AOE Special Education Finance Director

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.

This position,AOE Special Education Finance Director (Job Requisition #52097), is open to all State employees and external applicants.
If you would like more information about this position, please contact Karen Abbott at karen.abbott@vermont.gov.
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.

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.

Six (6) years or more of experience in a financial leadership role, managing a major fiscal program or operation where functional responsibilities included highly complex fiscal analysis, fiscal modeling, and budgeting.

Professional-level experience implementing or directing changes to complex state or federal regulation.

Bachelor's degree or higher in relevant field.

Experience with School Based Medicaid programs.

As a State employee you are offered a great career opportunity, but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:

• 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
• Work/Life balance: 11 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
• Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• Low cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website.

The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State's employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.