Budget and Strategic Planning Director

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 federal grants, supplemental funding opportunities, and other funding sources that support DUA’s operational and strategic objectives.
• Assess potential funding opportunities for financial feasibility, program alignment, compliance requirements, and sustainability.
• Partner with DUA program leadership and the EOL Director of Budget and Federal Grants to develop grant proposals and funding requests.
• Develop and review grant budgets, staffing projections, cost estimates, and supporting financial analyses.
• Monitor awarded funding to promote effective utilization, fiscal accountability, and compliance with applicable requirements.

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to the DUA Director and executive leadership on matters involving budgets, staffing, resource allocation, and long-term financial planning.
• Provide timely financial analyses, strategic recommendations, and alternative scenarios to support major operational and policy decisions.
• Collaborate with agency leaders to assess financial performance, resource needs, funding constraints, and emerging operational priorities.
• Evaluate the relationship between staffing, workload demands, available funding, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Translate complex financial and operational information into clear, actionable recommendations for executive leadership.
• Support agency-wide strategic initiatives by ensuring financial considerations are integrated into planning and decision-making.

Financial Governance and Collaboration

• Partner with DUA leadership, EOL Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and program stakeholders to strengthen financial management and operational planning.
• Develop and improve financial planning standards, budget methodologies, reporting practices, governance processes, and internal controls.
• Promote transparency, accountability, consistency, and data-driven financial decision-making across the agency.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional initiatives involving significant financial, operational, or resource implications.
• Work collaboratively to resolve complex financial challenges and establish consistent financial management practices.
• Ensure financial planning and resource management activities align with applicable Commonwealth and federal requirements.

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 federal grants, supplemental funding opportunities, and other funding sources that support DUA’s operational and strategic objectives.
• Assess potential funding opportunities for financial feasibility, program alignment, compliance requirements, and sustainability.
• Partner with DUA program leadership and the EOL Director of Budget and Federal Grants to develop grant proposals and funding requests.
• Develop and review grant budgets, staffing projections, cost estimates, and supporting financial analyses.
• Monitor awarded funding to promote effective utilization, fiscal accountability, and compliance with applicable requirements.

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to the DUA Director and executive leadership on matters involving budgets, staffing, resource allocation, and long-term financial planning.
• Provide timely financial analyses, strategic recommendations, and alternative scenarios to support major operational and policy decisions.
• Collaborate with agency leaders to assess financial performance, resource needs, funding constraints, and emerging operational priorities.
• Evaluate the relationship between staffing, workload demands, available funding, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Translate complex financial and operational information into clear, actionable recommendations for executive leadership.
• Support agency-wide strategic initiatives by ensuring financial considerations are integrated into planning and decision-making.

Financial Governance and Collaboration

• Partner with DUA leadership, EOL Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and program stakeholders to strengthen financial management and operational planning.
• Develop and improve financial planning standards, budget methodologies, reporting practices, governance processes, and internal controls.
• Promote transparency, accountability, consistency, and data-driven financial decision-making across the agency.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional initiatives involving significant financial, operational, or resource implications.
• Work collaboratively to resolve complex financial challenges and establish consistent financial management practices.
• Ensure financial planning and resource management activities align with applicable Commonwealth and federal requirements.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS\:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in financial management work (i.e. budgeting, accounting, auditing, management analysis, program evaluation, financial reporting of program results), of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics?Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS\:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in financial management work (i.e. budgeting, accounting, auditing, management analysis, program evaluation, financial reporting of program results), of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics?Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

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