The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is the juvenile justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We work with young people who are detained or committed and provide detention, custody, diagnosis, education and support to young people ages 7-21. Most of the youth served are between the ages 14 and 18. The Department promotes positive change for the youth committed to our care, and has been on the forefront of de-institutionalization, in part, by providing adolescent-focused rehabilitation to youth in residential treatment.

Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care. We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families and communities in strategies that support positive youth development.

The Juvenile Justice Enterprise Management System (JJEMS) is the client information system that holds critical demographic, clinical, educational and other data on each DYS client. JJEMS facilitates the execution of the Department’s mission by providing a means to maintain and update client information in real time, including court history, family information, physical and mental health records, educational achievements, placement history, previous contacts with other public agencies and a host of other pertinent information. JJEMS also features reporting capabilities that help inform service delivery to the client population, as well as strategic decision making by agency leadership. JJEMS is used by all DYS state and provider staff.

Duties:

The JRA is the JJEMS subject matter expert for the DYS Central Region. S/he must be able to work independently, prioritize multiple tasks and communicate effectively with a broad set of stakeholders.

The JRA will provide technical guidance, support and training to the DYS programs and service providers throughout the Central region. Direct contact with state and provider staff, departmental officials and contracted entities is a significant aspect of the work.

S/he will collaborate with the JRAs from the other 4 DYS regions (West, Central, Southeast, and Metro) to develop consistent and transparent practices and quality assurance efforts. The JRA will report to the DYS Senior Director of Systems Operations

Duties of the JRA include, but may not be limited to:

• Provision of resources and support to regional leadership and program staff on a regular basis.
• Coordination with central office (Boston) subject matter experts on various JJEMS projects that fall in the expert’s area by participating extensively in the needs assessment and system requirements process of the business and/or clinical applications development and implementation.
• Ensure accuracy of application and systems documentation.
• Thoughtful and thorough analysis of systems issues.
• Motivating and training staff to engage with on-going system enhancements and reporting requirements.
• Analysis of difficult situations and corrective actions that reflect sound judgment.
• Establishment of a rapport with people from different ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds.
• Management of all aspects of JJEMS in the Central Region.
• Collaborate with EHS IT staff in the testing and implementation of new applications, new modules, software upgrades, and reports
• Project management of JJEMS projects including, establish priorities, objectives and goals to meet deadlines, include the key DYS stakeholders and produce quality work produce.
• Provide in-person and/or remote support for DYS staff of varied levels of experience in enterprise management systems.
• Work under time constraints to meet unanticipated demands.
• Develop effective working relationships to best share information and work collaboratively to solve problems and make decisions.
• Participates in staff meetings and training sessions.
• Able to follow up and finish all tasks assigned by supervisor or administration.
• Monitor user access and security for all applications.
• Ensure data quality and enforce expectations with state and provider staff to align with DYS policy.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  Knowledge of JJEMS and operations of the DYS service continuum
• MS Word and MS Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
• Ability to motivate and train staff to facilitate transition to a new application system.
• Ability to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take corrective action.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of professional staff from a variety of juvenile and criminal justice organizations and municipal police agencies.

Preferred Competencies:

• Adaptability; Flexibility, Decision Making/Problem Solving and Initiative.

Weekly Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Transportation Requirement: must have reliable transportation.
Minimum Age Requirement: 21 years

Candidate must be flexible. Employment is contingent on a Background check.

Pre-Hire Process:

Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening which includes:

• Drug Screening
• Psychological Screening
• Medical Examination
• Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

If you would like more information, please logon to the DYS website www.mass.gov/dys to access detailed information on the Pre-Employment process.

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

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.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation: If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Applicants must have at least (A) five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, financial management, or professional experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical), and (B) of which three years must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.

Substitutions:

I. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management, public administration, financial management, or degree related directly to the specialty may be substituted for one year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Graduate or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management, public administration, financial management, or degree related directly to the specialty may be substituted for two years of the required (A) experience.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”): requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. If you decline to vaccinate you will be required to take mitigation measures mandated by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) that are consistent with guidance from the Department of Public Health. Failure to take those mitigation measures, including masking, could lead to discipline, up to and including termination.

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.