This first review of applications will be on April 13, 2026. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:
Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor’s name/phone number for each position.
Cover Letter
Three Professional References
If the required documents are not submitted, your application will not be reviewed. When submitting the required documents, you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
An employee new to the State of Montana will serve a one-year probationary period. The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check, including the Child Protection Services registry.
This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 per hour base pay increase effective July 1, 2026.
DPHHS offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees passionate about customer service to help us fulfill our mission: to serve Montanans in their communities, improve health, safety, and well-being, and empower independence.
Benefits of working for DPHHS:
- Work/life balance
- Family-friendly policies
- Dedicated and caring colleagues
- Health coverage
- Retirement plans
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
- Opportunities and room for professional growth
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF
- This position may be eligible for partial teleworking within the state of Montana. The supervisor will provide specific conditions, and you must adhere to state policy.
This position is in Helena, MT. Helena exists as a crossroads between past and present, tame and untamed, mountainous wilderness and hometown warmth. It is a place where you can hike for miles without seeing a soul, stroll through our charming downtown, and enjoy breweries with breathtaking views - all on the same day. From the early roots of Blackfeet, Salish, Crow, and Bannock tribes who found this land abundant with bison and natural resources, to the four lucky prospectors who, in their last efforts, struck gold in 1864. Helena is a place rich with history, beauty, and life. Learn more by visiting https://helenamt.com
Job Overview:
The primary focus of this position is Compensation, Pay Equity, and Strategic Workforce Analytics, rather than general operational HR support. While the role requires a foundational knowledge of ADA, FMLA, and Workers’ Compensation to ensure compliance, these are not active functional areas for the position. Instead, the role serves as a strategic partner to the Director’s Office, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), management, and Human Resources, focusing on:
- Fiscal Integrity and Pay Equity: Managing pay equity for all DPHHS positions, including posted positions and offer letters. This includes ensuring that statutory raises, training assignments, and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) are accurately factored into all stages of the employee lifecycle. This role proactively audits salary structures to ensure that every offer letter and internal promotion remains defensible and aligned with pay equity standards.
- Workforce Cost Management: Overseeing all pay change requests and Department of Administration (DOA) documentation, and collaborating with management, the CFO, and possibly the Deputy Director to maintain budget alignment and regulatory compliance. By managing the technical mechanics of pay, this role prevents administrative errors that could lead to financial liabilities or audit findings.
- Data-Driven Insights: Analyzing critical KPIs such as Time-to-Hire, Cost-to-Hire, and Average Tenure. Conduct sophisticated analysis comparing DPHHS compensation with that of the public and private sectors. This data is vital for the CFO to understand our competitive standing in a tightening labor market.
- Retention Strategy: Utilizing turnover data to identify whether retention gaps are driven by compensation or management issues, then collaborating with the CFO, management, and Human Resources to implement targeted solutions for critical, high-turnover positions.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):
Required for the first day of work:
Solution-driven with the ability to analyze patterns, identify issues, problem-solve, recommend process improvements, and influence best practice adherence.
Skills in researching and interpreting technical, legal, and/or ambiguous information to summarize and compile information.
Initiative to work in a self-directed and proactive manner while adapting to changes in the work environment, managing competing priorities, and meeting deadlines.
Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors work to ensure quality work output.
Strong skills in written and verbal communications.
Ability to work in a team, build and maintain professional relationships, and understand the differing roles within the hierarchical structure to modify approach accordingly.
Ability to work with complex service-related software programs.
Ability to guide, train, and provide excellent customer service.
Ability to remain neutral under adversarial circumstances and demonstrate discretion.
Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):
· Associate degree in a related field such as human resources, business, public administration, psychology, journalism, English, or marketing.
· Three years of job-related experience working in a professional office environment.
· Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
· Ability to obtain the State of Montana Classification Certification within one year of hire.
*!The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency's HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.
State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.