The newly established Office of Grants Management (OGM) within the Department of Health Services (DHS) is hiring a Deputy Director. In collaboration with subject matter experts throughout DHS, OGM provides the agency with centralized grantmaking functions to focus on customer service, compliance with federal requirements, and the overall consistency and quality of the grants process.  DHS administers more than 3,000 grant awards each year, with more than $800 million provided to grantees, and the incoming Deputy Director will be key in building an Office that provides training, technical assistance, and other supports to staff in the DHS divisions. 

This position can work remotely up to 5 days per week but is required to report to the office on occasion to complete certain tasks such as onboarding, meetings, and for other business needs. This position is headquartered in the heart of downtown Madison at 201 E. Washington Ave.

As an employee of the State of Wisconsin, you'll have access to an amazing benefits package, including:

• 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time; limitations may apply for leave time usage in the first six months. 
• Top rated health plan options starting at $45/month for single plans and $111/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service. 
• Exceptional pension plan with a 7.2% employer match in 2026 with lifetime retirement payment. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!  
• Several flex spending accounts: medical, dependent care, commuter, parking and High Deductible Health Savings.
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.

As Deputy Director, you will provide executive leadership and operational management for all OGM functions, including oversight of staffing, section management, and program execution across the Department’s statewide grantmaking enterprise. You will be responsible for coordinating daily operations, standardizing policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance with federal and state fiscal, procurement, and administrative requirements.

You’ll serve as a key member of the OGM executive team, responsible for driving operational excellence and accountability across four OGM sections: Grant Support and Administration, Training and Outreach, Systems and Reporting, and the Strategic Grant Management Section. The incumbent provides direct supervision to Section Managers and leads cross-section coordination to ensure that business processes, staffing plans, and reporting structures function cohesively to meet Departmental and federal expectations.

The Deputy Director provides leadership coverage for the OGM Director in their absence and also serves as the primary liaison for agency-wide modernization initiatives, including the agency grant IT system procurement, cost allocation planning, and workflow redesign, ensuring OGM’s operations remain integrated with DHS’s broader strategic and fiscal management goals.

As Deputy Director, you will play a pivotal role in sustaining the structural foundation needed to administer large-scale initiatives such as the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), overseeing a growing Office workforce, and ensuring operational readiness to manage hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal grant funding. 

The starting pay is between $56.00 and $59.88 per hour (approximately between $116,400 and $124,500 per year), depending on qualifications, plus excellent benefits. A 24-month career executive trial period is required. 

Pay for current or former state employees will be set based on the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction. This position is classified as a Budget and Policy Manager and is in pay schedule and range 81/01.

• All applicants who may be appointed will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled.
• For positions that allow remote working flexibility, working outside of Wisconsin or in bordering cities will not be allowed except in extremely limited circumstances due to the need to report to an office location in Wisconsin on short notice.
• Employees must have access to both a private workspace and secure high-speed internet for remote work option. Mileage reimbursement to the employee’s headquarter location is not provided. 
• DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire. DHS is not an E-Verify employer nor a STEM-OPT eligible employer.

Minimally qualified applicants will have all the following:

• Experience in public sector grant or contract administration (e.g., interpreting and applying regulations, developing grants or contracts, managing procurements, monitoring performance and compliance, providing fiscal oversight, measuring and reporting on outcomes, etc.).
• Experience simultaneously managing multiple programs or operational units, including responsibility for strategic planning, and program administration and evaluation.
• Experience in a formal supervisory or management role (e.g., establishing work goals, conducting performance evaluations, hiring, administering discipline, career development, etc.). 

Well-qualified applicants will also have one or more of the following:

• Experience in grants administration, procurement, finance, or IT governance within a health or human services setting.
• Experience leading organization-wide change, including building new teams or sections, or establishing new systems, policies, and processes.
• Experience in IT system modernization, system governance, or workflow development.
• Experience developing and advancing continuous improvement initiatives based on data-driven decision making.
• Bachelor’s degree or above in public administration, business administration, public health, health services administration, public policy, or a related field.

Your letter of qualifications is limited to two (2) pages. Your resume is limited to three (3) pages. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process.  Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application.

Helpful Information: 

• Once your application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click “Save” to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline. 
• You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
• Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above. 
• Please monitor your email for communications related to this position. 
• Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered. 
• If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs. 
• For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Shannon in Human Resources at Shannon.kavorik@dhs.wi.gov. 

DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. 

Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans’ hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran’s Affairs, click here.

The deadline to apply is December 19th at 11:59 pm. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm.  Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.