We’re seeking an experienced Senior Manager to lead our Payment Operations team. As the Senior Manager, you’ll provide leadership and direction for Paid Leave payment processes and execution. The incumbent is responsible for process design, visibility, and overseeing the day-to-day activities of the payments process, ensuring we meet our commitment to on-time payments. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the senior manager will also have responsibility for operational and strategic reporting on budget and operational performance.

Operational Responsibilities:

• On-Time Payments: Active, daily management of payment processes to ensure payments are made promptly and according to schedule.
• Transparent Operations: Develop metrics, alerts, and reports to enhance process visibility, enabling quick problem-solving and remediation for any payment failures.
• Clear Processes and Communications: As the process owner of payment operations, conduct regular audits to ensure end-to-end processes are effective and clear for both applicants and employees.
• Risk Management: Stay vigilant about possible fraud risks and continuously track methods to prevent fraud.
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze themes or pain points in payment processes and recommend enhancements to policies, communication, processes, and systems.

Analytics Responsibilities:

• Operational Metrics/Dashboards: Create and manage standard metrics and scorecards for Paid Leave Operations. The audience includes each Paid Leave team, the Chief Operating Officer, other Paid Leave leaders, DEED leaders, and cross-functional partners. Some of the data may be used publicly by the communications/PR team to highlight our impact.
• Analytics Super User Team: Lead an analytics super user team that supports other Paid Leave leaders and teams, ensuring they have the data they need. If necessary, provide training on analytics tools.

About the Paid Leave Division:

Paid Leave is a new program launching in 2026. The program will provide partial wage replacement to Minnesota workers who are out of work due to a qualifying condition, such as a severe health condition that prevents them from working, or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child.

We are building a program that will be easy for every Minnesotan to use. We are engaging the people who depend on us—workers, employers, caregivers, and insurers—to learn from them and build the program around their needs. We are using modern service delivery and product practices to deliver the program.

The Paid Leave team has high standards and an unrelenting commitment to serving Minnesotans. It is a start-up environment without legacy systems or preconceived ways of working, so we have a unique opportunity to create human-centric processes and systems to deliver this new benefit to Minnesotans.

If you’re a leader passionate about execution excellence, effective analytics, and making a difference in Minnesotan’s lives, we want to hear from you!

Minimum Qualifications

To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment.

Four (4) years* of experience in a leadership position overseeing transactional payments processes and vendor relationships, with at least two (2) of the required years in managing analytical teams to meet the organization's analytics and operational visibility needs.

*Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Business, Finance, or other closely related field as determined by the agency may substitute one (1) year of experience; master’s degree substitutes for eighteen (18) months of experience.

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following:

• Experience designing new processes or improving existing processes
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective communication and working relationships between diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to identify and solve root causes to eliminate reoccurring issues
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and developing staff while building relationships

Working together to improve the state we love.

What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

• A sense of purpose in their work
• Connection with their coworkers and communities
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your benefits may include:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being

Support to help you reach your career goals:

• Training, classes, and professional development
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support:

• A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
• Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care