AOE Special Education Finance Director

at State of Vermont in Montpelier, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Director of Special Education Finance serves as a key leader within the Agency of Education's Finance Division, overseeing Special Education funding and the School-Based Health Services (Medicaid) program. This position plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with federal and state education finance laws, managing complex funding structures, and providing specialized leadership in Special Education Finance and Education Medicaid.

This role will report directly to the CFO while maintaining collaboration with the Education Finance Director to support the broader Education Finance Section. The Director will supervise a team of Special Education finance specialists and work closely with external stakeholders, including school districts, legislative bodies, and education associations, to ensure financial efficiency, policy compliance, and fiscal sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Oversight: Lead and manage Vermont's State Special Education funding and the School-Based Medicaid program, overseeing more than $275M annually in special education expenditures.
• Compliance & Policy Expertise: Act as a subject matter expert on state and federal education funding policies, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, particularly in federal maintenance of effort requirements.
• Fiscal Strategy & Operations: Support the Education Finance Director in operationalizing state and federal education law, including interpreting and analyzing policy changes to ensure fiscal and regulatory compliance.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with school districts, business officers, and statewide education associations (e.g., Vermont Superintendents Association, Vermont School Boards Association, and Vermont Principals Association) to communicate legislative changes and provide financial guidance.
• Legislative & Reporting Responsibilities: Support the development of legislative reports required by statute, oversee payments related to special education finance, and assist in presenting testimony before the Vermont Legislature.
• Team Supervision & Development: Direct a team of finance specialists, providing mentorship and guidance to ensure effective financial management, reporting, and compliance monitoring.
• Medicaid Program Oversight: Work closely with the AOE Medicaid Administrator to maximize federal funding drawdown and ensure programmatic efficiency while maintaining compliance with education law.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong knowledge of education finance, budgeting, and fiscal management principles.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex state and federal regulations to program operations.
• Experience conducting financial modeling, cost-benefit analyses, and program evaluation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial concepts to various stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and team management experience.
• The ability to collaborate with policymakers, educators, and finance professionals to implement funding strategies that benefit Vermont's education system.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Special Education finance in Vermont, ensuring that public funding is used effectively to support students with disabilities. The Director of Special Education Finance will work in a collaborative, mission-driven environment, making a tangible impact on the state's education system.

Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting, but some travel will require private means of transportation. Duties may require some time outside of normal work hours. Incumbent will be expected to testify before the Legislature and/or assist the Education Finance Director and department/agency heads in doing so.