Systems Section Manager

This is professional services work of a managerial nature in directing and overseeing the activities of a major section within the Bureau of Information Services. Responsibilities focus on planning and managing the activities of a major section within the Bureau in the areas of Operations, Systems Analysis and Programming, Systems Software, Systems Security, or Telecommunications. Supervision is exercised over a staff composed of professional, technical, and support personnel. Work is performed under administrative direction.

The Systems Section Manager position is crucial in the management of personnel, communication, and collaboration between project, operations, vendors, and testing teams for MaineIT DHHS Application Development and Support. MaineIT DHHS Application Development provides services for some of the State of Maine’s most at-risk populations including those utilizing MaineCare, SNAP, TANF, GA, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder services, family eligibility determinations, Drug Courts, and Children’s Behavioral Health services. This position manages the team leaders whose teams provide IT systems support for the agencies and offices within DHHS., This role requires an experienced IT professional who seeks to be an effective technology leader, not a hands-on-technical lead. We seek a candidate who will manage, develop, and encourage their teams to use critical thinking to identify and resolve issues, apply consistency to best practices, and foster an environment of collaboration to address areas that require change., This position works collaboratively with other leaders to strengthen and modernize business processes by applying strong technical knowledge, public-sector IT governance awareness, and service-focused decision-making. The role emphasizes building effective relationships across agencies, vendors, and MaineIT by modeling clear communication, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards, and promoting best practices in technology and service delivery. The Systems Section Manager provides guidance and coaching to team leaders who serve as key relationship managers, supporting them in navigating competing priorities, resolving operational issues, and improving the performance and maturity of MaineIT’s application development and operational teams., * Lead day-to-day operations by coordinating closely with operational support, testing teams, vendors, project management, and agency stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery of technology services

• Serve as a Program Sponsor, leading enterprise-wide programs and initiatives by establishing strategic direction, promoting stakeholder alignment, managing risks, and ensuring adherence to enterprise governance, security, and technology standards
• Act as a strategic partner to program leaders by actively understanding their goals, challenges, and operational priorities; guide them in forecasting technology needs and planning budgets that align with enterprise standards
• Oversee section-level budgeting, technology planning, and resource prioritization, supporting senior leadership in making informed, data-driven decisions about systems, services, and investment strategies
• Ensure services meet agency expectations by monitoring delivery performance, resolving service barriers quickly, and maintaining strong communication between agencies, vendors, and MaineIT
• Mentor team leads and staff to strengthen their ability to manage relationships, communicate proactively, and apply “big-picture” thinking that balances operational realities with strategic objectives
• Evaluate business requests and Use Cases to coach team leaders on how to develop clear, actionable functional requirements, including accurate cost, risk, and timeline considerations
• Participate in code and feature reviews, requirements walk-throughs, design discussions, feasibility assessments, and quality checkpoints to support well-designed, secure, and sustainable systems
• Establish training expectations, professional standards, and performance goals; empower team leads to conduct timely and meaningful performance reviews that support continuous development
• Ensure compliance with all applicable human resources policies, including ADA/EEO, classification rules, performance management requirements, security and confidentiality standards, workplace safety expectations, and contract administration guidelines

Customer-focus - Actively listens and ensures partner needs are understood and met * Accountability - Demonstrates transparency, ownership, and integrity in all actions * Responsiveness - Provides timely follow-up and proactive communication * Empathy - Applies emotional intelligence, respect, and support in all interactions, * Understanding of public-sector IT governance, compliance, procurement rules, and enterprise architecture standards

• Strong familiarity with vendor management practices, contract terms, service level agreements (SLAs), performance monitoring, and escalation procedures
• Knowledge of customer relationship management principles, especially in multi-agency technology environments
• Awareness of cybersecurity, data privacy laws, accessibility standards, and state-level security protocols
• Knowledge of IT service delivery, operational workflows, and software development lifecycle management (SDLC) across complex enterprise systems
• Understanding of organizational change management and cross-agency communication dynamics
• Skill in guiding team leaders who serve as technical leads and relationship managers, ensuring consistent communication, priority alignment, and stakeholder satisfaction
• Skill in negotiating with vendors and agency partners to balance technical needs, timelines, and contractual obligations
• Skill in conflict resolution, especially in balancing competing priorities between agencies, vendors, and internal IT
• Skill in analyzing operational data, identifying service trends, and translating insights into actionable improvements
• Skill in presenting complex technical issues in clear, plain language to non-technical audiences
• Skill in coordinating collaborative planning sessions, requirements gathering, and multi-stakeholder decision-making
• Ability to build and maintain positive, trust-based relationships with vendors, agency program leaders, MaineIT staff and partners
• Ability to oversee and coach team leaders, developing their maturity in technical leadership, relationship management and issue resolution
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, shifting resources as priorities change across agencies
• Ability to anticipate operational risks or service delivery disruptions and implement mitigation strategies
• Ability to ensure alignment of agency needs with enterprise standards, security expectations, and governance processes
• Ability to foster a culture of accountability, transparency, communication, and continuous service improvement, Ten (10) years data processing/telecommunication system experience including at least six (6) years experience in the appropriate area of specialization and two (2) years of supervisory/ managerial experience -OR- a related Bachelors Degree and 6 years data processing/telecommunication system experience including at least four (4) years experience in the appropriate area of specialization and two (2) years of supervisory/ managerial experience -OR- a related Masters Degree and four (4) years data processing/telecommunication system experience including at least two (2) years experience in the appropriate area of specialization and two (2) years of supervisory/ managerial experience.

Work-Life Balance - 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 ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 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 ($365.28 annual value). * Retirement Plan - The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee. * Gym Membership Reimbursement - Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. * Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts - Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. * Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness - The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office. * Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program. * Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act. * Voluntary Deferred Compensation - Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

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.

The Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) Office of Information Technology (MaineIT) provides information technology support to over 13,000 employees. MaineIT oversees large scale enterprise applications that support the critical and diverse business needs of the State of Maine and its agencies.