State Comptroller Assistant Division Director

State of Connecticut - Office of the State Comptroller; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth opportunities

Work-life balance

Benefits overview page

Job summary

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller, seeks a highly organized State Comptroller Assistant Division Director to lead the Healthcare Policy & Benefit Services Division in Hartford. This senior role oversees administration, fiscal management, vendor performance, policy implementation, and program operations for employee and retiree health benefits, including the State Partnership Plan.

Responsibilities include leading divisions, managing budgets, and coordinating with

Qualifications

• Nine (9) years of experience in the administration of employee pension plans or employee health care or other employee benefits programs or legal experience in the area of benefits administration.
• Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.
• Substitutions allowed: college training, Master's, CPA, CIA, or law degree may substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership and strategic oversight for health benefit programs and operations.
• Oversee budget, vendor performance, policy implementation, and open enrollment processes.
• Coordinate with division leadership, agencies, vendors, and stakeholders to ensure compliant program operation.
• Manage administrative functions, staff development, and internal controls across health plan administration.
• Lead major health benefit initiatives, open enrollment, and compliance with federal/state requirements.

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is currently seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented State Comptroller Assistant Division Director to work in our Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services Division.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• Location: Hartford, CT 06106

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Assistant Division Directors provide senior leadership and strategic oversight for the administration, fiscal management, vendor performance, policy implementation, and operational effectiveness of the State of Connecticut's employee and retiree health benefit programs, including the State Partnership Plan. This position works closely with division leadership, the Comptroller and Executive Team, state agencies, vendors, labor representatives, consultants, and other stakeholders to ensure the health plan operatives effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with State priorities and applicable requirements.

ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS:

Leadership & Organizational Management

Lead assigned operational functions and multidisciplinary staff within the Healthcare Policy & Benefit Services Division. Establish priorities and performance expectations, manage staffing and organizational resources, develop staff, and coordinate administrative and program activities to support division and health plan objectives. Provide oversight of the annual health plan open enrollment process, agency training and education, and member communications to ensure effective implementation of benefit changes and consistent understanding of health plan programs and requirements.

Healthcare Administration, Policy & Compliance

Provide senior-level oversight of the State’s employee, retiree, and Partnership health benefit programs, ensuring effective administration and compliance with statutory, regulatory, and collective bargaining requirements. Lead major benefit implementations, annual open enrollment, policy and legislative responses, and resolution of complex health plan issues.

Vendor Management & Contract Performance

Provide executive oversight of major healthcare vendors and contracts, ensuring compliance with contractual requirements, performance guarantees, service standards, and member service expectations. Monitor vendor performance, resolve escalated issues, lead executive-level vendor discussions, and identify opportunities to improve accountability, service delivery, operational efficiency, and member experience.

Healthcare Financial & Fiscal Oversight

Provide senior-level oversight of the State’s approximately $3.4 billion healthcare expenditures, including budget monitoring, rate development, financial analysis, and fiscal reporting. Evaluate the financial impact of benefit and policy changes, oversee related fiscal and contractual requirements, and provide financial recommendations to division leadership and the Healthcare Cost Containment Committee.

ABOUT US

The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is an agency whose mission is to provide accounting and financial services, administer employee and retiree benefits, develop accounting policy and exercise accounting oversight, and prepare financial reports for the state, federal and municipal governments, and the public. We are located in the State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT. This state-of-the-art building offers free garage parking, an on-site cafeteria, and ergonomic workspaces.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Assists in directing staff and operations of a major division with statewide impact;
• Assists in coordinating, planning, and managing program functions within a division;
• Assists in formulating program goals and objectives;
• Assists in developing related policy;
• Assists in implementation of new procedures and procedural revisions;
• Assists in interpreting and administering pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Assists in preparing division budgets;
• Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact program activities;
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May coordinate subpoena responses and Freedom of Information requests;
• May assist in directing employee benefits functions;
• May assist in directing timely processing of all state payrolls and related documents;
• May assist in directing auditing, validation, and payment of all claims against the State;
• May assist in directing maintenance of official accounting records of the State;
• May interpret state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to retirement or employee benefits;
• May provide counsel to state agency staff with respect to retirement benefits in connection with resolution of labor disputes;
• May prepare contracts for services required by SERC and the State Comptroller to administer employee or retiree benefits;
• May assist in coordination of various health care delivery systems including health promotion and wellness initiatives;

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
• relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations;
• legal and administrative issues concerning employee pension and benefits plans;
• Knowledge of
• health care delivery systems;
• collective bargaining, legislative and retirement administrative appeal processes;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability in analysis and preparation of complex and comprehensive financial statements and reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of experience in the administration of employee pension plans or employee health care or other employee benefits programs or legal experience in the area of benefits administration.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.

NOTE: Supervisory capacity is defined as scheduling, assigning, overseeing work, establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards. For state employees, supervisory capacity is interpreted at the level of a Retirement and Benefit System Coordinator.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training in accounting or business administration may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• Certification in any of the following may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience: Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.
• A law degree from an accredited school of law may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience administering or overseeing a large public-sector employee, retiree, or municipal health plan, including familiarity with health benefits, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience managing complex healthcare programs, vendor contracts, performance guarantees, budgets, and operational functions.
• Experience in healthcare financing, insurance markets, Medicare, health plan administration, and healthcare cost drivers, including claims utilization, rate development, and financial analysis.
• Experience interpreting and implementing federal and state healthcare requirements, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and related reporting and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and holding contractors accountable for contractual and performance requirements.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, major health benefit implementations, open enrollment, system implementations, or organizational change initiatives.
• Experience working with labor organizations, vendors, policymakers, healthcare consultants, and other public-sector stakeholders, with the ability to communicate complex financial, operational, and policy matters clearly to senior leadership.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.