Chief of Staff to Medicaid Director Des Moines Polk

This is a non-merit position for the Health & Human Services
- Health & Human Services
- Medicaid. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services
- Human Resources Enterprise.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Medicaid, is seeking a Chief of Staff to join our team!

This position serves as the Chief of Staff to the Medicaid Director, providing strategic guidance, organizational coordination, and expert analysis on complex federal and state Medicaid policy issues. The position leads the development and implementation of the Medicaid strategic initiatives, directs major policy initiatives, supports executive decision‑making, and represents the agency in high‑level legislative, regulatory, and stakeholder engagements to advance the goals of Iowa’s Medicaid program.

• Serves as the principal advisor to the Medicaid Director, providing strategic guidance on policy direction, organizational priorities, stakeholder relationships, and operational needs.
• Coordinates division‑wide activities, ensuring alignment across units, work streams, and leadership priorities.
• Manages executive‑level communication flow, including briefing materials, decision memos, legislative updates, presentation materials, and strategic planning documents.
• Anticipates operational and policy challenges, identifies solutions, and ensures leadership is informed and prepared for agency, legislative, and stakeholder engagements.
• Represents the Medicaid Director in meetings, work groups, and cross‑agency collaborations when delegated, ensuring consistent communication of priorities and organizational decisions.
• Oversees the execution of special initiatives, internal processes, and high‑impact projects, ensuring they meet deadlines, quality expectations, and strategic goals.
• Facilitates internal coordination between Medicaid bureaus to ensure consistent implementation of policy and strategic objectives.
• Works closely with executive leadership to align strategic initiatives with agency mission, budget priorities, and statewide health system goals.
• Guides cross‑functional teams in evaluating program policy needs and translating them into actionable strategic initiatives.
• Conducts complex, high‑stakes policy analysis on federal and state laws, regulations, guidance, and legislation that may impact Medicaid programs.
• Produces concise analysis documents, impact assessments, policy briefs, and strategic recommendations for Medicaid leadership and key internal partners.
• Translates legislative initiatives and federal regulation into state Medicaid program policies, operational requirements, and implementation plans.
• Supports Medicaid budget planning and development through policy‑driven analysis and strategic recommendations.
• Maintains a comprehensive archive of legislative analyses, regulatory reviews, policy briefs, and related research materials.
• Advises on programmatic, technical, and process‑related topics to improve coordination, efficiency, and policy alignment.
• Identifies and resolves complex policy administration challenges, recommending solutions based on thorough analysis of laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Supports internal decision‑making by analyzing sensitive or complex issues and preparing clear recommendations.
• Coordinates and maintains relationships with federal and state entities including CMS, DHHS, NGA, NAMD, MACPAC, Advancing States, and state Medicaid agencies.
• Represents the agency in legislative meetings, hearings, and work groups related to Medicaid policy.
• Serves as a key point of contact for federal and state partners on Medicaid matters, ensuring accurate and timely communication of agency positions.
• Monitors and contributes to government relations efforts concerning General Assembly, Congress, the federal administration, regulatory bodies, and national Medicaid‑focused organizations.
• Communicates the agency’s policy agenda, strategies, and decisions to internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitors national and state Medicaid…