Deputy Commissioner Agency Culture and Relations - Deputy Commissioner Human Services

Working Title:

Deputy Commissioner Job Class:
Deputy Commissioner Human Services Agency:
Human Services Dept

• Job
• Location:
  
  St. Paul
• Telework Eligible:
  Yes
• Full/Part Time:
  Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary:
  Unlimited
• Who May Apply:
  Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 02/11/2026
• Closing Date: 03/03/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit:
  Human Services Dept / DHS Manager
• Division/Unit: DHS-Central Office / DHS Commissioner's Staff
• Work Shift/
  
  Work Hours:
  
  Day Shift
• Days of Work:
  Monday - Friday
• Travel Required:
  
  No
• Salary Range: $64.23 - $91.92 / hourly; $134,112 - $191,928 / annually
• Classified Status:
  Unclassified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 220 - Manager/Unrep
• FLSA Status:
  Exempt - Executive
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities:
  No

The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position is eligible for telework for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.

The Deputy Commissioner role at the Minnesota Department of Human Services is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced leader who can navigate uncertainty with confidence and bring cohesion to a large, mission‑driven organization. Along with general management of the agency, this role guides the Department’s external relations and communications functions, ensuring that policy development, stakeholder engagement, and legislative strategy are aligned and effective across the state.

This position manages and directs the operations of the Department of Human Services external relations so that public policy is developed, priorities are established, and programs are implemented in an integrated manner throughout the agency. Major roles are community relations, legislative relations, county relations, federal relations, and Tribal and urban Indian relations focusing on strategic planning; department‑wide objectives; organizational evaluation and change;

and support to DHS managers to assure continuous quality improvement and cost‑effective and equitable state policies and programs.

For executives who know Minnesota’s government landscape and are ready to bring strategic clarity, organizational insight, and collaborative leadership to a complex statewide system, this position offers both challenge and meaningful impact.

• Must be a mission‑driven, experienced leader who can embrace the vision and values of DHS, with proven abilities to set priorities among multiple competing demands, to establish and nurture a positive, equitable culture focused on collaboration and problem‑solving, and to drive change and improvement in large complex systems. This position requires a high level of managerial and human relations skills and abilities.
• A minimum of five years of health care, government administration, legislative and/or highly related leadership experience.
• Technical expert knowledge sufficient to plan, organize, direct, implement and explain complex compliance and finance programs and practices. This includes broad knowledge of human service issues, compliance, funding mechanisms, budgets, and roles and authorities of federal, state and local government.
• Thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of public and business administration and the practical uses of strategic planning and continuous improvement.
• Have excellent political as well as communications and relations savvy.

• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills sufficient to resolve differences and to influence…