• Partner with the Chief Information Officer and technology staff to provide funding assurance and strategic input on enterprise systems development.
• Administer contracts and service-rate policy in compliance with state procurement regulations and applicable statutory requirements.

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Finance, Social Work, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Seven or more years of professional experience in public sector administration, with at least four years in a managerial or supervisory capacity.
• Demonstrated knowledge of state budget processes, including appropriations, encumbrances, expenditure monitoring, and account reconciliation.
• Experience working with federal oversight or funding agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Office of Management and Budget.
• Proven ability to manage multi-unit organizations spanning fiscal, operational, and programmatic functions simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing executive briefings, policy papers, and legislative submissions.
• Familiarity with state procurement regulations, purchase-of-service contracting, and related compliance frameworks.

• Master's degree in Public Administration, Social Work, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience with data-driven compliance or enforcement programs, including audit selection modeling or tax policy analysis.
• Background in capital construction program management, including design oversight, regulatory permitting, and value engineering.
• Prior experience presenting to or negotiating with legislative budget offices, state auditors, or federal program monitors.

• Annual federal revenue target attainment rate, reflecting the accuracy and completeness of federal claiming submissions.
• Budget variance percentage across managed divisions, measuring alignment between appropriations and actual expenditures.
• Corrective action closure rate within continuous quality improvement cycles, tracking program compliance follow-through.
• Capital project schedule adherence rate across active construction programs under the division's oversight.
• Contract compliance rate across service-rate agreements, measured against statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Typical tools: financial management systems (commonly SAP or state-specific MMARS equivalents); data warehouse and reporting platforms (commonly Oracle or DB2-based environments).

• Base Salary Range: $130,000 to $175,000 annually, depending on agency and state
• Bonus: Performance-based discretionary bonus; some states offer merit pay increments
• Equity: Not applicable in public sector roles
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage through state employee benefit plans
• PTO: 15 to 25 days annually, plus state and federal holidays
• Common Perks: Defined-benefit pension plan, tuition reimbursement, flexible scheduling where permitted

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required, and offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background check, which may include verification of prior employment, criminal history, and, where applicable, credit history consistent with the duties of this role. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodations during the application or hiring process are encouraged to submit a request at any time.

The Assistant Commissioner owns the full cycle of financial management for a state human services department, overseeing the Budget Office, directing annual budget development and federal Medicaid revenue claiming, and coordinating with oversight bodies including the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Comptroller's Office. Reporting to senior department leadership, the Assistant Commissioner shapes fiscal strategy and operational outcomes by guiding the Contracts Unit, Accounting Unit, and Facilities Director while partnering with IT and HR leadership to sustain essential agency functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the Budget Office and manage overall financial management and oversight of all department resources.
• Monitor that all funds are strategically aligned and regularly managed to advance the agency's mission and priorities.
• Act as a principal finance lead with critical oversight agencies and stakeholders, including those at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, the Comptroller's Office, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, and the Operational Services Division.
• Develop the department's annual budget request, the agency spending plan, and any subsequent adjustments required during the year.
• Serve as the agency's primary contact on all financial matters during annual budget development, maintenance, and management periods.
• Ensure the agency's annual federal Medicaid revenue target is met and be responsible for claiming federal revenue on behalf of the Commonwealth.
• Collaborate with relevant Waiver, field operations, and regional staff, and maintain regular liaison with the Office of Federal Finance and Revenue and contracted vendors.
• Administer and guide the priorities and policies of the Contracts Unit, serving as the agency's primary point of contact on the development, implementation, and monitoring of service rates as required by state law.
• Supervise the Accounting Unit in collaboration with the budget director to ensure funds are properly encumbered, expenditures are monitored, payments are made timely, and accounts are reconciled in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Manage the Director of Facilities and engineering staff and supervise the HR Liaison, who serves as the primary contact for collaboration with the relevant Human Resources division.
• Provide support, supervision, and strategic guidance to the HR Liaison on priority and ongoing HR issues in collaboration with senior department leadership.
• Partner with the Assistant Chief Information Officer and staff to provide input, guidance, and funding assurances for the planning and development of new systems responsive to the department's needs and essential operations.

Required Qualifications

• Seven years of professional, administrative, and supervisory or management experience in a complex public or private agency, with at least four years in a managerial capacity.
• Familiarity with state finance and accounting systems and publicly funded human service programs.
• Experienced with state and federal agencies, including the Office of the Comptroller, Administration and Finance, the State Auditor's Office, the State Treasurer's Office, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• In-depth knowledge of the state budget process, accounting systems, purchasing regulations, contract management and oversight, human resource systems, and revenue management processes, including purchase-of-service contracting and related regulation development.
• Proven knowledge of the principles and practices of management, including service delivery, program development, planning, budgeting, organizing, and balanced decision-making.
• Understanding of state procurement, contracting policies, procedures, and standards.
• Proficient in Massachusetts Management Accounting and Reporting System, the Commonwealth's Information Warehouse, EIM, MBA, Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Adept at financial modeling and data analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Superior leadership experience, particularly in cultivating high-performing teams and developing and maintaining excellent relations with staff, providers, and vendors.
• Capacity to recognise the need for proactive change and to motivate others in response to changing conditions.

Embedded within the department's executive leadership structure, the Assistant Commissioner for Child Welfare Services delivers integrated oversight of child protective investigations, child welfare assessments, family engagement, and adoption services by embedding Solution-Based Casework and evidence-based case practice across local offices. Working closely with Area Directors and cross-functional stakeholders, the Assistant Commissioner advances the safety, well-being, and permanency of children and families through continuous quality improvement, strategic planning, and direct supervision of field operations.

Core Functions

• Integrate solution-based casework into local offices and evidence-based case practice into daily case management programs, including child protective investigations, child welfare assessments, family engagement, resource family recruitment, kinship, and adoption services.
• Participate in strategic and administrative planning and serve on the Operating Committee and Executive Management Teams, attending a variety of operational, administrative, and policy meetings.
• Coordinate, integrate, and manage children's protective services, child welfare, quality management, and administrative functions for children and their families.
• Monitor and make recommendations, corrections, or adjustments to division and program budgets.
• Provide direct supervision to Area Directors, who oversee the operation of local offices.
• Monitor the quality and fidelity of case practice and take corrective action to address weaknesses identified through the continuous quality improvement process.
• Collaborate with staff and stakeholders to ensure the safety, well-being, and permanency of children and families, supporting the delivery of solution-focused, strength-based, and individualized services.
• Monitor training initiatives and best practices across all practice areas, including Resource Care, Adoption, and State Central Registry Operations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Master's degree in Social Work or a related field preferred.
• At least eight years of social service experience, including substantive management and leadership of a social service program.
• Minimum of three years involving personnel, policy, budget, and fiscal accountability and oversight.
• Valid driver's licence required if vehicle operation is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Reporting to the Commissioner of Finance, the Assistant Commissioner for Tax Policy & Data Analytics leads a new team of data analysts and an audit data intelligence group to leverage internal and external data sources, applying data-analytic and behavioural science approaches to improve agency compliance and customer service programs. Partnering with senior audit management, IT experts, and the NYC Office of Management and Budget, this role builds the agency's data warehouse and storefront registry infrastructure while delivering revenue analysis, legislative impact assessments, and briefing papers that inform executive decision-making.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead a new team of data analysts to leverage internal and external data sources, applying data-analytic and behavioural science approaches to improve agency operations, including compliance and customer service programs.
• Bolster the agency's data warehouse and data documentation.
• Ensure the quality of agency data sources.
• Oversee a data intelligence group that mines tax and other data to identify under-reporter and non-filer candidates for audit and enforcement, working closely with senior audit management to develop.
• Track performance of data models and undertake compliance research projects.
• Oversee a team of assessors and IT experts implementing a recently mandated storefront registry.

Skills & Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college.

• Five years of satisfactory full-time experience at an executive level in management planning or a related field, or a satisfactory equivalent with at least one year of executive-level experience.
• At least five years of experience managing a technical staff and directing multiple time-sensitive, complex projects simultaneously.
• Extensive experience providing technical consulting services to business customers.
• Ability to examine business challenges and recommend and implement data-driven solutions.
• Familiarity with DB2 and Oracle databases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven critical thinking and analytical skills.

Sitting at the intersection of design management and capital programme delivery, the Assistant Commissioner shapes quality assurance processes, constructability reviews, and regulatory compliance across large- to medium-scale construction projects for the department. Operating across design, engineering, and facilities teams, the Assistant Commissioner builds a culture of safety and continuous improvement by guiding specification enforcement, cost estimating, value engineering, and life-cycle analyses to keep projects on schedule and within budget.

Primary Duties

• Manage design processes, procedures, productivity, and schedule performance for the capital construction programme.
• Manage and assist staff on design quality assurance throughout the construction process of capital construction projects.
• Assist the department in consideration of material, systems, and process alternatives.
• Manage construction spending of available funds.
• Manage and assist the department on design, constructability, and sustainability reviews.
• Manage and assist the department on the regulatory review process of projects with local, state, and federal authorities having jurisdiction.
• Provide recommendations and institute measures for improvement by modification to operating procedures, work instructions, and master specifications.
• Assist the department with code compliance review.
• Assist the department on life-cycle cost analyses and value engineering.
• Assist the department with cost estimating to ensure design complies with the budget.
• Assist staff on design specification enforcement.
• Assist with commissioning of projects.
• Enforce safety standards and promote a safety culture throughout the programme.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture from an accredited college or university.
• Master's degree in Engineering or Architecture preferred.
• Ten years of design management experience on large- to medium-scale projects.
• Six years with a Master's degree in Engineering or Architecture.
• Two years in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Experience permitting complex projects in major municipalities preferred.