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Project Associate
Job Number: 2019-32893
Category: Administrative Professional
Location: Boston, MA
Shift: Day
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Business Unit: ForHealth Consulting
Department: Commonwealth Medicine - Health Law and Policy - W400713
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary Grade: 44
Num. Openings: 1
Post Date: May 13, 2019

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION: 

Under the general direction of the Director or designee, the Project Associate is responsible for supporting enterprise-wide projects. The Project Associate will assist the Director in leading and documenting project activities, and may lead sub-components of a project.  The Project Associate is also responsible for planning and coordinating project related activities of small and medium size projects that will vary in scope including the management of resources in a matrix environment. The Project Associate will develop and implement projects while adhering to UMMS’s Project Management guidelines.

For the first year of this assignment, the Project Associate will be assigned to work at MassHealth with its Home and Community-Based Waivers Unit. This Unit administers ten home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs. These are specialized programs that support individuals—who otherwise would require long-term, facility-based care—to live in the community. The Project Associate will also collaborate on a regular basis with state agency staff from the HCBS waiver operating agencies: the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and the Department of Developmental Services. The HCBS Project Associate will:

  • Prepare and maintain project tracking tools covering multiple projects within the HCBS Unit to identify competing deadlines and ensure timely completion of deliverables;
  • Coordinate logistics (i.e., schedule meetings, reserve conference rooms, arrange conference calls, etc.), prepare agendas and other materials for, and participate in workgroup meetings;
  • Draft a variety of types of documents and accurately coordinate edits from multiple colleagues;
  • Work with staff in other MassHealth departments, including MassHealth Publications and Legal, to develop and distribute public-facing materials, including documents for public comment;
  • Assist in issue-spotting throughout all phases of projects related to policy development and program implementation;
  • Communicate and collaborate with colleagues in the HCBS Unit as well as from other departments and state agencies on a regular basis to support day-to-day operation of the ten HCBS waivers and the development and implementation of new policy and program initiatives.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Leads medium and small projects in collaboration with the Director or designee
  • Performs data analysis, market research, and other tasks in support of the initial feasibility study prior to the formalization of a project and presents findings to senior leadership
  • Assists in the development of new project plans. Responsible for developing project schedule and budget for approval. Ensures that project execution is timely, successful, and meets expectations
  • Prepares material for project meetings, regulatory agency submissions, and coordinate arrangements applicable to assigned projects, such as interview arrangements, site visits, etc.
  • Participates in oral and written reporting and presentation of all project findings; participates in project status meetings and preparation of final project deliverables
  • Convenes and directs project teams to effectively address project requirements according to objectives, schedule and budget and implement work plans. Coordinates follow-up activities as necessary to ensure that schedules, budgets, and other project expectations and timelines are completed as required
  • Drafts project statements in collaboration with project team members on data collection, project work plans, meetings, decisions, work change orders, project deliverables, progress reports, schedules, cost tracking reports, and other pertinent reports
  • Facilitates communication of the project’s status, budget, costs, issues, and related information to the project’s team leaders, project sponsor, steering committee, affected business unit(s), and team members as appropriate
  • Assists the project’s sponsor in refining the project scope and objectives, including any constraints
  • Organizes and prepares for all facets of project team meetings.
  • Provides direction to junior research staff, student interns, and temporary project support staff as necessary
  • Manage special projects, project and/or vendor evaluations, feasibility studies and other activities related to business development within defined time lines as assigned
  • Assist the Director or designee in the development of contracts related to the project success
  • Participate in the Continuous Quality Improvement program
  • Performs other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management, Business Administration, or equivalent
  • 4 years of demonstrated experience in project management
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills to interact effectively with staff, clients, and vendor staff
  • Ability to lead and direct a matrix project team, as well as the ability to lead and direct effective meetings and work sessions
  • Strong Microsoft Office skills
  • Ability to travel to off-site locations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, public health or equivalent graduate degree in a related field.
  • Ability to organize and maintain accurate records.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Experience editing a variety of types of documents.
  • Demonstrated experience in effective relationship management with key stakeholders.
  • Experience in facilitating working groups, both internal and external to state government.
  • Ability to understand, explain and apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, etc. governing assigned unit activities.
  • Familiarity with the philosophy of independent living.
  • Ability to understand and meet requirements in protecting participants’ confidential information.
  • Familiarity with HCBS waiver programs and state human service agency operations strongly preferred.

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