Massachusetts Education Jobs

The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas. The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is an Agency within the Executive Office of Education and reports to the Board of Early Education and Care. EEC’s vision is that children, youth, and families reach their full potential now and in the future. EEC’s mission is to, in partnership with families, educators, programs and other stakeholders, use data driven decision-making to inform work around the following objectives: • Family Access: Families have equitable access to quality and affordable early education and care in the communities in which they live, learn, and work. • Program Stability: Early education and care programs are operationally stable and financially sustainable. • Program Quality: Early education and care programs support children’s health and safety and provide high quality environments that are culturally responsive, inclusive, and support children’s learning and development in partnership with families. • Workforce Supports: A diverse field of early educators, leaders, and program staff is competitively compensated and supported by clear professional pathways that promote quality, retention, and advancement. • Agency Infrastructure: EEC has sufficient internal capacity, organizational structures, and diverse perspectives and expertise to carry out its mission and strategic objectives. The Deputy Commissioner of Field Operations is an agency leader tasked with developing and overseeing the field-based initiatives focusing on the key areas: licensing high-quality childcare and residential programs, and enforcing and investigating the agency’s regulations. The Deputy Commissioner for Field Operations is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Department’s five Regional Offices. The Field Operations Unit, housed within these offices, is responsible for the regulation of more than 9,000 licensed providers and 250,000 children on any given day. The teams ensure the health, safety, well-being and quality education of children cared for in all child care settings pursuant to regulatory mandates, including but not limited to family child care; group and school age child care; residential programs; placement agencies; and funded programs. This oversight requires having a regular presence in the five Regional Offices. The incumbent must have exceptional leadership skills and the ability to manage, motivate and optimize the efficiencies of a large and growing team. With the nature of work this position oversees, knowledge of childcare licensing, regulations and policies will be required. The on-site licensing and investigative operations by the agency field staff ensure that the agency’s State and Federal statutory mandates and mission statement are communicated to, and supported within, childcare programs across the Commonwealth, assuring that the highest quality of child care and education is available to children and families in every community from every background and representing all cultures and ethnicities and all social and economic statuses. The Deputy Commissioner will also serve as a key stakeholder in the development of the Department’s evolving licensing ITsystem and will be tasked with developing tracking mechanisms, dashboards and monitoring systems to establish effective, transparent licensing practices, analyze and present data trends to identify programmatic and operational strengths and deficiencies, and develop a systematic, user-centered approach to childcare licensing across the Commonwealth. This process will include the identification of best practice, setting priorities, deploying resources, achieving and maintaining consistency in operations amongst regions and assuring the integrity of the licensing and investigative functions through monitoring and quality controls. The user-centered approach will also ensure families, providers and educators are considered at the forefront when developing these priorities and building new systems. Key Responsibilities: Oversight of Field Operations Activity - Through leadership and oversight of the daily management of the field operations unit, ensure that M.G.L. c.15D is enacted so that every child has a fair and full opportunity to reach her/his full potential by providing and encouraging services which maximize a child’s capacity and opportunity to learn, which strengthen family life, and which support families in their essential function of nurturing a child’s physical, social, educational, moral, and spiritual development. - Set priorities, respond to emergency situations and communicate with the Commissioner and fellow senior staff on issues of importance. - Serve as primary point of contact and leading stakeholder in the development and implementation of updated licensing regulations, requiring strong project management, leadership and change management skills. - Provide oversight and coordination that supports the efforts of the agency to promote safe, quality, and affordable care in the field of early education and care that includes ongoing review and revisions to all aspects of the agency’s field operations and continuous quality improvement efforts including regulations, policies, communication, work products, training and licensing tools for efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. - Oversee all aspects of licensing and monitoring of residential and placement programs and maintain relationships with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Department of Children and Families (DCF), Department of Youth Services, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and other EOE and EOHHS stakeholders in coordinated governance, setting of standards and monitoring. - Manage all aspects of conducting and completing investigations of elevated issues and incidents with the Investigations Unit, including caseload analysis and final approval of recommended actions in coordination law enforcement and other relevant state agencies. - Manage the linkages among licensing regulations, program standards and childcare financial assistance programs by working collaboratively with all Department managers to support the integration of program support systems including EEC grants and quality best practices into field operations. - Develop policies, standards and operations, including associated training opportunities for the field operations unit, that represent nationwide best practices and appropriately utilize agency resources to increase efficiency and seek input from the Department’s external partners to ensure effectiveness. Trend and Data Analysis and Operation Optimization - Develop and implement a systemic approach to review results of licensing and investigation visits in coordination with oversight of the Associate Commissioner for Investigations, Regional Directors and Licensing Supervisors and advise the Commissioner on the trends and patterns in early education program settings in order to determine the appropriate actions of the agency pursuant to the Department’s statutory responsibilities and mission. - Further the professional development of staff in the five Regional Offices by leveraging relevant systems, including information technology (IT) associated with licensing, program supports, and consumer education. - Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for ongoing projects and set accountability standards for licensing and field operations success. Agency Leadership and Thought-Partnering - Serve as a member of the Executive Team, providing vision, direction and subject matter expertise in the strategic planning processes of the agency. - Provide broader engagement to guide the strategic work of the agency. - Work closely with all divisions of the agency to understand different perspectives and priorities and ensure alignment with Commissioner’s and the agency’s vision and mission. - Coordinate and collaborate with other state agencies and executive office staff on cross system initiatives, projects and priorities. External Partnership Fostering - Foster positive working relationships between Department staff and EEC's external partners, including State Agencies, Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grantees, Educator Provider Support (EPS) grantees, unions, provider trade organizations, early education advocates, and parent groups. - Represent the agency, and/or identifies regional staff to participate, in project-specific work groups, task forces and committees. Other duties as assigned. Preferred Knowledge and Abilities: - Proven leadership skills - Knowledge of the principles and practices of early childhood education. - Knowledge of the development of children. - Knowledge of clinical, medical and educational services and programs for children. - Knowledge of casework and clinical services within an early education setting. - Knowledge of the needs of the early education and care service population. - Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion practices - Strong project management skills - Knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of regulatory administration. - Knowledge of licensing and investigation techniques and reports. - Knowledge of the principles and practices of financial management. - Knowledge of principles and practices of employee relations. - Knowledge of the principles and practices of organizational behavior. - Knowledge of the Federal and State laws and regulations governing the functions of the - Department of Early Education and Care. - Knowledge of program operations and service provision processes. - Knowledge of principles and practices of appropriate behavioral management. - Knowledge of the Governmental and Criminal Justice system structures of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. - Knowledge of computer software applications. - Ability to design and implement operations and agency process improvements and redesign - processes. - Ability to interpret policies and procedures in response to requests for information. - Ability to interpret the Department’s policies and procedures to the legislature, provider - agencies, and advocacy groups. - Ability to review and analyze data and research on early education and care trends. - Ability to communicate the Early Education and Care mission and service policy positions. - Ability to manage and supervise employees including motivating, training and disciplining when necessary. - Ability to coordinate the efforts of others in accomplishing group goals. - Ability to understand, apply and interpret the provisions of law, rules, regulations and policies. - Ability to exercise sound judgment. - Ability to deal effectively and tactfully with others. - Ability to handle and disseminate confidential information. - Ability to develop and implement new policies and procedures to achieve goals of the agency. - Ability to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take appropriate action. - Ability to work independently and collaboratively. - Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral presentations. - Ability to mediate conflict, coordinate competing interests, work under time constraints. - Ability to work with high-level state and local officials and other interested parties. Travel is required with this position. Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to Dawn.E.DeRoche@mass.gov MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) seven (7) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least four (4) years must have been in a managerial capacity. *Comprehensive Benefits* When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Job: Education* *Organization: Department of Early Education and Care *Title: *Deputy Commissioner of Field Operations Location: Massachusetts-Boston - 50 Milk St Requisition ID: 2400029X