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.  

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. EEC’s 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 children’s health and safety and provide high quality environments that are culturally responsive, inclusive, and support children’s 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, wit