Associate Director of Housing

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Service Manager III

Opening Date: September 13, 2024

Closing Date: October 3, 2024

Job Class Code:  MA34
Grade:  34 (Confidential)
Salary: $84,697.60 - $120,265.60 per year

Position Number: 09590-0096

Location: This is a full-time position located in Augusta, Maine and allows for partial telework with management approval.

Core Responsibilities:

This position is an exciting leadership opportunity to join the team at the Office of Behavioral Health, to oversee and lead all OBH housing programs and policy development, and to provide implementation planning and administration of the Housing First Program in Maine that aims to deliver support and stabilization services to individuals with mental health and substance use condition, support housing stability and contribute to ending chronic homelessness in the State. This individual will be a member of OBH’s Senior Leadership team, report directly to the OBH Deputy Director, and work collaboratively with other offices within DHHS including the Office of MaineCare Services as well as external partners including the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and Maine State Housing Authority. 

This individual will lead all housing efforts and strategic planning to support housing program and policy development in addition to providing oversight and leadership of the current portfolio of OBH housing programs and services. The person in this position will have expertise to shape a vision and plan for OBH’s housing work in addition to the short-term tactical work to navigate the immediate housing challenges and the intersection with behavioral health. 

Regular duties include but are not limited to:
•    Supervising the OBH housing team to ensure that work is appropriately assigned, prioritized, scheduled and executed according to established workplans and deadlines
•    Manage and develop the plan for early implementation and continued support of the new House First Program 
•    Work closely with OBH leadership and other key statewide housing partners to address homelessness and housing stability for individuals experiencing behavioral health issues. 
•    Responsible for leadership of the federal Continuum of Care (CoC) grant inclusive of collaboration with federal HUD partners to streamline the CoC Grant
•    Responsible for leadership of OBH’s housing programs including the Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) and PATH Program 
•    Work closely with key stakeholders to implement and evaluate the Coordinated Entry Process to ensure it serves its mission of coordination across an array of relevant Maine housing resources 
•    Collaborate with other DHHS offices on housing related programs and reforms
•    Oversee and develop OBH’s housing related policy and legislative activities inclusive of preparing reports and providing testimony as needed 
•    Act as a liaison the Department of Housing and Urban Development, other governmental entities, and housing stakeholders 
•    Direct and participate in developing a data driven approach and plan to evaluate the efficacy of OBH housing related programs and services
•    Responsible for planning and developing a strategic focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) related to housing activities to improve services and access for individuals and to integrate DEI practices throughout DHHS housing programs and activities. 

Minimum Qualifications:

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Agency information: 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) within DHHS is responsible for providing leadership, coordination, and oversight of Maine’s Behavioral Health System of Care. OBH works collaboratively with a network of community providers actively to support individuals with substance use and mental health conditions across areas of prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery and housing. 

Application Information:

 Please submit all documents or files in  PDF format.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 18.09% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS). 

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.