Pros
As a major player in the health and human services industry, there are opportunities for exposure to different lines of business to broaden your experience. The Denver satellite office (formerly Policy Studies, Inc.) is in a great location with an easy walk to 16th Street Mall, Union Station, the Pepsi Center, and Coors Field. There are a surprising number of bright, helpful employees who have stuck around over the years for various reasons who, when able to rise above the nastiness of daily work life, are quite enjoyable to know!
Cons
I left Maximus for two main reasons: (1) 2 years under Maximus' ownership made it painfully clear that the company's mission is not "Helping the Government Serve the People," but "Helping the Executive Leaders and Stockholders Make a Lot of Money from Taxpayers;" and (2) the culture in the Denver office is toxic and demoralizing (my understanding from friends and associates who still work there is that not much has changed since I left). In Denver's IT Department in particular, expect long hours, unrealistic expectations (no, you cannot build a Cadillac on a bicycle budget, even if that's what you promised the client and stakeholders), out-of-touch management, business processes that virtually guarantee conflict between IT and Operations, lack of accountability for unprofessional conduct (it's kind of hard to hold the rank and file accountable when poor behavior is routinely displayed by middle and upper management), and low morale. There is a pervasive "CYA" mentality due to constant backstabbing, manipulation of facts, poor communication and lack of leadership/vision. I hold upper management fully responsible for fostering and maintaining such an environment, in particular because they have a habit of ostracizing and even firing people who raise concerns or challenge the status quo. All in all, it was a terrible place to work by the time I left. I literally felt a huge weight lift when I settled into a new position elsewhere and realized just how much working at Maximus had negatively impacted me. Having been gone for awhile now, I can honestly say that despite having to leave an industry in which I invested 12+ years of my life and about which I'm passionate (did I mention they make you sign a far-reaching non-compete agreement if you want any raises or to be eligible for promotion?), as well as having to say goodbye to a number of great co-workers and friends, leaving Maximus was one of the best personal decisions I've ever made.
