Director of Operations, Central Region

The Department of Youth Services (DYS), under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapters 18A, 119 and 120, is the juvenile justice agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Department’s mission is to protect the public and prevent crime by promoting positive change in the lives of youth committed to DYS care and custody, and by partnering with communities, families, government, and provider agencies toward this end. The Department accomplishes its mission through interventions that build knowledge, develop skills and promote positive change in the behavior of the youth in DYS care and custody.

The goal of DYS is to focus on youths’ gradual reintegration back to the community as productive citizens. DYS works in partnership with provider agencies, law enforcement and school officials, families, communities and others to ensure that the services provided are effective and that they create pathways to success for the young men and women in DYS care and custody. By working in close collaboration with these entities, DYS can continue to help make communities better and safer places.

The Department of Youth Services has undertaken several program and management restructuring initiatives with the overarching goal of increasing the level of efficiency and effectiveness of Department programs and services. These actions were initiated in order to continue the provision of care and custody of youth under increasing difficult budgetary constraints and the growth in the population of juveniles committed to DYS.

The primary responsibility of the Regional Director of Operations (RDO) is to manage and provide effective oversight of the delivery of treatment services to delinquent youths and youths on a pre-trial status and the efficient operation of its facilities and contracted programming. The RDO is responsible for the day-to-day management of the activities of the Regional Director of Residential Services, the Regional Director of Community Services, the Regional Administrative Manager, the Regional Clinical Coordinator and the Director of Placement and thus the oversight of the delivery of detention and treatment services, including hardware and staffs secure treatment, community re-entry, foster care and independent living. The RDO ensures that youths are appropriately placed in the continuum of care and that programs (both state and provider operated) are functioning effectively and delivering treatment services to DYS youths. The RDO has direct oversight of the Regional Clinical Coordinator and all components of the delivery of clinical services across the continuum of care. The RDO oversees the procurement of services and goods for the Regional Office and all fiscal-related matters, including encumbering and managing the regional allocation of funds and the payment of all vendor invoices and vouchers. Further, the RDO is responsible for developing, in conjunction with the Regional Director, the budget for the Regional Office and oversees the compilation of financial data and reports.

In the absence of the Regional Director, the RDO is responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of all activities and functions in the Regional Office and for exercising an efficient system of control for policy and program development, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and accountability and ensures that all program policy and development and service provision processes function effectively to support the accomplishment of the Department’s mission to work in partnership with communities, families, government and provider agencies to achieve the goal of protecting the public and preventing crime by promoting positive change in the youths committed to DYS care.

The accomplishment of the Department of Youth Services’ mission and vision to promote positive change in the lives of youths committed to DYS care and custody and to provide leadership, information and expertise to ensure a range of high quality services to youths and their families, depends in large part on the fulfillment of the responsibilities of this position. Strong management skills are required in this position. Daily decisions are made that directly affect public safety and client safety. The Regional Director of Operations is responsible for state staff and their ability to manage crisis, major disturbances, mental health medication management and suicide prevention. The DOO is the Chair of the regional client classification system. Classification decisions on the readiness for release of sexually dangerous persons and sex offenders, as well as violent offenders, are a regular responsibility. Capital management of all state facilities, their operation, repair and maintenance is a significant duty. The hiring and training of staff to perform these functions is an ongoing major function.

The Director of Operations assists the Regional Director in the on-going operation and administration of the Central Region Office.

-Assists the Regional Director in the daily operation of the DYS Regional Office.

-Directly supervises the Director Residential Services, the Director of Detention Services, and the Director of Community Services

– Directly supervises the Detention Diversion Specialists.

-Oversees compliance with all licensing standards.

-Oversees the client continuum of care in the Central Region.

-Provide oversight to all facility renovation and construction projects.

-Oversees the client classification process for the Central Region.

-Serves on DYS statewide committees as directed by the Regional Director.

-Oversees the Sexual Offenders Registration process, Youthful Offenders DNA process, and other mandates/statues as directed by the Regional Director.

-Oversees employee compliance with DYS policy and procedures.

– Serves as the Labor Relations liaison for the region

-Assists the managers in the hiring/promoting/staffing of their residential programs/and district offices.

-Assists the managers in developing staff as well as corrective/disciplinary action in conjunction with the Human Resource Department.

Conducts and delegates internal investigations as needed or assigned by the Regional Director

-Oversees compliance with provider contracts and meets with provider executive staff regarding contractual obligations.

-Performs other duties and assignments as directed by the Regional Director.

-Under the direction of the Regional Director, provides supervision to managers and any other specialty positions as assigned.

-Evaluates the quality and effectiveness of the work.

-Helps to develop comprehensive quality assurance programs within the regional office including participation in centralized initiatives.

-Collaborates with other state agencies and community organizations in the shared provision of services to clients.

-Oversees the development, monitoring and evaluation of the local system of care.

-Under the direction of the Regional Director, provides supervision to managers and any other specialty positions as assigned.

-Evaluates the quality and effectiveness of the work.

-Helps to develop comprehensive quality assurance programs within the regional office including participation in centralized initiatives.

-Collaborates with other state agencies and community organizations in the shared provision of services to clients.

-Oversees the development, monitoring and evaluation of the local system of care.

Preferred Qualifications:

-Ability to use mechanical restraints.

-Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.

-Knowledge of Criminal Justice Information (CJIS) System and Criminal Offense Record Information (CORI) processes.

-Ability to make group presentation for educational purposes, as well as the ability to discharge any and all of the stated responsibilities.

-Knowledge of juvenile justice history, philosophy and practice in the care and custody of juvenile offenders.

-Knowledge of services and programs for juveniles committed to DYS Knowledge of the Juvenile Code, regulations, policies and programs

-Knowledge of the needs of the DYS population

-Knowledge of DYS service provision systems

-Knowledge of the principles and practices of financial management

-Knowledge of contract administration policies and procedures

-Knowledge of HR management principles and practices

-Knowledge of the DYS legislation, regulations, policies and programs

-Knowledge of management principles and practices, including the management of staff and professional development

-Knowledge of policy development, program improvement, innovation and integration processes and strategies

-Ability to design and implement policy, program development and program evaluation processes

-Ability to interpret DYS policies and procedures to police departments, courts, probation, advocacy and community groups

-Ability to communicate DYS mission, vision and policy positions

-Ability to lead and support development and implementation of program operations, priorities and service provision improvements

-Ability to respond to policy issues identified by the Assistant Commissioner

-Ability to carry out short- and long-range strategic planning

-Ability to achieve agency goals through effective program planning and coordination

-Ability to work independently and collaboratively

-Ability to communicate effectively, in both written and oral presentation

-Ability to mediate conflicts, coordinate competing interests and work under time constraints

-Skilled in problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and team building

-Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Human Services, Social Services or Public Administration with a minimum of 7 years in a senior management position.

Additional Information

*Please note that salaries for management positions are determined according to the provisions of MGL Chapter 30, Sections 45 and 46C, and by policies outlined in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Salary Administration for Managers, Confidential, and Unclassified Employees (also known as the “Grey Book”).

Working Hours: 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday)

Days Off: Saturday & Sunday (Must be flexible, may be required to work some evenings & Saturdays as well as on-call responsibilities)

Employment is contingent on a Criminal Offense Records Information (CORI) Check.

Minimum Age Requirement: 21 years of age.

Candidate must be flexible and have reliable transportation

May be required to work some evenings.

Pre- Employment Requirements:

Final Candidate must pass a pre-employment screening which includes: 1) Drug Screening; 2) Psychological Screening and 3) Medical Examination. 4) Physical Abilities Test (PAT) for direct care positions. If you would like more information please logon to the DYS website www.mass.gov/dys to access detailed information on the Pre-Employment process.

A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit “http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori” and click on “Information for Job Applicants.”

• Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines
  

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

For questions, please contact the CYF Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #2.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) 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 two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.