Operations Program Associate Jobs in Madison, WI

Introduction
The Department of Health Services (DHS) , Mendota Mental Health Institute (MMHI) is recruiting for an Operations Program Associate (OPA) that will work in the Food Service Department, which is a large Nutrition Services Department that has a food budget in excess of $1 million and approximately 50 employees, providing food and services to MMHI. This position will work Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.
MMHI is located on the north side of Madison and offers a beautiful campus environment, convenient free parking and an onsite workout facility. MMHI is an inpatient psychiatric facility, with one outpatient program, and is an integral part of the entire Wisconsin mental health service delivery system. Our overall service delivery goal is to provide specialized services in treatment, research, training and consultation.
MMHI is part of the Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS). DCTS is committed to helping all state residents live their best lives through an interconnected web of behavioral health services. Watch this video to learn more about the work of DCTS .
As an employee of the State of Wisconsin, you'll also have access to an amazing benefits package , including:

• 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time; limitations may apply for leave time usage in the first six months.
• Top rated health plan options starting at $47/month for single plans and $117/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service.
• Exceptional pension plan with a 7.2% employer match in 2026 with lifetime retirement payment. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!
• Several flex spending accounts: medical, dependent care, commuter, parking and High Deductible Health Savings.
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program.
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.

Position Summary
As the OPA in Food Service, you will provide a variety of support services to the Nutrition Services Department. You will be responsible for:

• Compiling the official meal report and other Nutrition Services reports,
• Implementing purchasing protocols for Nutrition Services,
• Implementing various Human Resource functions for Nutrition Services,
• Providing administrative support to the Nutrition Services Administrator and other Nutrition Services personnel.

In this position, you will be solely responsible for the development, oversight, and review of the MMHI Conference Center and adjacent meeting room (J-area). You will work independently with internal and external partners to schedule use of the Conference Center and J-area for up to 250+ people as well as ensure the Conference Center and J-area usage is maximized and meets the needs of a wide variety of individuals. Additionally, you will work with IT, Education Resources, Environmental Services, Management Services, Food Service, and Security employees to ensure events are managed in a safe and productive manner.
Salary Information
The starting pay for this position is $22.76 per hour ($47,300 per year), plus excellent benefits. A 12-month probationary period is required.
Pay for current or former state employees will be set based on the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction. This position is in pay schedule and range 02/11.
Job Details
All applicants will be required to allow the DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any convictions may be related to the job being filled.
All appointees will be required to receive a TB test, which will be administered by MMHI or medical personnel approved by the facility prior to their start date.
DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire. DHS is not an E-Verify employer nor a STEM-OPT eligible employer.
Qualifications
Minimally qualified applicants will have all of the following:

• Experience using Microsoft Office products (Excel, Access, Word, Outlook, etc.) to perform duties such as tracking data, data entry, preparing written correspondence, responding to emails, etc.
• Experience organizing events (e.g., scheduling, communicating with participants, task tracking, etc.).
• Experience performing office management or administrative duties (e.g., scheduling meetings, reviewing/filing documents, etc.).

Well-qualified applicants will also have one or more of the following:

• Experience handling confidential or sensitive information such as personal identifiable information (PII).
• Experience using food service software systems (e.g., CBORD) or electronic health record software (e.g., EHR) to review or maintain records.
• Experience providing customer service in a professional or business setting (e.g., providing instructions, answering questions, resolving customer complaints, etc.).
• Experience with cash handling and reconciling.

Your letter of qualifications and resume are limited to two (2) pages each. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here .
How To Apply
Applying is easy! Click "Apply for Job" to start your application process. Sign in to your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.
Information:

• Once your application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click "Save" to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline.
• You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
• You will be required to attach your current resume and Letter of Qualifications in a Word or PDF compatible format and answer one or more questions.
• Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above.
• Please monitor your email for communications related to this position.
• Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered.
• If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs .
• For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions . For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Shea O'Malley in Human Resources at shea.omalley@dhs.wisconsin.gov .

DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on veterans' hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran's affairs, click here .
Deadline to Apply
The deadline to apply is June 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am - 4:30 pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.