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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. To achieve that vision, EEC's mission is to create the conditions for all children, youth and families to thrive socially, academically and economically.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) reports directly to the Commissioner of Early Education and Care and is responsible for the collaboration between and integration of the agency's internal functions across EEC, as well as creating strategies to operationalize and implement the Department's strategic action plan. 

The COO is a dynamic, operationally-minded leader at the Department, serving on EEC's Executive Leadership Team and supporting mission critical work across Divisions and Units. The COO participates in Department-wide strategic planning, coordination and implementation of programs, policies and procedures and directly oversees multiple significant and high impacts divisions within the agency including Fiscal, Internal Operations, Product Management, Program Integrity and Internal Controls, and Background Record Checks (BRC).

Fiscal responsibilities include: Procurement, Accounts Payable and Contract Management and Budget. The COO ensures integration of A&F functions across the agency, aligning strategy with overall EEC mission. The COO is responsible for connecting A&F functions, such as the annual budget process, with other Divisions, ensuring widespread understanding of the process, and implications of decisions made for effective implementation.

Internal Operations includes all facilities management across EEC's six offices, human resources coordination, labor management, training, and ensuring that staff across the agency have the tools and supports to perform their jobs. The COO must ensure Internal Operation's strategies and cross-department initiatives are inclusive of all staff needs, must bring an equity lens to all hiring and human resource processes, and must ensure realization of intended outcomes in agency wide initiatives. The COO supports the Commissioner in establishing cross-division working groups to enact change in agency culture and climate to promote an inclusive workforce and workplace.

Product Management includes all agency technology initiatives and business systems. Business systems include those supporting agency licensing functions, child care subsidy administration, learning management and credentialing supports, and the background record check process for those seeking to work in early education and care or residential programs and other systems supporting families, programs and educators.  The COO will ensure effective collaboration with business units, subject matter experts, policy and EOEIT staff to align development and system maintenance efforts with the Strategic Action Plan and ensuring business requirements and SOPs are thoughtfully integrated across all divisions and functions across the agency.

The Program Integrity and Internal Controls division establishes and maintains a comprehensive compliance program for the Department. This includes overseeing programs reasonably designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and non-compliance with applicable legal, financial accountability and policy requirements, responding to identified instances of non-compliance, maintaining an organizational culture of compliance and integrity, and supporting continuous improvement in the quality, efficiency and integrity of EEC programs.

The Background Record Checks Unit adjudicates over 90,000 background records checks annually and is responsible for ensuring that checks are completed in alignment with federal and state law. The COO interacts with internal and external stakeholders to develop processes that support timely completion of checks in a manner that is equitable, including regular interface with members of the EEC and EOE Information Technology teams.

Key Responsibilities

Executive-Level Leadership and Management                                                   35%

• Provide strategic direction and management of essential daily operations including oversight and guidance for the Finance, Internal Operations, Product Management, Internal Controls and Program Integrity and BRC teams

• Provide executive leadership in conjunction with and on behalf of the EEC Commissioner in coordination with other Units across the Agency

• Encourage and develop staff through timely feedback and coaching to foster individual professional growth and a collaborative and supportive team culture 

Agency Operational Strategy & Development                                                     35%

• Strategize, design, and implement organizational and operational improvements and projects in collaboration with senior leadership and other EEC business areas

• Develop goals, track metrics, and evaluate performance to increase operational efficiency, improve constituent experience, and achieve agency priorities

• Build positive, collaborative relationships with other agencies, labor unions, vendor partners, advocacy groups, and community providers involved with EEC operations

• Collaborate effectively with other teams to successfully implement new programs, policies, and procedures, often driven by federal or state requirements

• Ensuring the systems designed are responsive to the needs of users with cross-divisional impact

Division-Specific Oversight and Support                                                                                25%

• Oversee the agency's procurement processes to ensure contracts and grants are administered in a timely, efficient manner in compliance with state procurement laws

• Develop and monitor agency operating systems to ensure an effective user experience for internal and external stakeholders/customers

• Oversee the BRC processes and make strategic decisions on improvements to policies and practices

• Develop and monitor operating budget to ensure effective and efficient use of funds 

• Ensure operational and system compliance with state and federal regulations, including implementation of program integrity processes

• Oversee agency staff recruitment and retention efforts that can best promote agency outcomes, high productivity and inclusivity

Other duties as assigned                                                                                                    5%

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of public administration, organizational development, change management and quality improvement

• Experience with oversight of daily operations, strategic planning, process improvement

• Strong record of managing a diverse team of professional staff and senior level managers to address cross-functional challenges and maintain high performance 

• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization, analyze complex programs, and design workable solutions for all stakeholders

• Highly skilled in exercising a high degree of initiative, judgement, discretion, and decision making to achieve objectives

• Ability to balance immediate priorities and urgent needs with the imperative to think strategically and thoughtfully for the longer term

• Experience managing complex, high-profile initiatives

• Proven ability to build relationships across departments and across organizations

• Experience with operations, budget management, contract/vendor management, labor management, and procurement processes, ideally within a public sector organization

• Experience working with complex information technology systems or software

• Thorough, detail-oriented, self-starter with excellent written and oral communication skills

Travel will be required for this position.

Questions regarding this position or the application process please contact martine.laine@mass.gov

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) eight (8) 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 five (5) 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.