Senior Associate Commissioner for Strategy, Monitoring and Compliance

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Everett, MA

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Associate Commissioner of Strategy, Monitoring and Compliance is a senior level position, serving on cabinet, and reporting to the Deputy Commissioner. The Senior Associate Commissioner of Strategy, Monitoring and Compliance will be responsible for three large offices at DESE\: the Office of Public School Monitoring, the Office of Problem Resolution and the Office of Planning, Strategy, and Research. The role will be to coordinate efforts across these three offices to align the fiscal and programmatic monitoring efforts of DESE, to implement the DESE's research agenda aligned to the Commissioner's strategic vision, to oversee DESE's federal grants office, and to coordinate DESE's response to general education complaints made to the Problem Resolution system. This position will be responsible for providing cabinet-level oversight of DESE's statewide monitoring activities to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. For the Office of Public School Monitoring, this is done through reviews of special education and civil rights policies, procedures, and practices in order to support district efforts to build equitable and inclusive educational systems that meet the diverse needs of all students. For the Office of Planning, Strategy, and Research, this is done through programmatic and fiscal monitoring of district's federal entitlement grants and district plans associated with the implementation of the state Student Opportunity Act. This role requires supporting the reporting offices in interpreting and applying complex federal and state requirements consistently across diverse educational settings; identifying areas of noncompliance, issuing findings, and developing corrective action plans that address both procedural and systemic issues; and providing targeted technical assistance and guidance to support districts in achieving sustained compliance and improving outcomes for students. This role will provide cabinet-level oversight of non-special education complaints and complaints against DESE itself filed with DESE's Problem Resolution System. The Problem Resolution System ensures that students, families, school districts, and other community members have easy access to information regarding learners' rights and educational options and to a forum for the resolution of disputes that is prompt, accurate and fair. The Senior Associate Commissioner will be asked to implement systems and practices to respond to complaints in a timely and efficient manner. Coordinating with the Senior Associate Commissioner of Special Education, the Senior Associate Commissioner of Strategy, Monitoring and Compliance will support coordination with OSEP as the Department develops and implements improvements related to General Supervision that OSEP will review during a scheduled onsite monitoring visit in 2026. This role will align the Department's research agenda with the Commissioner's strategic vision by partnering with the education research community to evaluate DESE initiatives, identify specific areas of value-add, and identify areas of future collaboration. Finally, the Senior Associate Commissioner of Strategy, Monitoring and Compliance will direct specific interoffice initiatives that require a high level of oversight and coordination to implement the strategic vision of the Commissioner.

Requirements

Applicants must have at least (A) 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 which (B) 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 education school programming, state and federal education laws. roles, and policies and general supervision;
Ability to articulate a clear vision of high-quality education for all students;
Experience in implementing state and federal laws and program standards;
Excellent communication skills and ability to effectively establish dialogue with all stakeholder groups; and,
Experience and background in a leadership position in 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.

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 Public School Monitoring.
Problem Resolution, and Planning, Strategy, and Research programming across the agency including coordination across offices within DESE who support data and Public School Monitoring, Problem Resolution, and the Office of Planning, Strategy, and Research.
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 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.
Other duties as assigned by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner (e.g. responding to constituents, presenting at Board meetings, etc.)
Represent DESE at meetings with external groups as needed.

Benefits

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.
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