DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Office of the Director (OOD), Governance & Innovation Administration (GIA)
1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $95,000 - $102,000 

Grade: 25

Closing Date: December 28, 2025

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Office of the Director (OOD), Governance & Innovation Administration (GIA), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated professional to join our team as a Policy Administrator.

Under the direction of the Governance and Innovation Administration Senior Administrator, this position is responsible for work of considerable complexity, internally and externally, at the program and operational levels.

This responsibility includes; planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, evaluating, and partnering with colleagues, leaders, customers, and federal, state and local stakeholders in order to develop, prioritize, and implement strategies for improving client outcomes, and employee engagement, through modernizing Department governance and service delivery, and mitigating risk through policy and process efficiencies, innovations, and cross-divisional alignment.

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

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Meeting with Department leadership and external partners on a continuous basis to ensure programmatic issues are addressed and implemented appropriately in accordance with required laws and regulations.
• Making recommendations for corrective actions to senior level decision makers related to program compliance and methods of operation.
• Providing policy direction and oversight.
• Overseeing and supporting of teams responsible for the development and continued maintenance of policy, ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of the programs supported.
• Seeking best practices from other states and entities to better inform and innovate Department practices.
• Working with Human Resources regarding the hiring, evaluating, training, coaching, and disciplining, of staff as necessary.
• Seeking waiver and alignment opportunities with federal and state laws, policies, procedures, and practices, to meet the Department’s goals in the most efficient manner possible.
• Strengthening relationships and collaborating with external partners and stakeholders to deliver training and support.
• Directing and participating with federal and state agencies and community organizations to provide a joint cooperative effort to facilitate delivery of services to the public.
• Attending meetings, seminars, and training as required and acts/speaks on behalf of the GIA Assistant Director.
• Working with programs to gather, research, analyze, and present data to improve the representativeness to individuals and families served and the effectiveness of Department programs.
• Collaborating with program and operational teams to develop outcomes, metrics, and goals that ensure accountability towards the accountable, compliant, transparent, responsive, inclusive, equitable, accessible, and participatory delivery of services.

Knowledge of:
• Programs administered by the Department.
• Federal and State laws governing Department programs.
• Departmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices of public administration.
• The full range of complex management functions of a responsible and confidential nature.
• Research, methodology, project planning, development, organization and work flow techniques.
• Leadership and team building methodologies, and supervisory and evaluation practices relevant to professional and administrative staff.
• Methods used for creating, implementing, and monitoring performance measures.
• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, internet, and other appropriate software.
• In depth understanding of resources for program services across the Department.

Skills In:
• Reading, understanding, and interpreting complex Federal, State, department, and legislative rules, laws, policies and procedures.
• Managing and balancing various management and administrative functions and presenting information on complex issues and ideas clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Composition of policy, procedures, correspondence, issues, and position papers.
• Supervision of staff.
• Planning, analyzing, and coordinating activities.
• Establishing priorities.
• Gathering, organizing, and summarizing information and data from varied sources, creating and maintaining comprehensive reports.
• Initiating and maintaining complex and difficult working relationships with a diverse group of staff.
• Gaining and maintaining the confidence and cooperation of others.
• Performing a full range of complex administrative, managerial and supervisory functions in a responsible, professional, and confidential manner.

Ability to:
• Review Federal regulations and interpret the intent for application purposes.
• Analyze Federal regulations for development of policy and procedures.
• Coach, counsel, mentor, listen and lead in a fast-paced environment.
• Manage direct, motivate, delegate, train, evaluate and instill confidence in a diverse group of subordinate employees.
• Identify and analyze organizational and/or procedural problems and determine effective solutions.
• Respond to internal and external customers with tact, diplomacy, accuracy, and appropriate and timely information.
• Create, maintain, and complete special projects and reports with accuracy and timeliness.
• Interact with other departments, outside representatives, and community groups/leaders.
• Manage and balance varied managerial and supervisory functions.
• Exercise a high degree of discretion, confidentiality, and independent judgment.
• Organize and control long and short-term projects and define objectives and deadlines.
• Handle daily demands, changing priorities, and adapt to rapid changes in workload as required.

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the areas of government, public policy, or public administration.
• Experience working in a public agency serving a large population.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Advance degree may substitute for experience on a year-to-year basis.

• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• In-state travel is required. Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

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

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us at (480) 536-3791 or email OODHRstaffing@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (480) 536-3791 or OODHRStaffing@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.