RHTP Initiative Lead

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Service Coordinator II

Opening Date: April 15, 2026

Closing Date: April 29, 2026

Job Class Code: CA32

Grade: 32 (Confidential)

Salary: $77,896.00 – $110,073.60 per year

Position Numbers: 20002-4817, 20002-4818, 20002-4819

Location: Augusta

-Limited period positions-

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Program Overview:

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a major statewide initiative administered by DHHS, aiming to build a resilient, integrated rural health system that delivers accessible, high-value care and improved outcomes for all Mainers. The RHTP is a grant opportunity administered by CMS that provides $50B to states to transform rural health. Maine was awarded approximately $1B of funding (~$190M/year) across five years to deliver transformative change in rural health.

Position Summary

Maine has set forth five key initiatives in the RHTP: Population Health, Workforce, Access, Innovation, and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems. Because each of these initiatives involve complex federal requirements, extensive cross-agency coordination, and management of multi-million-dollar contracts and vendor relationships, dedicated Initiative Leads are necessary to maintain compliance, support implementation, and work across a broad set of partners to align “boots on the ground” work with vision of the grant.

Candidates hired into these positions will be responsible for managing implementation of all of the activities within the RHTP initiatives mentioned above. The Initiative Leads will work closely with rural health providers and systems, key rural health stakeholders, health programs, vendors, and Maine State employees and programs. Additionally, the Initiative Leads will:

• Serve as the central coordination point between implementation activities within their assigned initiative(s) and the RHTP management team.
• Provides strategic direction and alignment for activities for their assigned initiative(s).
• Provide cross-Departmental direction to and oversight over state staff that are involved with activities under their initiative(s).

• In partnership with DHHS Office leadership, provide functional support and leadership for activities within some Initiatives, including Access and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystem.
• Report to the RHTP Director.

DHHS will be hiring up to three (3) candidates to fill Initiative Lead positions within the RHTP that are currently not filled. Candidates should consider which of the open Initiative Lead positions (Population Health, Access, and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems) they are best qualified or suited to fill.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with health care payment models, policy and rural health economics.
• Knowledge of Maine’s health-information environment and provider networks.
• Experience designing , implementing and/or managing alternative payment models.
• Experience with the financing of community-based care models.
• Knowledge of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reporting requirements and State-level health data systems.
• Experience with administration of Medicaid programs and payments/claims systems.
• Knowledge of health care systems serving rural populations and health system budgets.
• Experience leading/contributing to federally funded healthcare transformation projects.

• Experience managing cross-cutting initiatives, including facilitation of and coordination across different interest groups
• Experience managing programs impacting population health.
• Strong project management experience.
• Vendor procurement and contract management expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

Implementation and Oversight of Activities

• Lead the development and implementation of activities within an assigned initiative.

• Oversee contracts, vendors, and programs for each activity.

• Develop project plans, timelines, and implementation plans.

• Monitor contractor and vendor performance and compliance with 2 CFR Part 200.

• Provide leadership and operational oversight of all initiative activities.

• Identify risks, operational barriers, and opportunities for improvement.

• Ensure initiative activities align with RHTP strategic goals and federal requirements.

Cross-Agency & Partner Coordination

• Coordinate within and across DHHS Offices and other State of Maine Departments and Offices regarding activities within an initiative.
• Represent RHTP on interdepartmental workforce committees and task forces, including the RHTP Advisory Committee.
• Facilitate information sharing, data integration, and consistent reporting among partners.
• Build and maintain partnerships as needed with internal and external partners like hospitals, rural providers, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Coordinate with partners to align policies, program activities, and reporting requirements.

Evaluation & Reporting

• Support the analysis and reporting of data, and outcomes pertaining to each activity under an initiative, including the identification and development of metrics.
• Use data, dashboards, and vendor/staff reports to monitor outcomes and inform decisions .
• Prepare reports, briefings, and updates as requested for RHTP leadership, legislators, and federal partners.
• Support continuous quality improvement, performance monitoring, and data-informed planning.

Minimum Qualifications:

A 9-year combination of education, training and experience in public health, health administration, economics, healthcare administration, community-health administration, epidemiology, biostatistics, public policy or related field. Experience must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in healthcare finance, payment reform, hospital operations, program evaluation, managing population-health, behavioral-health initiatives, healthcare analytics, government administration or a related field.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

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.

Application Information:

For questions about this position, please contact Desirea.Murray@Maine.gov .

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.Hernandez@Maine.gov

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%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 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.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements .
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 18.91% 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 non-birthing 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.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.