DUA Budget & Strategic Planning Director

Description The Department of Unemployment Assistance administers the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ unemployment insurance program, providing temporary financial assistance to eligible workers while supporting employers and maintaining the integrity of the unemployment insurance system. As part of the Executive Office of Labor, DUA plays an important role in supporting Massachusetts workers, employers, and the broader economy. The Director of Budget and Strategic Planning will contribute to this mission by helping ensure the agency has the financial strategies, resources, and planning capabilities necessary to deliver its programs effectively and responsibly.

Position Overview The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and results-oriented financial leader to serve as its Director of Budget and Strategic Planning. Reporting directly to the DUA Director, this position serves as the agency’s principal advisor on budget strategy, financial planning, resource management, and federal funding.

The Director plays a critical role in ensuring that DUA’s financial resources are strategically planned, effectively managed, and aligned with the agency’s operational priorities, statutory responsibilities, and long-term objectives. Working closely with DUA executive and program leadership and the Executive Office of Labor (EOL) Finance team, the Director provides financial analysis, strategic guidance, and recommendations to support informed decisions regarding staffing, programs, operational initiatives, and resource allocation.

The successful candidate will bring a strong combination of financial expertise, strategic thinking, analytical capabilities, and collaborative leadership. This position requires a high degree of independent judgment, the ability to navigate complex financial and operational challenges, and a proactive approach to maximizing available state and federal resources while promoting fiscal accountability and operational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities:

Budget Development and Financial Planning Lead the development and execution of DUA’s annual and multi-year budget strategies, financial plans, forecasts, and spending projections.

Oversee financial planning and resource allocation to ensure alignment with agency priorities and available funding.

Monitor budget performance, analyze financial trends and variances, and recommend strategies to address emerging risks and opportunities.

Evaluate the financial implications of staffing decisions, proposed programs, operational initiatives, and changing agency priorities.

Develop financial models and alternative funding scenarios to support strategic planning and executive decision-making.

Strengthen financial forecasting, reporting, and budget management processes to improve accuracy, transparency, and accountability.

Federal Funding and Resource Management Lead DUA’s federal funding strategy and Resource Justification Model (RJM) process to maximize available federal resources.

Coordinate annual RJM development and submissions, incorporating staffing levels, workload trends, organizational needs, and program requirements.

Analyze staffing allocations, workload activity, and funding utilization to assess performance against federal funding assumptions.

Review and reconcile SSTA exception reports to ensure employee time allocations appropriately support federal funding calculations.

Partner with program leadership to identify staffing and workload variances, evaluate financial impacts, and recommend resource adjustments.

Interpret federal funding guidance and collaborate with EOL Finance to ensure compliance and optimize federal funding opportunities.

Grants and Supplemental Funding Identify and evaluate…