Executive Service
ASSISTANT DEPUTY OF LTSS PROGRAMS
Division of TennCare
Long Term Services & Support (LTSS)
Nashville, TN
Minimum Annual Salary $78,528.00
Closing Date: 07/27/2026
Background Check:
This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.
Who we are and what we do:
TennCare is Tennessee's managed care Medicaid program that provides health insurance coverage to certain groups of low-income individuals such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives of young children, older adults, and adults with physical disabilities. TennCare provides coverage for approximately 1.7 million Tennesseans and operates with an annual budget of approximately $19 billion. It is run by the Division of TennCare with oversight and some funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
TennCare's mission is to improve the lives of Tennesseans by providing high-quality cost-effective care. To fulfill that purpose, we equip each employee for active participation and empower teams to communicate and worked collaboratively to improve organizational processes in order to make a difference in the lives our members. Because of the positive impact TennCare has on the lives of the most vulnerable Tennesseans, TennCare employees report that their work provides them with a sense of meaning, purpose, and accomplishment. TennCare leadership understands that employees are our most valuable resource and ensures professional and leadership development are a priority for the agency.
Job Overview:
TennCare compensation is equitable and will be based on education and experience for a qualified candidate in accordance with Department of Human Resources (DOHR) policy.
The Division of TennCare is dedicated to providing our employees with a hybrid work environment. All TennCare positions have a combination of work from home and work in the office, which varies by position, department, and business need. You may review the specific expectations with our hiring team.
Under supervision of the Deputy Director of LTSS Programs & Contracts, an employee in this position will serve as the Assistant Deputy of LTSS Programs. An individual in this position leads complex programs and makes strategic operational decisions on a broad portfolio of programs implemented by TennCare Long Term Services and Support (LTSS). Responsibilities include ongoing oversight and monitoring of program performance, identifying new and innovative strategies focused on improvement of performance quality and health outcomes, and providing strategic guidance on establishing high priority goals. This position works in partnership with other state agencies to represent TennCare's position and ensure appropriate implementation of TennCare requirements. The individual in this role will also support decision making through data analysis and synthesis of multiple factors in overseeing the quality performance for TennCare contractors. LTSS Programs include: TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports (or CHOICES for short) is for adults (age 21 and older) with a physical disability and seniors (age 65 and older).
CHOICES offers services to help a person live in their own home or in the community. These services are called Home and Community Based Services or HCBS. These services can be provided in the home, on the job, or in the community to assist with daily living activities and allow people to work and be actively involved in their local community. CHOICES also provides care in a nursing home if this is needed. ECF CHOICES is an integrated Managed Long-Term Services and Supports delivery model. ECF CHOICES is the first program of its kind in the country designed to integrate physical and behavioral health services and LTSS for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in a person-centered manner that aligns incentives around promoting and supporting employment and integrated community living as the first and preferred option for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Katie Beckett is the newest program in TennCare Long-Term Services and Supports. This program is specifically for children under the age of 18 with significant disabilities or complex medical needs. This program is for children who are not Medicaid eligible because of their parent's income or assets. A wide range of hands-on supports and other benefits are providing many families with supports for the first time. 1915(c) waiver programs provide Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for people with intellectual disabilities as an alternative to institutional care. LTSS is responsible for the administrative oversight of the 1915(c) waiver programs, and the Department of Disability and Aging is the state agency contracted with TennCare to perform day-to-day operation of the 1915(c) waiver programs.
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides comprehensive medical and social services to certain frail, community-dwelling elderly individuals, most of whom are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. An interdisciplinary team of health professionals delivers coordinated care, enabling participants to remain in their communities rather than enter institutional care. D-SNPs, including Fully Integrated Dual Eligible (FIDE) SNPs, are designed to improve care quality and coordination for Full Benefit Dual Eligible (FBDE) individuals. These programs promote person-centered care planning and service delivery in the most integrated and cost-effective settings.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the programmatic oversight of LTSS programs and waivers through compliance and system transformation.
Oversees the administration and strategic management of LTSS programs to ensure compliance with federal requirements, waivers, contracts, and interagency agreements.
Provides leadership for contract oversight, data analysis, quality improvement, and systemwide initiatives, while collaborating with program leads, managed care organizations, and cross-functional teams to drive program performance, resolve operational issues, and support policy implementation.
Leads efforts to strengthen service delivery, behavioral health integration, employment and day service outcomes, and Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) oversight through effective partnerships, compliance monitoring, and continuous process improvement.
Lead, the development, implementation and evolution of a comprehensive strategic approach to LTSS culture transformation.
Provides strategic leadership and oversight for LTSS program operations by supervising program directors, guiding implementation of CMS waiver amendments, and advancing long-term strategic initiatives.
Collaborates with internal and external partners to support system transformation, value-based purchasing, and community-informed choice processes, ensuring compliance with federal requirements, person-centered service delivery, and alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Ensure ongoing Stakeholder and Partner Engagement.
Serves as a key liaison between TennCare LTSS, managed care organizations, DDA, providers, and stakeholder groups to strengthen collaboration, communication, and program coordination.
Represents LTSS in strategic meetings and advisory councils, ensures timely resolution and escalation of program issues, supports leadership communications, and promotes consistent implementation of policies, operational guidance, and training across LTSS programs.
Lead employment supports across programs to support the independence, integration, and competitive, integrated employment of individuals supported.
Provides leadership and oversight for LTSS employment initiatives by supervising employment staff, managing contracts that promote competitive integrated employment, and advancing employment services across LTSS programs.
Collaborates with internal and external partners to support systems transformation, disability inclusion, and continuous improvement of employment opportunities and services for TennCare members.
Minimum Qualifications:
OR
Desirable Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in public administration, health administration, social work, business administration, public health, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
Extensive experience leading Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), behavioral health, or other complex healthcare or human services programs.
Demonstrated knowledge of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers, Section 1115 demonstrations, federal CMS requirements, and state Medicaid regulations.
Experience providing executive-level leadership, including supervising managers and leading multidisciplinary teams.
Strong background in contract administration, managed care oversight, vendor management, and regulatory compliance.
Experience developing and implementing strategic initiatives, organizational change, and systems transformation efforts.
Knowledge of value-based purchasing, quality improvement, and data-driven program management.
Experience collaborating with state agencies, managed care organizations, providers, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders.
Understanding of person-centered planning, competitive integrated employment, disability inclusion, and community-based service delivery.
Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Olmstead principles, and Community Informed Choice processes.
Experience interpreting data, audits, and performance reports to identify trends and drive operational improvements.
Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
Ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives, balance competing priorities, and make sound strategic decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Desired Competencies:
Strategic Leadership
Program Administration
Medicaid & LTSS Policy
Systems Transformation
Contract & Vendor Management
Regulatory Compliance
Change Management
Performance & Quality Improvement
Data Analysis & Decision-Making
Stakeholder Engagement
Team Development & Coaching
Collaboration & Partnership Building
Problem Solving
Executive Communication
Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.