Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff – (250003AJ)

Description

About the Organization:

The Department of Telecommunications and Cable (“DTC”), an Agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), regulates the telecommunications and cable industries in accordance with statutory obligations imposed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the federal government. The Department’s mission is to: Oversee the telecommunications and cable industries in accordance with the statutory obligations imposed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the federal government; work to ensure that consumers receive high-quality communications at just and reasonable rates; promote sustainable competition which will increase the welfare of all Massachusetts residents and businesses; maintain and enforce consumer protections, consistent with the public interest, particularly where market forces alone are not sufficient to do so, including investigating and responding to inquiries and complaints from consumers, providers, carriers, and other interested parties; and provide expert input into the development of telecommunications- and cable-related policies for the Commonwealth and the federal government. 

The Department of Telecommunications and Cable is committed to creating and sustaining a work culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and mutually respectful to all its employees regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or disability status. We strive to reflect diversity in all facets and levels of our agency. The Department of Telecommunications and Cable values inclusiveness and diversity within their employee and management teams. Within our community, we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

The Department of Telecommunications and Cable is committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel respected, valued, and empowered to maximize their skills and talents to serve our citizens.

About the Role:

The Chief of Staff reports directly to the Commissioner. The Chief of Staff advises the Commissioner on policy development and prioritization. The Chief of Staff is responsible for managing agency implementation of all policy decisions, working through three direct reports who are the department’s three senior managers: the General Counsel, the Director of the Competition Division, and the Director of the Consumer Unit.

The Chief of Staff is also responsible for advising the Commissioner in the development and execution of the Department’s legislative priorities. The Chief of Staff works with the three senior managers to ensure that the Department develops effective outreach materials and a plan for seeking support for these initiatives.

The Chief of Staff is responsible for the writing and timely filing of all agency reports, including the Department’s Annual Report. The Chief of Staff is knowledgeable of industry, standards and developments in order to develop and implement agency communications with external stakeholders and consumers through various channels, including the website and press inquiries.

The Chief of Staff manages the day-to-day operations of the agency and establishes all associated operational policies. To assess performance, staffing needs, and the ability to provide information efficiently, and to ensure compliance with evolving policy priorities, the Chief of Staff reviews the tracking and metrics of each division. Working as the primary liaison to the Administrative Services Unit at the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, the Chief of Staff will also manage functional area of human resources.

Duties and Responsibilities: (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive)

Policy Development and Implementation

• Work directly with the Commissioner on an ongoing basis on policy development and implementation. Responsible for managing agency policy implementation working with the three senior reporting managers.
• Oversee work of the Director of the Competition Division on relevant policy issues concerning the regulation of Massachusetts telecommunications and cable providers. Particular emphasis on issues concerning competition, deregulation, and consumer protection. Work with the Director to manage investigations to develop regulatory policies that encourage more effective and widespread competition, promote and protect consumer interests, and appropriately address unregulated services.
• Oversee work of the General Counsel and their staff. Issues range from DTC regulation oversight including expertise in VoIP, wireless, wireline, cable, broadband, and other telecommunications technology and emerging law. Division provides legal advice and counsel to the Commissioner through the Chief of Staff. This includes addressing questions regarding telecommunications law, consumer law, and other legal issues as they come to the department’s attention.

Manage the Consumer Division

• Oversee operations of the consumer division. The consumer division has expertise in telecommunications, cable, gas, electric and water and provides consumer support to the Department of Public Utilities through an Intra Agency Service Agreement.
• Ensure that staff respond to the public in a professional manner that is accurate, timely, polite, and efficient. Ensure appropriate staff training for the most up to date information flow.

Human Resources

• Initiate and monitor all agency personnel actions, including the hiring process. Ensure legal
• compliance with all actions.
• Assess the training needs of the employees of the agency to determine areas of need. Plan and implement training programs, including new employee orientation, to address these needs. Conduct and coordinate training programs and seminars that are uniquely suited to DTC agency employees. Work with OCABR to develop and maintain a database of employee training history, including Diversity Training, Sexual Harassment, and Workplace Violence Prevention training, to ensure that the Governor’s and agency’s training goals are met.
• Assist agency managers and union employees in developing and achieving career development goals.
• Ensure that job descriptions and job classifications in each agency division accurately reflect employee job duties. Initiate position reclassification process if appropriate.
• Coordinate the department’s evaluation programs including EPRS and Mass Perform to ensure that periodic milestones are met and job evaluations and the performance of each agency
• employee are reviewed in a timely manner. Develop and implement action plans to maximize individual employee performance.
• Develop and implement agency Affirmative Action and Diversity plans. Report quarterly on agency Diversity and Affirmative Action Plans progress and goal achievement. Serve as agency Diversity and Civil Rights Officer. Work with OCABR to coordinate agency labor/management relations.
• Serve as the agency liaison to the NAGE bargaining unit and ensure agency compliance with union contracts. Investigate and resolve disputes at the Step II grievance level.

Administration

• Write and update the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG) Plan for the agency.
• Ensure appropriate systems are in place for each division to achieve goals and monitor performance.
• Communicate objectives and standards to management and all employees.
• Initiate and assist the Commissioner by developing and recommending agency policies and procedures and the priorities for the agency.
• Act as keeper of the records; oversees the certifying and archiving of records, issuing the Department’s Orders of Notice and ensuring that all legal requirements are met when hearings are scheduled.
• Maintain all records in accordance with applicable rules and laws. Devise and implement plans for optimum conformance, records storage and destruction.

External Relations/Communications

• Define and implement communication strategy for the Department.
• Manage all internal and external communications including preparing, writing and designing communications for the Commissioner for use in meetings with industry leaders, direct reports, the legislature and other government leaders.
• Perform other administrative duties, including special projects as assigned by the Commissioner.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of management, planning, organizing, and research.
• Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques of supervision, employee motivation, and personnel appraisal techniques.
• Knowledge of principles of organizational behavior.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of financial management and budgeting.
• Demonstrated skills in areas of process improvement and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Office Suite and software programs necessary to support the Department’s operations.
• Technical skills to understand professional practices in regulating the telecommunications and cable industry.
• Ability to interact effectively with personnel at all levels of the organization, business leaders, legislators, other government officials.
• Ability to plan, organize and manage the personnel, equipment and budgetary resources to achieve goals and objectives.
• Ability to motivate, train, and lead subordinates.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely and develop ideas in a logical sequence.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Knowledge of procurement, fiscal, human resources and information technology polices and procedures of the Commonwealth preferred.
• Minimum of six years, ideally ten years or more, of full-time or equivalent part-time, supervisory or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration, of which at least 4 years must have been in a senior managerial capacity.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, strong analytical skills, the ability to manage multiple activities and projects simultaneously, and the ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels of the Division, the Directorate, and state government, as well as consumers and stakeholders of the regulated industry.
• Prior supervisory experience in the public sector or within a regulatory environment preferred.
• Individual should have working familiarity with and/or demonstrated interest in the telecom and cable industries.

All applicants should attach a cover letter and resume to their online submission for this position.

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 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.

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!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Official Title: Administrator VIII

Primary Location

: United States-Massachusetts-Boston – 1 Federal St

Job

: Administrative Services

Agency

: Department of Telecommunications and Cable

Schedule

: Full-time

Shift

: Day

Job Posting

: Mar 31, 2025, 1:28:22 PM

Number of Openings

: 1

Salary

: 107,613.69 – 115,000.00 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Arpita Swaroop / Shonda Green – 6173053580

Bargaining Unit: M99-Managers (EXE)

Confidential: No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: Yes

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