Senior Director of Programs and Operations

INTRODUCTION:

This position is located within the Executive Office of the District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority (DCHBX), an independent agency within the Government of the District of Columbia. Established in 2012, the mission of DCHBX is to implement and operate an on-line state-based health insurance marketplace that provides access to quality, affordable health insurance to District of Columbia residents and small businesses. The Executive Office includes the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, the General Counsel, and the Senior Director of Programs and Operations.

The Senior Director of Programs and Operations is one of three positions reporting directly to the Executive Director, serving as a key member of the Executive Director’s management advisory staff for oversight of planning, designing, and implementing programs, projects, studies or other work conducted within the agency’s business and operational components. The incumbent has full authoritative responsibility for managing, administering, developing and carrying out the goals and objectives of HBX, utilizing demonstrated leadership skills to provide managerial direction and guidance in support of the operation of various organizational entities within HBX. Incumbent also participates in recommending and formulating policies and strategies on budgeting and program management.

POSITION CONTROLS:

The incumbent works under the direction of the Executive Director, who provides assignments in terms of broadly defined missions and functions of the agency. The Executive Director relies on the incumbent’s expertise for independent performance and judgment of work performance.

Results of the incumbent’s work are considered technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. In instances where work is reviewed, the review concerns such matters as fulfillment of program goals and objectives, including budgetary and procurement requirements, or the contribution to the advancement of agency programmatic goals. Recommendations for new projects and alterations of objectives are usually evaluated only for such considerations as availability of funds and other resources, overall program goals, or priorities established by the federal and/or District of Columbia governments, the DCHBX Executive Board, or the Executive Director.

Guidelines include: Federal and District of Columbia laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; laws, regulations, policy guidance, and Executive Orders issued specifically relating to the operation of on-line health insurance marketplaces; programmatic and policy guidance provided by the agency’s Executive Board; DCHBX policies, procedures, and directives; and specific instructions from the Executive Director. Judgment, precedence and ingenuity are exercised when deviating from the traditional methods that may be available to develop and adapt new methods as warranted or solutions to potential problems. Incumbent is recognized as a technical authority in the development and interpretation of guidelines.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the Senior Director of Programs and Operations, incumbent is responsible for providing direct management and oversight of several members of the senior leadership team involved in the exchange operations, administration, technology, grants, communication, partnerships and business development. Specifically, incumbent is engaged in the following activities:

• Establishes measurable annual and quarterly goals/objectives and milestones for each member consistent with HBX’s vision and mission, and responsive to the external environment.
• Measures and monitors progress by creating, verifying and ensuring that each director produces weekly dashboards shared with the leadership team that identifies accomplishments, shows visibility to each leader’s work streams, identifies who/what needs help; and identifies what needs to be completed in the next week to ensure progress of each leader’s area.
• Manages senior leadership team members to ensure accountability and that organizational and team specific goals are met. Ensures accountability and coordination and timely delivery among directors of various entities he/she oversees, including accountability among entities regarding procurement and budget oversight for direct reports.
• Reviews execution by senior leadership team members to ensure consistency with direction provided by the Executive Director and with goals/objectives. Provides coaching and other professional leadership support. Addresses challenges to help empower each senior leadership team member to succeed. Reviews work product to ensure accuracy and responsiveness to assignments from the Executive Director and fulfillment of work products/milestones/tasks/etc.
• Reviews leadership team members’ programmatic work goals and objectives; approves requests for funding to implement program activities; approves budgets and monitors expenditures within each entity; rates managerial employees’ performance in accordance with established standards; recommends human resource actions; interviews and selects new employees, approving and disapproving leave; investigates complaints, and resolves differences between employees and/or conflicts between organizational entities; provides coaching, mentoring and training; and gives authoritative guidance, as needed, to assure expedient and efficient accomplishment of work and the development and maintenance of competent staff.
• Plans, organizes, analyzes, evaluates, and controls activities within each entity through the application of project management principles, practices and techniques.
• Develops, plans, and schedules, estimates resource requirements, defines milestones and deliverables, monitors activities, and evaluates and reports on accomplishments within each entity. Identifies alternative solutions to unique problems within entities or specific projects to ensure programmatic goals are achieved.
• Directs the development of, and guides the direction in the review and approval of short and long-range operating objectives and plans within the entities. Develops and integrates entity plans and strategies into the overall agency plan to achieve maximum agency output and contribution.
• Conducts regularly scheduled program measurement meetings to ensure program activities are being executed within defined program plans. Resolves deviations, and reviews project deliverables in relation to commitments to ensure deliverables are compliant with established quality assurance criteria.
• Acts as the approving authority for requests of changes in program milestones, deliverables, or resource allocations, where such approval authority has been delegated by the Executive Director. Provides recommendations for approval for program change requests that may significantly impact budget and/or mission critical priorities established by agency leadership.
• Ensures compliance with applicable procurement, human resources and other laws, standards, regulations, and procedures, as applicable, to ensure adequate management review and oversight of program activities.
• Leads the identification, development and implementation of broad human resources strategies and interventions within the entities associated with accomplishing the agency’s objectives. Assists the leadership team in defining and transitioning the organization’s culture towards improved outcomes orientation, customer service, and cost effectiveness.
• Reports on program execution to the Executive Director. Resolves program issues within and among the entities under the incumbent’s oversight. Keeps the Executive Director informed of program activities and progress toward achievement of goals and objectives.
• Keeps abreast of changes in legislation, regulations, and policy affecting the implementation of on-line health insurance marketplaces and their impact on program goals, objectives and implementation methodologies. Makes recommendations to the Executive Director for changes in division structure, goal realignment, program metrics, etc. to ensure maintenance of programmatic achievement in meeting customer needs and expectations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS:

Mastery knowledge of the agency’s mission and the functions of its business entities and relative importance of these various work operations to the overall achievement of mission critical goals and objectives. Mastery knowledge of management practices, principles, methods, and techniques, and skill in integrating management services with the general management of an organization.

Mastery knowledge of and skill in problem solving, negotiation strategies and project management to conduct in-depth research and analysis; and mastery knowledge of management

principles, procedures and techniques of analysis and evaluation. Mastery knowledge of

management skills in planning, organizing, and directing team study work, and negotiating effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations.

Demonstrated experience in managing and supervising members of senior leadership teams in a managerial capacity. Demonstrated skills in managing staff and providing leadership in a team-based environment, securing the support and cooperation of agency managers. Outstanding leadership and relationship building skills across cultures and with all levels of management; demonstrated ability to work in collaboration with multiple stakeholder groups internal and external to government.

Mastery knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of complex management processes and systems. Demonstrated knowledge of devising and executing strategic planning methodologies and implementing change management concepts to attain agency goals and objectives.

Thorough knowledge of the concepts, principles, practices, laws and regulations of budgeting and financial management for mission-related programs and services sufficient to analyze major complex programs.

Mastery knowledge of organizational development principles and practices, and best practices in training, mentoring and coaching employees to achieve peak performance.

Demonstrated skills in oral and written communications to prepare and present recommendations regarding complex issues based on analysis and evaluation, including the preparation and presentation of reports and proposals, etc. and to articulate instructions and directives to a broad range of audiences.