Associate Director of Academic and Regulatory Affairs

Job Description

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 Public Higher Education System

The Massachusetts System of Public Higher Education ("System") enrolls approximately 260,000 students in credit-bearing programs annually. The System consists of 15 community colleges, 9 state universities, and 5 University of Massachusetts ("UMass") campuses. The Board of Higher Education (BHE) has coordination and oversight responsibilities for the entire System, and the BHE, together with each respective Board of Trustees, expects all students, faculty, and staff to be held to exacting standards in the performance of their roles and responsibilities.

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education ("Board" or "BHE") is the Commonwealth's higher education authority with coordinating and regulatory responsibility for all public and private higher education institutions operating in the Commonwealth that are authorized to grant degrees. The BHE is staffed by the Department of Higher Education (DHE), which is run by a Commissioner who serves as the executive and administrative head of the department. Together, the BHE and DHE are the leading voice and advocate for postsecondary education in the Commonwealth.

In addition, the BHE and DHE's authority includes administering state financial aid and federal grant programs; managing and responding to consumer complaints; conducting financial assessments of institutions; managing employee relations and benefits for public higher education employees; managing collective bargaining contracts with state university and community colleges employees; and approving degree-granting authority for all public and most private higher education institutions operating within the Commonwealth. Currently, there are 80 private institutions of higher education operating in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees.

• Facilitate academic program quality through the review of new degree proposals made by institutions of higher education ("IHEs") institutions of higher education ("IHE") in the public, independent, and out-of-state sectors, including working with Board staff, chief academic officers and faculty to facilitate proposal preparation, assessing applications for new programs, developing Visiting (external review) Committees, communicating with institutions and Visiting Committees, and preparing summary reports and motions for the Board.

• Manage administrative aspects of the review process, including but not limited to institutional invoicing and payment; Visiting Committee assembly, charging, and member invoicing; virtual and physical site visit arrangements; facilitating Visiting Committee reports, institutional response, and Board motions and supporting documents; and ensuring issuance of staff final recommendations regarding approval.

• Post public notices for IHEs proposing to grant degrees in Massachusetts, including proposals from new institutions of higher education seeking initial degree-granting authority; existing IHEs seeking to add new degrees; IHEs seeking to change their name; and administrative revocations of the degree-granting authority of IHEs authorized to grant degrees in Massachusetts but no longer doing so.

• As directed, participate in managing workflow and communications with institutions engaged in contingency planning under the Board's Financial Assessment and Risk Monitoring (FARM) regulations. Attend regular departmental FARM meetings. Organize Academic Affairs follow-up items emanating from those meetings.

• Participate in the Department's cross-divisional interdisciplinary Financial Risk Assessment and Monitoring (FARM) team. Other participants include staff from the department's financial, academic affairs, legal, and financial aid teams who work in related areas to achieve the goals of the FARM initiative. The Associate Director will help to coordinate this cross-divisional work, and will assist the Deputy Commissioner for Administration, Finance and Operations, and to the Chief Legal Counsel, as needed, to fulfill the Department's related statutory and regulatory responsibilities.

• As directed, review Notices of Closure for adherence to regulatory requirements and any specific department-generated actions or requirements.

• Participate in investigations and in implementing outcomes from investigations related to the Board's regulations at 610 CMR 2.00.

• Set up procedures for monitoring, reporting, and correspondence on matters the division is responsible for, such as contingency closure planning and post- new institution approval annual or other reporting.

• Answer queries from out-of-state institutions seeking information about program approval for online and hybrid programs available to Massachusetts residents.

• Assist in responding to general inquiries to the department that fall into the area(s) of program approval and regulatory affairs.

• Prepare/update and manage workflow for authority letters requested by approved IHEs.

• Prepare and send follow-up reminders to for-profit institutions on annual reporting requirements and track institutional compliance.

• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply complex regulations and interpret them in unique or novel contexts.

• Demonstrated ability to draft and edit reports, correspondence, and analytical memoranda in an organized, clearly presented style with attention to detail. Note: Finalists may be asked to present one or more professional writing samples.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly with a variety of constituents and stakeholders.

• Prior experience in regulatory affairs, higher education administration, accreditation, or compliance, or a combination.

• Ability to plan, organize, and track work using core project-management principles, including defining scope, milestones, and deliverables aligned with agency priorities.

• Demonstrated skill in managing tasks and timelines in a structured, transparent way, with comfort coordinating across teams to keep projects on track.

• Familiarity with common project-management tools and digital work platforms (e.g., Asana, Trello, Smartsheet, MS365 tools) and the ability to adopt new tools as needed.

• Aspires to lead by and practice the DHE Values and Behaviors and commits to embodying them through continued learning and personal growth.

• Experience working with diverse teams and leveraging their unique perspectives to achieve positive outcomes.

• Demonstrated experience in creating an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued.

• Promotes a collaborative workplace climate.

• Higher education campus-based experience in regulatory affairs, higher education administration, accreditation, or compliance, or a combination.

• Experience in committee, task force, or similar work requiring a high degree of independent, proactive organization and follow-up.

• One Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts.

• In-state hybrid work, with a minimum of one in-person day each week.

• Some in-state travel

• Resume

• Cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in the position