Role Overview:

The Associate Chief of Workforce Operations serves as the deputy to the Chief Workforce Officer (CWO) and is responsible for leading operational excellence across the Workforce Division. This executive provides strategic leadership to improve coordination, communication, and execution across workforce departments and divisions while ensuring organizational priorities are implemented consistently and effectively.

Working closely with workforce executive leadership, the Associate Chief serves as a trusted advisor to the CWO and acts on the CWO's behalf when appropriate. The position is responsible for driving cross-functional initiatives, resolving operational challenges, aligning resources, and ensuring the Workforce Division functions as an integrated organization in support of DWD's mission.

Executive Leadership & Deputy Responsibilities

• Serves as principal deputy to the Chief Workforce Officer.
• Represents the CWO in meetings, committees, and stakeholder engagements as delegated by the CWO.
• Assists in setting strategic priorities and translating executive direction into operational execution.
• Provides executive-level recommendations regarding workforce programs and operational improvements.
• Coordinates executive decision-making across the Workforce Division.

Division Operations

• Oversees day-to-day operational coordination across Workforce departments.
• Ensures executive priorities are communicated, tracked, and completed.
• Identifies operational risks and develops mitigation strategies.
• Leads efforts to improve organizational efficiency, consistency, and accountability.
• Establishes processes that improve collaboration across functional areas.

Divisional Coordination

• Facilitates division-wide initiatives requiring coordination across multiple business units.
• Removes barriers to successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Promotes a 'One DWD' approach to service delivery and organizational collaboration.
  Strategic Initiative Management.
• Leads implementation of high-priority projects assigned by the CWO.
• Monitors progress on strategic initiatives and executive priorities.
• Develops executive dashboards, reports, and performance updates as requested by CWO.
• Coordinates responses to emerging operational issues requiring executive attention.
• Ensures projects remain aligned with agency strategic objectives.

Organizational Leadership

• Encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Builds strong working relationships across internal and external stakeholders.
• Assists in workforce planning, organizational development, and succession planning.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, customer service, and operational excellence.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Monitors organizational performance metrics.
• Identifies opportunities to improve program effectiveness and operational efficiency.
• Supports implementation of performance management strategies.
• Leads business process improvement initiatives.
• Uses data to inform executive decision-making.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborates with federal, state, and local workforce partners as directed by the CWO.
• Represents the Workforce Division with stakeholders as assigned.
• Supports development of partnerships that advance workforce priorities.

Salary:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $102,024.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, etc., makes recommendations for improvement.
• Develop and coordinate plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision and expectations of agency or program.
• Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
• Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload, and delegating assignments, training, monitoring, and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.
• Monitor agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections.
• Communicate with news and other media, responds to media questions or requests in an appropriate public relations manner.
• Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues (i.e. federal and/or state agency directors, etc.).
• Coordinate, review, and evaluate the use of appropriate controls and standards for the agency.
• Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities to continue professional development.
• Set expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees. Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.

The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational program(s) and business practices.
• Extensive knowledge of state programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
• Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
• Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with key public and private government and business leaders.
• Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• Ability to work with internal and external customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.
• Make sound, well-informed, and objective decisions. perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
• Ability to identify problems. determine accuracy and relevance of information, and to use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
• Ability to effectively give feedback, provide guidance or corrective action, coach, and develop employee skillsets.

A degree is not required.

Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access

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