Director of Shelter Safety and Background Checks

Director Of Shelter Safety And Background ChecksThe Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) is charged with creating more homes in Massachusetts and lowering housing costs for residents. Formerly known as the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), EOHLC works with municipalities, local housing authorities, non-profit organizations, and development partners to provide affordable housing options, financial assistance, and other support to Massachusetts communities. The Division of Housing Stabilization (DHS) within EOHLC oversees programs that support individuals and households experiencing or at risk of experiencing housing instability. DHS supports programs and services for Massachusetts individuals and people with children (including pregnant people) seeking emergency housing, shelter programs and related services, resources for households at risk of foreclosure or eviction and individuals experiencing domestic violence. The mission of DHS is to make homelessness in Massachusetts rare, brief, and non-recurring.The DHS Director of Shelter Safety and Background Check, (hereinafter known as "the Director"), for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program reports directly to the DHS Chief Operating Officer (COO). The Director is responsible for overseeing the team that ensures safety in the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter program through the management of the CORI check and Warrant check processes. In addition to management of these functions, the Director serves as a primary subject matter expert on safety for the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter program. The Director provides expert safety guidance to DHS senior leaders and/or contracted providers administering shelter services, reviews and updates safety protocols and requirements, and ensures day-to-day operations are aligned with statutory, regulatory, and guidance requirements. The Director will additionally oversee the EA Hearing Specialists who are responsible for gathering and presenting evidence on behalf of EOHLC at Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter hearings where EA applicants and participants are appealing denials, terminations, non-compliances and certain other types of appeals.Duties and Responsibilities (Not All Inclusive):Leadership and OversightThe Director provides oversight and management of the core activities of the Shelter Safety, EA Background Check Unit and the DHS EA Hearings Unit ensuring effective communication and day-to-day partnership with other teams within DHS.Provides leadership, management, accountability, and coaching to the team.CORI Checks at Intake and Eligibility Before PlacementManages the process by which all adults (18 years of age or older) applying for EA Family Shelter as part of a family unit or to be added to a family unit consent to and complete a commissioner-level CORI check.Reviews findings and relays eligibility and placement guidance to the Intake, Eligibility, and Placement team.Manages the adverse decision process including noticing and follow-up.Provides operational support or policy guidance regarding the eSORI check process.Coordinates with the Family Shelter Services team regarding the roster of families whose members require enhanced oversight.CORI Checks in Shelter After PlacementManages the process by which any adults (18 years of age or older) who are already placed in EA Family Shelter and require a CORI check complete the CORI check process.Ensures all persons who turn 18 years of age while participating in EA Family Shelter consent to and complete a commissioner-level CORI check.Review findings and relay required actions as needed.Manages the adverse decision process including noticing and follow-up.Ensures that CORI checks are completed on a recurring basis for all adults requiring enhanced oversight while in shelter.Safety and Policy ProtocolServes as a lead subject matter expert on safety for the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter program.Provides expert guidance to DHS senior leaders and contracted providers administering shelter services.Reviews and updates safety protocols and requirements as needed.Ensures day-to-day operations are aligned with statutory, regulatory, and guidance requirements.Identifies and develops new safety policies for DHS, shelter staff and clients, as needed.Serves as the keeper of the published CORI policy and the "Need to Know" list and maintains lists of which personnel have access to which systems.Tracks completion of Department of Criminal Justice Information Systems (DCJIS) CORI training for all staff accessing CORI data.Ensures protocols, whether used by the CORI/Warrant team or other DHS teams, are aligned with policy regulation, and statute.Proposes revisions to protocols or technology supports when and as appropriate to improve performance and/or outcomes or in response to new directives and requirements.Warrant ChecksEnsures that a check for open warrants is completed on a recurring cadence on all persons currently on the EA Contact List, in Rapid Shelter, or in Bridge Shelter.Reporting & EscalationsServes as the main escalation point person for the CORI check and Warrant processes to the DHS Chief Operating Officer and/or the DHS Assistant Undersecretary for Shelter Systems, or their respective designees.Provides regular reporting to key stakeholder groups.Hearings & AppealsProvides oversight and management of the core activities of the EA Hearings Specialists to ensure effective communication and day-to-day partnership with other teams within DHS.Provides leadership, management, training, accountability, and coaching to the team.Preferred Qualifications:Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and supervision for staff responsible for effectively and efficiently, delivering quality customer service within a trauma-informed service delivery model.Experience managing safety program in the public sector.Experience working with State and Federal programs with complex regulations and policies and the demonstrated ability to develop necessary strategies for effective implementation.Familiarity with the criminal justice system in Massachusetts. Basic knowledge of criminal justice and court processes and terminology used.Prior experience processing and/or reviewing CORI records.Prior experience requesting and/or reviewing Court Dockets, Calendars, and Case Information from information using the MassCourts system.Exceptional negotiation, conflict resolution and coaching skills.Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously through effective planning, delegation and communication.Proficiency with Microsoft productivity tools (specifically Microsoft Excel). Prior experience working with large spreadsheets for client record purposes and data sets.Knowledge and experience in program development, analysis and program evaluation, including the demonstrated ability to anticipate and identify problems and develop solutions that are creative, innovative, and flexible.Understanding of the issues of poverty and diverse, low-income populations.Demonstrated ability to create collaborative partnerships with multiple stakeholders, including community-based organizations, local coalitions, faith-based groups, service providers, and consumers.Experience in project management, involving direct management of multiple workstreams.Excellent verbal and written communication and reporting skills.Experience working within the criminal justice system.Please upload resume and cover letter.This position would be expected to follow a hybrid model of reporting to work that combines in-office workdays and work from home days, as needed.Salary placement is determined by years of experience and education directly related to the position and the Human Resources Division's Recruiting Guidelines. In the case of a promotional opportunity, the salary provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range. 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.A background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.Minimum Entrance Requirements: Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) 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 one (1) year 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