Chief Deputy Director Sought for Key State Office

A state entity that provides project management, oversight, procurement and support services for a multibillion-dollar portfolio of critical IT projects has extended its recruitment for a new chief deputy director.

The Office of Systems Integration, part of the massive California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), provides project management, oversight, procurement and support for a multibillion-dollar portfolio of critical projects. “The office coordinates communication, collaboration and decision-making among project stakeholders and program sponsors of the projects,” the job posting notes. “OSI manages the procurement, contract negotiations and contract management aspects of the acquisition of technology systems and services. After the procurement phase, the OSI oversees the design, development, governance and implementation of IT systems” that serve CHHS programs.

According to the job posting, the position requires knowledge including:  

• The organization and functions of California state government, including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the executive branch.
• State and agency stakeholders’ business needs and their organizational, political, administrative and fiscal environments to understand potential impacts of issues and parameters of potential solutions.
• Management and supervisory practices and techniques; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; principles and practices of personnel management; and the department’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives and a manager’s role in the Equal Employment Opportunity program.
• Best practices in IT management, including project management; risk assessment and mitigation; facilitation and negotiation; promoting collaboration among diverse stakeholders; managing strategies, tasks, schedules and budgets; state budget/fiscal processes for IT projects; and state and federal control agency requirements for project approval and oversight.

In addition, candidates should be able to:

• Plan, organize, and direct the work of a multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff.
• Analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices.
• Evaluate cost allocation models for a dynamic portfolio of IT projects, ensuring equitable and repeatable models. Ability to ensure adequate resources for projects within operational funding.
• Develop working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, including the legislative and executive branches; and represent the department in meetings with control agencies, external customers, suppliers, and vendors.
• Analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; anticipate and manage complex budget and financial issues to ensure uninterrupted support to the projects; and prepare and review reports effectively.

The chief deputy director role had been held since March 2018 by Matt Schueller, whose last day on the job was Friday. Schueller begins a new role this week as staff director in the Office of the Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris.

The OSI position is a Career Executive Assignment, with a monthly salary range of $11,505 to $13,063. The application deadline has been extended to Jan. 27. 

The position influences government decision-making that may potentially have a material effect on his or her personal financial interests, so the person chosen for the role is required to file a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) under the CHHS Conflict of Interest Code.