ARIZONA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION

1110 West Washington Street 

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $77,958 - $141,454 

Grade: 28

Open Until Business Needs Are Met

The Chief of Programs provides executive leadership over the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission’s programmatic operations and is responsible for carrying out the agency’s Chief Financial Officer function.

Will oversee statewide criminal justice programs and direct the agency’s finance activities to ensure effective grant administration, fiscal accountability, and compliance with state and federal requirements. In this role, the Chief of Programs integrates program oversight with budgeting, financial reporting, procurement, grant drawdowns, and grant development.

The Chief of Programs serves as the primary connection between programs and finance, supports proactive fiscal risk management, and advises the Executive Director on programmatic, financial, and operational issues.

The Chief of Programs is a member of the agency’s executive leadership team and plays a central role in maintaining the integrity, sustainability, and effectiveness of the agency’s work.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

Program Oversight -

• Uses Arizona’s statewide accounting system (AZ360) and human resources system (AZ360-HR) to monitor fiscal health, staffing costs, grant alignment, and financial risk

• Directs the management, implementation, and evaluation of all ACJC- administered grant programs, ensuring compliance with agency goals and funding requirements

• Directs and oversees statewide criminal justice programs, including Drug Programs, Victim Services Programs, and Criminal Justice Systems Improvement Programs

• Oversees budgeting, expenditure control, payroll coordination, financial reporting, and internal controls in compliance with state and federal requirements

• Oversees grant drawdowns and cash management, including the use of the federal Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system

• Chief Financial Officer by providing executive oversight of finance operations

Policy & Strategic Planning -

• Develops programmatic policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with state and federal regulations

• Engages in long-term strategic planning for program enhancements

Stakeholder & Legislative Engagement -

• Represents ACJC in meetings with state and federal agencies, legislative bodies, and community organizations. Collaborates with external stakeholders to improve program outcomes

Cross-Departmental Coordination -

• Leads organizational change and cross-functional collaboration to strengthen accountability, alignment, and long-term agency effectiveness

• Works closely with the Chief of Operations to integrate audit functions, research, IT, and administrative support for programs

Knowledge of:

• Federal grant cash management requirements, including the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP)

• Arizona’s statewide accounting system (AZ360), including budgeting, expenditures, encumbrances, and reporting

• Arizona’s human resources system (AZ360-HR), including payroll, position control, and personnel cost tracking

• Federal and state grant administration from award through closeout

• Public sector accounting, internal controls, and risk management

• 2 CFR 200, DOJ grant requirements, and Arizona fiscal rules

Skill in:

• Overseeing finance and procurement operations in a regulated government environment

• Analyzing financial, payroll, and program data to support executive decisions

• Communicating complex fiscal and compliance information clearly

• Grant development, including budgets and fiscal narratives

• Leading organizational change and cross-functional teams

Ability to:

• Team-oriented leadership style with the ability to support agency-wide goals and cross-division collaboration

• Communicate effectively with executive leadership, staff, external partners, and oversight entities

• Integrate program and financial oversight while maintaining strong internal financial controls

• Exercise sound judgment under time-sensitive and high-risk conditions

• Maintain executive credibility across programs, finance, and leadership

• Identify fiscal and compliance risk and implement corrective action

• Balance compliance requirements with operational needs

• Perform the agency’s Chief Financial Officer function

• Equivalent combinations of education and progressively responsible experience that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position may be substituted for the degree

• Experience providing executive-level fiscal oversight, including budgeting, financial reporting, procurement, internal financial controls, and risk management

• A bachelor’s degree in public administration, finance, accounting, business administration, criminal justice, or a related field

• Experience supervising professional staff, including managers, analysts, auditors, or fiscal personnel

• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience at the supervisory or executive management level in program administration, finance, grant management, or audit within a federal, state, county, or municipal government agency

• Experience using Arizona’s statewide accounting system (AZ360) and human resources system (AZ360-HR) to manage budgets, payroll, staffing costs, or financial reporting is required

• Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple grant-funded programs, including responsibility for program performance, compliance, budgeting, and grant financial management

• Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment

• This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business; then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Sick leave

• Retirement plan

• Health and dental insurance

• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year

• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance

• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

• Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by the State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)

• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

• If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brian Westerberg at brian.westerberg@azdoa.gov