The Child Advocate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description

The Child Advocate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is an influential leadership role dedicated to ensuring that the child-serving executive agencies deliver timely, safe, and effective services. The Child Advocate ensures that children in the care of the Commonwealth receive services that promote safety, dignity and well-being. This critical position is charged by the Legislature with examining on a system-wide basis the care and services that executive branch agencies provide children, and advises the public and those at the highest levels of state government about how to improve services to children and families. The Child Advocate must be a highly experienced and respected professional who can provide leadership, influence high-level decision makers and have a broad vision for the child welfare system. The Child Advocate is a leader to those both inside and outside of state government and is a voice for children experiencing adversity and/or affected by trauma, working to ensure their health, safety and opportunity.

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and management of the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), ensuring alignment with its mission and statutory responsibilities.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson for the OCA in interactions with the Governor's Office, Legislature, Cabinet Secretaries, agency leadership, stakeholders, the media, and the public.
• Appear and testify before legislative committees, participate in public events, and represent the OCA in meetings across public and private sectors.
• Develop and recommend legislative and policy changes to improve services for children and families across the Commonwealth.
• Lead the development and implementation of the OCA's strategic plan and guide major projects and initiatives.
• Promote public awareness and understanding of the OCA's work through education, community engagement, and outreach to constituent groups.
• Oversee the preparation and publication of the OCA Annual Report, ensuring accurate and transparent reporting on the office's activities and findings.
• Oversee review of Critical Incident Reports (CIRs) and reports of abuse and neglect in out-of-home settings, and operation of Helpline.
• Determine which critical incidents to investigate and oversee investigations and publication of investigative reports.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with key partners across child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, education, and judicial systems.
• Manage and supervise OCA staff, including the Deputy Director and Counsel, with responsibility for recruitment, development, and retention of staff.

• Master's degree in a related field such as public administration, social work, public health, behavioral health, healthcare administration, human resource management or business administration; Minimum ten (10) years' experience in areas related to child welfare and juvenile justice.
• Professional degree (and relevant licensure/board admissions) and professional experience relevant to that degree (e.g., J.D., M.D., Ph.D., M.S.W. or equivalent).
• Extensive leadership experience in child welfare, child advocacy, behavioral health, legal services, human services systems, or related nonprofit organizations.
• Proven ability to work independently and impartially, with sound judgment, integrity, and objectivity, in compliance with statutory duties.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and a deep understanding of the needs of children and families interacting with state systems.
• Understanding of applicable state and federal regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex issues and develop practical, result-oriented solutions.
• Experience engaging with high-level state government officials, agency leadership, legislators, and the public.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to a variety of diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace.
• Familiarity with Massachusetts child-serving agencies, the landscape of services and supports available to children in the Commonwealth as well as the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) agencies, programs, and priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, data management tools, and relevant HR or project management systems.