Child Care Budget and Policy Analyst

Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

$79K — $89K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience conducting comprehensive budget analysis.
  • Strong presentation skills for articulating budget findings to diverse stakeholders.
  • Background in fiscal management within program settings, including contracting and grants administration.
  • Experience managing public-sector budgets across local, state, or federal levels.
  • Familiarity with auditing processes and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Knowledge of budgeting for early care and education programs.

Responsibilities

  • Perform in-depth analysis of budgets, expenditures, and policies to support decision-making.
  • Lead and contribute to project teams addressing strategic divisional and departmental issues.
  • Monitor and coordinate budget development and financial oversight for the Division.
  • Track funding structures and appropriations for child care services in Wisconsin.
  • Collaborate with the Department of Children and Families to oversee spending from various funding sources.
  • Ensure compliance with federal policies and regulations governing resource allocation.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on significant fiscal initiatives impacting child care services.
  • Involvement in cross-division projects can enhance leadership skills.
  • Gain expertise in managing complex public-sector funding sources.
  • Exposure to strategic policymaking and budgetary decision processes.
Full Job Description
Position Summary

This position performs professional, confidential analysis of budgets, expenditures, and policies. As a budget and policy analyst for the division, this position is responsible for maintaining knowledge about agency operations and budgets to perform complex assignments supporting agency decision making regarding program, policy, and fiscal management, and/or potential initiatives and their implementation. This includes supporting biennial budget issue identification and development for the Division, serving on and leading project teams for development of strategic issues with a department-wide or cross-division scope, and coordinating budget development and monitoring within the Division. This position is responsible for tracking the complex funding structure and appropriations for child care services in Wisconsin. Child Care funding is made up of several different funding sources (CCDF, TANF appropriations and other large in scope and funding grants, such as Preschool Development Grant). This position coordinates with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Budget and Policy (OBP) to monitor the spending in these various funding sources and working with Division Leadership on budget and funding strategies. This position also is responsible for understanding the various federal rules and policies that govern the use and spending of those federal resources.

View the complete position description .

Salary Information

The classification title for this position is Budget and Policy Analyst - Division - Advanced. The starting salary is between $38.00 and $43.00 per hour ($79,040 and $89,440 annually), depending on qualification s. Pay for current State of WI employees will be based on the compensation plan in effect at the time of the appointment. Pay for current state employees who are transferring will be determined based upon the pay on transfer rules (higher level duties or equity) as outlined in the compensation plan in effect at the time of appointment.

The pay schedule/range is 81-03. A one-year probationary period may be required.

Job Details

Due to the nature of the position, final candidates may be required to allow DCF to conduct a security background check to determine whether the circumstances of any pending charges or convictions would be substantially related to the job being filled.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., a lawful permanent resident, an alien authorized to work in the U.S. without DCF sponsorship.) The Department of Children and Families does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Qualifications

Minimally qualified applicants will have:
  • Experience conducting budget analysis (gathering funding source information/data, reviewing funding data against standards/policies, forecasting results, making recommendations, etc.)
  • Experience presenting budget analysis findings to internal and/or external stakeholders.
  • Experience with fiscal responsibilities in a program setting (budget management, contracting and procurement, administering grants or other funding, etc.)
Well-qualified applicants will have:
  • Experience managing public-sector (local, county, state, federal, K12) budgets (data analysis, compliance, administration of multiple funding sources, etc.)
  • Experience managing audits (developing and monitoring audit plans, identifying and mitigating risks, preparing and presenting audit status reports, etc.)
  • Experience administering/operating budgets for an early care and education program

How To Apply

If you haven't already done so, you will need to create an account and apply online. You must apply online to be considered for this position. Application materials will not be accepted if received in an e-mail, as a hard copy or a fax. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

After you are logged in and are viewing the announcement, click "Apply Now." You will be asked to provide your personal information and required materials. Online applications that do not include all of the requested materials will not be considered.

Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application at DCF and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. View instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications for your DCF application and what should be included in these materials.

Submitted materials will be evaluated by one or more subject matter experts and qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer, voluntary demotion, or former employees as a reinstatement) must complete the application process to apply.

Deadline to Apply

The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on September 29, 2026. If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact, Rebekah Gaumitz at 608-422-6417 or via email at [email protected] . Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance.

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