Engagement Lead /Lead Consultant

Engagement Lead /Lead ConsultantThe Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility (DBME), is seeking consulting support to improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Payment Error Rate (PER) through targeted policy review, operational improvement, and performance optimization. The selected vendor will provide advisory support across three key workstreams: policy and regulatory analysis, workflow and process redesign, and workshops with metrics-driven improvement. The engagement is milestone-based and requires strong governance, quality assurance, and delivery oversight.Minimum 12+ years of total professional experience with:8+ years leading consulting, transformation, or program improvement engagements in state government or large public-sector environments5+ years in human services, public benefits, or eligibility operations (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or similar)3+ years in a direct leadership role overseeing delivery, executive communication, and quality assuranceDemonstrated experience leading at least two state or quasi-government engagements involving SNAP or other public-benefit eligibility programsProven experience delivering policy and/or process improvement initiatives in regulated environments, including ownership of milestone-based deliverablesStrong experience with quality assurance and executive-level deliverables, including reviewing and approving reports, findings, and recommendations prior to submissionExperience managing short-duration, high-visibility engagements with formal acceptance criteria and client review cyclesDemonstrated ability to lead weekly governance meetings, stakeholder updates, and structured progress trackingHands-on experience managing multiple workstreams simultaneously, including policy analysis, operational improvement, and stakeholder engagementStrong evidence of leading stakeholder sessions across executive leadership, program managers, and frontline staffMust not be limited to IT project management, staffing coordination, or administrative PMO roles without advisory ownershipServe as the overall engagement lead and primary accountable resource, responsible for delivery, quality, and client relationship management for the SNAP error rate reduction initiative. Lead and oversee execution across all three project areas: policy review and gap analysis, operational and process optimization, mentorship and data collection. Provide end-to-end project leadership, ensuring all activities align with RFS objectives, timelines, and acceptance standards. Own quality assurance of all deliverables, ensuring outputs are accurate, actionable, and aligned with federal and state SNAP requirements. Act as the primary interface with ADES leadership, managing communication, expectations, and feedback cycles throughout the engagement. Conduct and lead weekly status meetings and progress reviews, ensuring transparency into project status, risks, and deliverables. Provide strategic advisory support, including guidance on policy alignment, quality control practices, and process improvements to reduce SNAP error rates. Review and challenge existing policies, workflows, and quality control approaches, ensuring recommendations support improved compliance and performance. Oversee development of all key deliverables, including: policy analysis findings and recommendations, as-is and to-be process maps, workshop outputs and stakeholder insights. Coordinate and direct work of supporting team members, ensuring integration across policy, operations, and stakeholder engagement efforts. Identify and manage risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring timely resolution and minimal impact to delivery.Strong domain expertise in SNAP or public-benefits eligibility programs, including policy, operations, and quality control. Deep understanding of state government human services environments, including compliance requirements and operational challenges. Proven ability to lead complex consulting engagements, including stakeholder management, delivery oversight, and executive communication. Advanced capability in reviewing and producing executive-ready deliverables, including reports, presentations, and recommendation packages. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to translate data and findings into actionable operational and policy improvements. Experience aligning policy, process, and performance metrics to improve accuracy, compliance, and program integrity. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions across multiple organizational levels. Experience with process documentation, reporting, and presentation tools such as Visio, PowerPoint, and Excel. Familiarity with structured improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or similar frameworks. Preferred credentials include PMP, PgMP, or Lean Six Sigma certification, along with prior experience supporting SNAP or similar programs in state environments.Bachelor's degree required in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Social Work, Government, or a related field. Advanced degree such as MPA, MPP, MBA, or MSW preferred.