Director of Background Record Check Operations

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.

Education

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. EECs vision is that children, youth, and families reach their full potential now and in the future. EECs 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 childrens health and safety and provide high quality environments that are culturally responsive, inclusive, and support childrens learning and development in partnership with families.
• Workforce Supports: A diverse field of 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 Director of Background Record Checks (BRC) provides management of and legal support to the Background Record Checks Unit and Contact Center. They oversee the daily operations of a unit of over 55 staff by providing strong leadership and legal expertise.

The Director is an experienced, operationally minded leader who has a proven record of assessing existing processes, reviewing data, analyzing trends and taking feedback from subject matter experts to review and improve complex workflows. They have a background or understanding of the criminal justice system and can utilize their legal expertise to review regulations, create policies and provide guidance to manager of the BRC and Contact Center teams.

Key Responsibilities

Management & Leadership of BRC & Contact Center

• Provide leadership to the BRC Manager and team to ensure regulations are appropriately enforced, policies are followed, and working procedures are established for effective and timely processing of background checks.
• Provide leadership to the Contact Center Manager and team to ensure excellent customer service and accurate and timely delivery of information for BRC candidates and programs.
• Advise the BRC Manger and the Contact Center Manager on escalated issue resolution.
  
  

Improve & Maintain Operational Efficiency

• Oversee the development and refinement of policies, working procedures and trainings to ensure efficient, effective, and timely review of background record checks.
• Serve as a member of steering committees and leadership teams to identify areas for collaboration across agency units to improve working relationships and efficiencies in the BRC process.
  
  

Provide Legal Expertise

• Make determinations, with support from the General Counsel, on complex BRC reviews to determine if individuals should be deemed suitable.
• Provide recommendations on policy, working procedure, and regulation changes with a legal lens.
• Support the Legal team on providing information subject to public records requests and media inquiries.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Membership in the Massachusetts Bar
• Prior legal experience, specifically in education preferred
• Knowledge of the needs of the early education and care service population
• Ability to set priorities and identify and implement strategies
• Ability to facilitate and support team building activities
• Ability to review and analyze data and identify trends
• Ability to interpret statistical data correctly and draw sound conclusions
• Ability to lead and support the development and implementation of program operations priorities
• Ability to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take appropriate actions
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to mediate conflict, coordinate competing interests, and work under time constraints
• Ability to work with high level state and local officials and other interested parties
• Skilled in problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and team building
• Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques of strategic planning, project management and operational effectiveness
• Knowledge of the organization, goals, objectives, and programs of the Department of Early Education and Care
• Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines governing agency operations
• Knowledge of the organization of state government
• Strong communication skills, both in public speaking and in writing
• Ability to develop and implement new policies and procedures to achieve agency goals and objectives
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of management, including planning, organizing, directing, motivating, controlling, and decision making
• Ability to coordinate the efforts of others in accomplishing assigned work objectives
• Ability to understand, apply, and interpret the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines governing the agency and its operation
• Ability to write and develop ideas, as well as give written and oral instructions, interpretations and statements in a precise, understandable manner
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships and deal tactfully with others
• Ability to analyze information, anticipate difficult situations and take action or make recommendations to prevent problems from occurring and/or correct the situation
  
  

As a condition of employment, you must be deemed suitable to access criminal data by Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) based on an extensive criminal background verification conducted by DCJIS. If DCJIS determines that you are not suitable to access this data, an adverse employment action, up to and including termination, may issue.

Travel will be required for this position.

Questions regarding this position, or the application process, should be directed to .

Minimum Entrance Requirements

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

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.

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