Senior Associate Commissioner for Special Education

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Everett, MA

21h • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Associate Commissioner of Special Education is a senior-level position within the Education Secretariat, reporting to the Deputy Commissioner. This role is responsible for coordinating efforts across four special education-related offices: Approved Special Education Schools, the Problem Resolution System, Special Education in Institutional Settings, and Special Education Planning and Policy. The position ensures coherent and consistent support for students with disabilities across the Commonwealth. Key responsibilities include organizing coordination meetings, providing oversight for direct educational services in state facilities, representing the Department in external meetings, serving as the Commissioner's designee to the Autism Commission and the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) Advisory Council, and leading interoffice initiatives. The role also involves strategic planning, policy development, and maintaining expertise in special education through research and engagement with national and federal agencies.

Requirements

• Applicants must have at least seven (7) 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 the seven years of experience, at least four (4) years must have been in a managerial capacity.

Nice To Haves

• Thorough understanding of public policy and educational practice at the district and state level.
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of special education school programming, state and federal special education policies and general supervision.
• Ability to articulate a clear vision of high-quality education for students with disabilities.
• Experience in implementing state and federal laws and program standards.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to effectively establish dialogue with all stakeholder groups.
• Experience and background in a leadership position in a school or district or educational organization.
• 5-10 years of experience with senior level leadership in an educational setting.
• Extensive experience in education policy development and program implementation.
• 5-10 years of experience supervising professional education-related staff.
• MA Special Education Administrator license preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative leadership and supervision to assigned unit offices, including the development of operational plans, oversight of day-to-day operational activities, allocation of budgetary and staffing resources, and supervision and mentoring of subordinate managers to attain goals.
• Strategic planning, including the evaluation of existing programs and the development of new programs, initiatives, and activities to achieve the Department's mission and/or improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Department operations to positively impact students.
• Direct oversight and leadership responsibility of major projects assigned by the Commissioner and/or Deputy Commissioner which involve staff from other Department units and/or staff from other agencies.
• Provide oversight and direction on policy development and implementation on Approved Special Education Schools, the Problem Resolution System, Special Education in Institutional Settings, and Special Education Planning and Policy programming across the agency including coordination across offices within DESE who support Approved Special Education Schools, the Problem Resolution System, Special Education in Institutional Settings, and Special Education Planning and Policy.
• Support the coordination and development of policy related to key governmental agencies and bodies, including the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• Maintain a high level of expertise in the assigned areas of work, including attendance at national conferences, review of relevant research and studies, and discussions with officials in the U.S. Department of Education, OSEP, and other state education agencies, to ensure that Department programs and activities are informed by data-driven research and best practices.
• Ensure that supervised staff, staff elsewhere in the Department, and outside stakeholder groups are communicating effectively and working together in a productive, collegial relationship.
• Represent DESE at meetings with external groups as needed, including presenting at the BESE meetings and with OSEP.
• Coordinate efforts across four special education-related offices (Approved Special Education Schools, the Problem Resolution System, Special Education in Institutional Settings, and Special Education Planning and Policy).
• Coordinate closely with the Monitoring and Compliance Unit.
• Organize coordination meetings of directors and assistant directors of the four special education offices.
• Organize data review meetings with leaders of the four special education offices and the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (three times per year).
• Organize quarterly all special education staff meetings.
• Provide oversight and direction for educational services in facilities maintained by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Youth Services.
• Represent the Department in regular coordination meetings with special education advocacy and professional organizations.
• Serve as the Commissioner’s designee to the Autism Commission and co-chair the Ages 0-14 Subcommittee of the Autism Commission.
• Serve as the Commissioner’s designee to the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) Advisory Council and coordinate the Department’s oversight of the BSEA.
• Co-lead coordinating with OSEP as the Department develops and implements improvements related to General Supervision.
• Support the coordination of efforts with OSEP-provided technical assistance providers in support of General Supervision improvement efforts.
• Direct specific interoffice initiatives that require a high level of oversight and coordination.
• Respond to constituents and present at Board meetings as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

Benefits

• Outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package.
• Work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed