Assistant Deputy Commissioner for PFML

Job no:
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Henrico, Virginia, Richmond (City), Virginia
Categories: Administrative Services

Title: Assistant Deputy Commissioner for PFML

State Role Title: Gen Admin Manager III

Hiring Range: Commensurate to $180,000

Pay Band: 7

Agency: Virginia Employment Commission

Location: VEC CENTRAL OFFICE

Agency Website: www.VEC.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) provides executive leadership to stand up and operate Virginia's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, the first of its kind in the South. Reporting to the Deputy Commissioner of Operations and serving as a key member of the VEC leadership team, the ADC - PFML builds the founding leadership structure, oversees day-to-day program operations, and coordinates the strategic vision, governance, and performance across claims administration, employer contributions, benefits payment, adjudication and appeals, customer service, communications, policy development, rulemaking, and technology modernization. This role ensures program readiness for major milestones, including annual premium rate-setting beginning October 1, 2027, the start of contribution collection on April 1, 2028, and the launch of benefit payments in December 2028. This position is also responsible for trust fund stewardship, development of policies and operational frameworks that ensure integrity and efficiency, and implementation of performance metrics, reporting systems, and continuous improvement practices. The ADC - PFML manages relationships with legislators, employers, advocacy groups, state agencies, and other stakeholders, representing the VEC and the PFML program in internal and external forums while ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. This role oversees strategic planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and workforce planning, and leads a cross-functional team to ensure readiness for launch and sustained operational excellence. Critically, the ADC - PFML is accountable for building the leadership team and fostering an organizational culture rooted in customer service, accountability, innovation, and equity to guide the PFML program from initial stand-up through full operating scale.

This is a founding role. You will shape how Virginia's Paid Family and Medical Leave program takes form, this program manager will shape staffing, structure, policy, service, and how the Commonwealth shows up for a worker during life's moments that matter most.

You will build a team of leaders who run claims, contributions, technology, and customer care. You will support the translation of a new law into working policy, stand up the technology, and carry the program to the moment Virginians receive their first benefit payments in December 2028.

Minimum Qualifications

Extensive executive leadership experience standing up, scaling, or transforming large-scale public benefit, social insurance, or public-facing service programs.

Deep knowledge of paid family and medical leave, unemployment insurance, disability, or comparable social insurance program design, financing, and operations.

Demonstrated ability to build organizational structure, staffing plans, governance, and operating procedures for a new program from the ground up, and to lead managers above the first-line supervisory level.

Skilled in change management, multi-stakeholder engagement, and navigating complex regulatory and legislative environments.

Strong financial acumen for trust fund solvency, rate-setting, budget development, procurement, and performance management.

Understanding of how modern technology, digital service delivery, and data can improve business operations and customer experience.

Exceptional written and verbal communication and public representation skills, including the ability to engage diverse audiences with clarity and respect.

Strong analytical ability to interpret complex program, financial, and customer data and translate findings into policy and operational decisions.

Demonstrated experience launching new programs or leading major operational transformations, including developing and managing significant operating budgets.

Demonstrated experience managing relationships with demanding stakeholders in complex, high-stakes environments, including legislative bodies and executive leadership.

Senior executive experience leading large public-sector, private, or non-profit programs or organizations, including leading managers above the first-line supervisory level.

Note: The incumbent must complete Statement of Economic Interest forms and training. Some statewide travel may be required so a valid driver's license is required.

Additional Considerations

Direct experience leading a state paid family and medical leave, family and medical leave insurance, unemployment insurance, or other social insurance program.

Experience delivering a digitally native, public-facing service and working in a start-up or program stand-up environment with a high degree of autonomy.

Experience overseeing a benefits trust fund, actuarial rate-setting, or insurance financing.

Experience testifying before or briefing legislative bodies.

Experience building an organizational culture of empathy, empowerment, and high performance among stakeholder-facing staff.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Advertised: 08 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 22 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

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