Project Director - Agency Policy Specialist

Working Title: Project Director**

**Job Class: Agency Policy Specialist**

**Agency: Human Services Dept**

+ **Job ID** : 87980

+ **Location** : St. Paul

+ **Telework Eligible** : Yes

+ **Full/Part Time** : Full-Time

+ **Regular/Temporary** : Unlimited

+ **Who May Apply** : Open to all qualified job seekers

+ **Date Posted** : 08/01/2025

+ **Closing Date** : 08/11/2025

+ **Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit** : Human Services Dept / MAPE DHS Central Office

+ **Division/Unit** : Health Care Administration / Office of the Medicaid Medical Director

+ **Work Shift/Work Hours** : Day Shift / 8:00am - 4:30pm

+ **Days of Work** : Monday - Friday

+ **Travel Required** : No

+ **Salary Range:** $34.18 - $50.69 / hourly; $71,367 - $105,840 / annually

+ **Classified Status** : Classified

+ **Bargaining Unit/Union** : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

+ **FLSA Status** : Exempt - Administrative

+ Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities ( : Yes

The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DHS does not participate in E-Verify.

**The work you'll do is more than just a job.**

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

**This position is eligible for telework for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.**

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Project Director to lead the implementation of an innovative, statewide initiative to integrate behavioral health and primary care through the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), a nationally recognized, evidence-based approach that embeds behavioral health services within primary care settings.

This position leads the strategic planning, policy development, operational planning, and community engagement strategy for Minnesotas five-year SAMHSA-funded Collaborative Care pilot, housed within the Office of the Medicaid Medical Director. The initiative aims to:

+ Expand access to integrated mental health and substance use services

+ Reduce disparities in behavioral health outcomes

+ Improve care coordination and reduce system fragmentation

+ Establish sustainable infrastructure and payment models for long-term adoption

The Project Director will coordinate efforts across DHS administrations, other state agencies, community-based providers, people with lived experience, and health system partners to support implementation and sustainability. This work includes guiding legislative and budget proposals, managing complex cross-agency workgroups, and representing the division in high-visibility conversations with internal and external partners. This position will also support broader integrated population health efforts within the division.

Key responsibilities include:

+ Lead policy and program design, budget development, and legislative planning to support the statewide implementation of the Collaborative Care Model

+ Coordinate the operational, financial, and technical infrastructure needed for pilot implementation, including contracts, compliance, and payment methodologies

+ Establish goals, key performance indicators, and evaluation frameworks to monitor success and support long-term sustainability

+ Translate legislative and policy requirements into practice, ensuring integration across provider types and partner groups

+ Facilitate meaningful engagement with counties, tribes, providers, advocacy groups, and individuals with lived experience to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate service design

+ Develop and deliver presentations, reports, and briefings to internal leadership, legislators, and external partners

+ Support data-informed decision-making through project research, analysis, and application of continuous quality improvement methodologies

+ Manage overlapping priorities across behavioral health and population health initiatives, ensuring alignment with broader integrated care strategies

+ Serve as liaison to other DHS divisions, state agencies, and external partners to align efforts and resolve interagency issues

+ Represent DHS in high-visibility settings and lead collaborative decision-making processes for complex, politically sensitive projects

**Minimum Qualifications**

Three (3) years of demonstrated experience in project management within the health services field.

Experience must demonstrate:

+ Leading complex projects involving multiple invested partners, timelines, and deliverables

+ Designing, implementing, and evaluating health service pilots or initiatives

+ Community-driven research/evaluation design and execution, designing, implementing and evaluating pilot studies, and scaling up initiatives for sustainability

+ Communicating findings and recommendations to diverse technical and non-technical audiences

***Masters degree or higher in health care administration, health services research, public health or related social science field may substitute for 1 year of professional experience***

**Preferred Qualifications**

+ Knowledge of Medicaid policy, payment models, and healthcare service delivery systems

+ Experience working with state or federal grant-funded initiatives (e.g., SAMHSA), including reporting and compliance

+ Familiarity with Minnesota statutes and rules governing DHS programs, especially related to integrated care and behavioral health

+ Demonstrated success in engaging counties, tribes, health care providers, and community-based organizations in systems change efforts

+ Strong understanding of culturally and linguistically appropriate services, with experience applying equity frameworks to program design and community engagement

+ Advanced oral and written communication skills, including experience preparing legislative reports, public-facing documents, or executive briefings

+ Experience using project management tools or frameworks (e.g., Lean, CQI, Six Sigma, Agile)

+ Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

**Additional Requirements**

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS - The Department of Human Services will conduct reference checks to verify job-related credentials and criminal background check prior to appointment.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at ... or email ... . Please indicate what assistance is needed.