Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety

Job Description

About the Organization:

The Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL), an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), protects consumers by making sure the professionals they hire comply with state licensing laws. DOL oversees 26 boards of registration, which license and regulate more than 500,000 individuals and businesses to practice over 100 trades and professions. DOL also licenses and regulates the Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI), and the Office of Private Occupational Schools.

The mission of DOL is to protect the public health, safety and welfare by licensing qualified individuals and businesses to provide services to consumers. In addition, it is the duty of the DOL to ensure fair and consistent enforcement of the licensing laws and regulations. DOL seeks to promote consumer protection, a fair and competitive marketplace, and education and outreach.

The Division of Occupational Licensure 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 Division of Occupational Licensure 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 Division of Occupational Licensure 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 Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Inspections ("Deputy Commissioner") primary role is to be an enabling agent for the Commissioner to carry out the Commissioner's overall duties and responsibilities in meeting the Agency's mission. Specifically, the Deputy Commissioner oversees the following units: the Elevator Inspection Unit; the Building Inspection Unit, including the Building and Engineering Division and a team of state Plumbing and Sheet Metal inspectors; the Board of Building Regulations and Standards ("BBRS"), including the Building Official Certification Committee ("BOCC") and the Building Code Appeals Board ("BCAB"); The Architectural Access Board ("AAB"); and the Public Safety Boards Unit. The Deputy Commissioner also oversees policy development on behalf of DOL, OPSI and the boards under the Deputy Commissioner's portfolio. More generally, the Deputy Commissioner works with the Deputy Commissioner of Boards, Operations, and Policy, the First Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff and the General Counsel to manage and oversee various other initiatives, policies and hiring affecting the Agency and its programs.

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

Oversight of the operations and policies of the units within the Deputy Commissioner's portfolio.

• Manage, supervise and provide support to unit staff, most of whom work in the field with occasional in-office meetings.
• Monitor priorities, establish benchmarks for performance and document accomplishments, ensuring they are aligned with the goals of the Commissioner and the current Administration.
• In coordination with the General Counsel, manage and oversee all enforcement actions, policies, and initiatives for assigned programs.
• Work with the other Deputy Commissioners, Chiefs, and Executive Directors to ensure that that the boards, commissions, managers and staff under their supervision are appropriately responsive to the needs of external stakeholders, including consumers, licensees, representatives of the regulated professions, the legislature and the press.
• Work closely with the First Deputy and Chief of Staff to ensure proper oversight and delivery of external and internal communications.
• Address and strategically advise on unit and board-specific issues.
• Manage the agency's fleet.
• Respond to events and issues in a timely and efficient manner.

• Through the Chief of Inspections and Assistant Chief of Inspections, ensure that inspections, permits and enforcement actions are being performed in a timely manner, that work is documented and that any necessary follow-up to open matters occurs.
• In coordination with the Chief and Assistant Chief, recruit, screen, and interview for open staff positions.
• Effectively supervise the Chief of Inspections and Assistant Chief of Inspections. Utilize the MassPerform system to evaluate and motivate direct reports.
• Effectively promote compliance by staff and units with respect to their roles and responsibilities, public records law, state ethics law, codes of conduct, and administrative procedures.
• Establish, deploy, and oversee policies to track internal progress by all state inspectors and related programs. Assist with business process assessment and software improvements to increase the collection of better data and use of data analytics.
• Respond to events and issues in a timely and efficient manner.

• Through the Chief of Elevator Inspections and Assistant Chief of Elevator Inspections, ensure that inspections, permits and enforcement actions are being performed in a timely manner, that work is documented, and that any necessary follow-up to open matters occurs.
• In coordination with the Chief and Assistant Chief of Elevator Inspections, recruit, screen, and interview for open staff positions.
• In coordination with the Chief and Assistant Chief of Elevator Inspections, support the Board of Elevator Regulations, the Board of Elevator Appeals and the Board of Elevator Examiners.
• Effectively supervise the Chief of Elevator Inspections and Assistant Chief Elevator Inspections. Utilize the MassPerform system to evaluate and motivate direct reports.
• Effectively promote compliance by staff and units with respect to their roles and responsibilities, public records law, state ethics law, codes of conduct, and administrative procedures.
• Establish, deploy, and oversee policies to track internal progress by the Elevator Unit. Assist with business process assessment and software improvements to increase the collection of better data and use of data analytics.
• Respond to events and issues in a timely and efficient manner.

• Through the Executive Director and Associate Executive Director, administer the BBRS and up to 15 subcommittees, BCAB and BOCC, by drafting and revising the State Building Code, licensing and certifying professionals within the industries regulated by these boards and ensuring the integrity of trades and professions through the fair and consistent enforcement of applicable rules and regulations including, when necessary, through disciplinary action.

• Working directly with the Commissioner, First Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff and General Counsel, engage in policy development and implementation.
• Recommend, execute, and implement OPSI and DOL policy initiatives.
• Oversee the review of existing Board or unit regulations to ensure consistency with the current Administration's policy initiatives and with other agencies that may have adjacent or overlapping jurisdiction. Monitor regulations in the review process. Work closely with staff to conduct necessary outreach.

• Supervises the Architectural Access Board's Executive Director and, through the Executive Director, AAB staff.
• Ensure the timely processing of variance requests and complaints.
• Coordinate with the Chair to evaluate the performance of the Executive Director and staff.

• Work with the Commissioner, First Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff and General Counsel on legislation affecting the boards, units, and the Agency.
• Coordinate with the Deputy Commissioner for Boards, Operations, and Policy on Agency procurements.

• Coordinate with senior staff on legislation, policy initiatives, regulations and other significant matters.
• Schedule and attend meetings with agencies that the DOL routinely collaborates with, including but not limited to, DCAMM, DPH, MBTA, MassPort, and others.
• Assist with responses to press inquiries and Public Records Requests as necessary.
• Assist Executive Directors with outreach to industry associations and trade groups.

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of management.
• Thorough knowledge of the legislative and regulatory process.
• Thorough knowledge of state government and the budget process.
• Thorough knowledge of DOL and the Office of Public Safety and Inspections.
• Thorough knowledge of policy development and implementation.
• Excellent communication skills, both in oral and written forms, with a broad range of audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, associates, subordinates, board members and advisory council members, and other agencies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.