First Deputy Commissioner of Probation

Massachusetts Trial Court•Boston, MA

21h

About The Position

Working within the Central Office of the Massachusetts Probation Service, the First Deputy Commissioner reports to and directly supports the activities of the Commissioner of Probation in providing management and general oversight for all Massachusetts Probation Service operations across five departments of the Massachusetts Trial Court. The First Deputy Commissioner assists the Commissioner of Probation as a key member of the senior leadership team, and in that role establishes priorities and leads the agency in achieving its vision, mission, organizational goals, and its highest possible level of performance. The First Deputy works with the Commissioner and rest of the senior leadership team to ensure that sound policy and practice, performance benchmarks and professional standards are set and adhered to by all Probation Service divisions, programs and offices. The First Deputy Commissioner is responsible for setting the framework, programmatic goals, and general guidelines of ongoing programs, including those related to all Specialty Courts and the Electronic Monitoring Program (ELMO). The First Deputy Commissioner also reviews all audits with regard to any sanctioned Probation Service programs that have been instituted by the Office of the Commissioner of Probation. The First Deputy Commissioner also assists in providing strategic planning and policy development for probation program development and addresses various required resources and other needs for ongoing programs in local probation divisions.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree is required, with a graduate degree in the behavioral sciences, law, criminal justice, education, administration, or management strongly preferred.
10 years of professional work experience in probation, law, corrections, parole, or other criminal justice or human services position directly involved in program design, planning, development and implementation. A minimum of 5 of those years must be at a senior organizational management level or higher.
Must have a background that demonstrates a history of regular professional development; including a record of initiating best practices, evidence-based policies, new efficiencies, and innovative technologies to enhance probation or other human services.
Demonstrated leadership skills
Demonstrated ability to oversee and coordinate the management of a large number of staff functioning in a variety of organizational levels
Demonstrated ability to manage a complex, multi-site organization
Demonstrated ability to manage a complex organization with multiple operational and functional responsibilities
Demonstrated ability to translate research into practice with demonstrated ability to manage complex programmatic and operational development from conception through implementation and ongoing functioning with fidelity.
Demonstrated ability to use data to design, develop implement and manage ongoing operations and operational performance
Demonstrated ability to use data to diagnose problems and drive enhancements and efficiencies in departmental operations
Ability to access and use research to design, develop and implement probation related programming
A demonstrated understanding of best practices in corrections, community corrections and human services operations and administration
Demonstrated abilities to engage and work cooperatively and effectively with criminal justice and human service system stakeholders, constituencies and partners.

Responsibilities

Assists and supports the Commissioner in agency wide leadership to and management of the Massachusetts Probation Service
Through management and oversight, ensures the effectiveness of ongoing functions, operations, programs and services
Helps lead the organization in the development and implementation of programmatic goals, objectives, policies and professional standards for all Probation Services functions, operations, programs and services
Helps lead the organization in establishing ongoing monitoring and evaluation of operational effectiveness, adherence to MPS polices and practice standards, to Massachusetts Trial Court policies and practice standards as well as insuring operations within the framework established by governing laws
Develops systems to recognize outstanding performance and takes action to continuously improve performance of Probation Service employees and programs consistent with Trial Court policy and procedure
Adopts methods for effective use of staff and improved programs and practices through the development of special skills, training, supervision, and service delivery techniques
Helps ensure that Probation’s administrative services – fiscal, human resources and labor management, information technology, training and communications - are administered and managed to support the mission and effective operation of the Service.
Ensures that all Probation authorized programs comply with all state and federal occupational and public safety and regulations and policies
Prepares a variety of correspondence, reports, policies, procedures, program documentation and other written materials
Conducts probation staff conferences and meetings, as necessary
Represents the Commissioner of Probation internally and externally, as needed, and acts as Commissioner in his/her absence
Collaborates with law enforcement, court system, human/social service and other local/state organizations, stakeholders and agencies within probation’s sphere of operations
Leads initiatives and studies seeking ways to identify methods of enhancing delivery of programmatic services by the probation personnel
Serves in a lead capacity providing strategic planning and policy development of probation services
Performs such other duties as may be assigned by the Commissioner of Probation in accordance with the guidelines, policies and standards of the Massachusetts Probation Service.