Continuous Improvement Section Chief

Required Skills and Competencies:

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to:

• Leadership and people management: Principles and practices of leadership vision setting mentorship and human resources management including recruitment onboarding training development performance management discipline and off boarding while building trust and strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategic business and program management: Application of business and management principles to strategic planning resource allocation production methods coordination of people and resources strategic planning methodologies and program assessment techniques including serving as a change agent to implement and reinforce division and bureau objectives.
• State regulation and rulemaking: Knowledge of applicable state regulation and rules governing division programs as well as legislative and administrative rule development processes implementation and compliance and the ability to adapt to an evolving regulatory and work environment.
• Project and technology management: Proficiency in project management principles and methodologies technology systems development and integration across division sections translating business requirements into functional IT specifications (including the software development life cycle) managing customer and vendor relationships and serving as an effective liaison between business stakeholders and IT.
• Analytical problem solving and data skills: Ability to use both traditional and non traditional analytical thinking to develop innovative solutions perform cost/benefit analysis assess business risks identify success measures and work with relational databases to gather analyze and present numerical data and configure system features and automation.
• Communication negotiation and customer service: Strong skills in public speaking and written and verbal communication to technical and nontechnical audiences; effective negotiation and collaboration (rapport building active listening distinguishing wants from needs and influencing through reasoned tactful and assertive communication); and delivering high quality customer service while coaching staff to maintain a customer focused approach.

• Effective Public Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in public settings by delivering clear engaging and informative presentations tailored to diverse audiences including staff leadership and external stakeholders.

• Professional Presentation Development: Skilled in developing professional presentation materials that convey complex information in an accessible and visually compelling manner ensuring audience understanding and engagement.
  

  
  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education and Experience)
  

• Demonstrated ability in leading professional staff including responsibility for recruitment onboarding training performance management and coaching.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex projects or initiatives using established project management principles and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to apply strategic planning or continuous improvement methods to align operations with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with technical or information technology teams to translate business needs into system or process solutions.
• Demonstrated experience working with or interpreting state laws rules or policies in a regulatory compliance or program administration environment.
• Demonstrated experience using data and analytical tools to assess performance conduct cost/benefit or risk analyses and support decision making.
• Demonstrated experience communicating complex or technical information clearly to varied audiences including through presentations facilitation or stakeholder meetings.
• A degree in business administration communications public administration strategic management or related degree may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY:

A complete state application is not required; however you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application but the application will not be scored or reviewed.

Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process.

Tip: When attaching your resume cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as RELEVANT or we will be unable to view your documents.

Required application materials:

• Cover Letter - Your Cover Letter should explain how your experience and education meet the identified Knowledge Skills and Abilities with examples that demonstrate your qualifications.
• Resume - include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position including duties dates of employment.

Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application.

All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an application confirmation email with instructions on acceptable preference documents and how to submit such documents.

If you need an accommodation with the application process please contact the HR office.

BENEFITS:

Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year-round recreational opportunities including hiking camping biking fishing boating hunting skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs rodeos and theaters. Read more about our great state here.

See our other incredible benefits here. These are some of our benefits just to name a few:

• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• 38 paid days off a year including vacation sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave: Youll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Longevity raises with continuous service as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
• Health dental vision life insurance coverage flexible spending accounts EAP - clickhere to learn more.
• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. Click here to learn more.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- clickhere to learn more!
• Career progression training opportunities and room for professional growth.
• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.

This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1 2026.

*This position may be covered by aVoluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)