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 which 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. To achieve that vision, EEC’s mission is to create the conditions for children, youth and families to thrive socially, academically and economically.

EEC is the lead agency for all early education and care services and funding in the Commonwealth, charged with administering the federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) monies provided to Massachusetts. This block grant provides child care subsidies to more than 50,000 low-income families to help ensure they can work and stay employed, while ensuring that children are getting the high-quality early education needed to prepare them for success in school and in life.

EEC is focused on strengthening and promoting the diverse early education and care sector in Massachusetts. EEC licenses, monitors, and provides technical assistance to the nearly 9,000 early education and care programs and agencies that serve children and youth, including family child care programs and center-based programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, out-of-school time programs, residential group care facilities, temporary shelters, and placement agencies for foster care or adoption services.

The Director of Workplace Planning will report to the Deputy Commissioner of Internal Operations and will support both how we work today and help shape the future of work within EEC. The Director will oversee how our office spaces can meet the day-to-day needs of our staff through budgeting, procuring, and managing supplies and assets and will oversee the operational processes and procedures related to physical space and related support for the six EEC offices across the Commonwealth. They will also specifically manage the day-to-day operations of the Central Office including direct supervision of two administrative support staff.

The Director will also support the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer with the development of EEC’s Future of Work and leasing strategy and, using detailed project management skills, work closely with DCAMM and EEC Regional Directors to source and outfit offices, including coordinating and structuring agency office moves.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Facilities Strategy & Support

• Develop leasing strategy for EEC’s physical presence, including an assessment of current state business needs, in line with the Commonwealth’s Future of Work model
• Support each Office Manager in the management of their offices through liaising with building management and landlords
• Establish and maintain consistent policies for facility operations including visitor policies and emergency response

Project Management

• Manage the lease procurement process for new leases and lease amendments
• Coordinate all office relocations
• Maintain awareness and proactivity as it relates to expiring office leases
• Collaborate with other state agencies as they relate to office moves (DCAMM, OSD, BSB, etc.)
• Create scopes of work for potential vendors to be contracted with for moves, furniture, trash pick-up, etc.
• Manage expectations of staff impacted through thoughtful planning, coordination and communication

Budget & Asset Management

• Maintain asset inventory list for office equipment, furnishings, audio/visual equipment, systems and services
• Set and maintain a system for requesting services calls for any equipment that experiences an operational failure
• Create resources for management and use of assets including videoconferencing equipment and printer/scanners
• Create and maintain processes by which supply orders are initiated, reviewed, and approved for each EEC office
• Establish standardization amongst purchases and staff supplies
• Coordinate the record retention and archiving schedule and annual pick-up and destruction of files through guidance from the records retention board and Legal

General Management

• Supervision of staff including regular meetings for oversight and guidance, evaluation including EPRS documentation, and supporting employee growth and professional development.

Other duties as assigned.

Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to Dawn.E.DeRoche@mass.gov

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.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!