Job Openings

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

02/25/2021

Director of Orientation and Mobility - (210001I6)

Description

The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as Director of the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) unit. The Director of O&M will manage the unit’s programmatic activities that promote, enhance, and contribute to the agency’s mission for consumers who are blind, Deafblind, and/or blind with intellectual disabilities. This position is based in the MCB Boston office.

The Director of O&M will manage an approximately $600,000 statewide program and supply budget. The Director will also serve as a contract manager for community O&M. The Director is required to have and maintain O&M certification from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) and should have extensive experience teaching O&M to adults.

MCB's O&M unit consists of an administrative assistant and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS). COMS provide individualized transit and street crossing training as well as cane instruction to adults who are legally blind within individuals’ home, workplace, and community. The unit offers consultation services to consumers, families, and others on various topics including advocacy, accessibility issues, safe travel/transit routes and environmental barriers. Unit staff also present in-service trainings on blindness etiquette to professionals and consumers’ family members.

Our ideal candidate flourishes in a team-oriented human services environment. The selected applicant is analytical, detail-oriented, knowledgeable about O&M services and models, with a proven ability to build and maintain partnerships.

You can view a summary of this announcement in American Sign Language (ASL) on the MCB YouTube channel here.

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

• Direct and monitor the orientation and mobility (O&M) services provided to consumers in accordance with federal and state regulations, and the agency’s policies and procedures, to ensure consumers receive orientation and mobility services to enhance their quality of life.
• Direct supervision of MCB COMS and O&M administrative staff.
• Recommend policy changes and/or updates to O&M programs and services to senior leadership. Establish priorities and set goals for all O&M services at the agency, monitor expenditures of the unit, and report on progress to senior leadership.
• Lead and direct all O&M outreach efforts including the organization and implementation of related events, trainings, and more.
• Review, assign, and monitor referrals received in the O&M unit.
• Serve as contract manager for the O&M community program with vendor and its staff.
• Coordinate, implement, evaluate, and enhance services and O&M practices in partnership with agency leadership, staff from across the agency and sister agencies, Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), vendors, key stakeholders and New England vision professionals working with individuals with visual impairments.
• Represent the agency on accessibility and transit issues which impact the blind community as assigned.
• Oversee the processing and approval of all unit fiscal processes and documentation. Work closely with O&M administrative staff to maintain O&M data management system(s).
• Provide direct O&M services to consumers and staff with vision impairments as needed.
• Participate on conference and event planning committees.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree and experience in the human services field. O&M Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• O&M certification from ACVREP and experience with vision/blindness professional organizations and consumer groups.
• Thorough knowledge and experience with different O&M models, practices, policies and procedures.
• Experienced in public right of ways issues which impact pedestrians who are blind.
• Ability to respond to policy issues identified by the Commissioner and executive staff as well as high-level state officials, other interested parties, and the general public.
• Competent in partnering with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels of organizations across the state through relationship-building.
• Skilled in exercising initiative, judgment, discretion and decision-making to achieve objectives.
• Demonstrated experience in setting priorities and proposing new ways of creating efficiencies.
• Strong communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.

About the Commission for the Blind

MCB services individuals in Massachusetts who are legally blind by providing access to employment opportunities and social rehabilitation with the goal of increasing independence and self-determination.

Total Compensation

As an employee of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are offered a great career opportunity influencing a wide-spectrum of services to the diverse populations we serve - but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits which you should consider towards your overall compensation, including:

• 75% state paid medical insurance premium
• Reasonable Dental and Vision Plans
• Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance programs
• Low cost basic and optional life insurance
• Retirement Savings: State Employees' Pension and a Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• 11 paid holidays per year and competitive Sick, Vacation and Personal Time
• Tuition Benefit for employee and spouse at state colleges and universities
• Short-Term Disability and Extended Illness program participation options
• Incentive-based Wellness Programs
• Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Pre-Hire 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

A tax history background check will also 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.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1 (800) 510-4122, Ext. #2.

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume for the Director of Orientation and Mobility Requisition.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) four (4) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management or (B) 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 experience.

II. An Associate’s degree in a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

III. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

IV. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.

V. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Official Title: Program Manager IV

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-600 Washington Street

Job: Community and Social Services

Agency: Commission for the Blind

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day

Job Posting: Feb 25, 2021, 3:51:27 PM

Number of Openings: 1

Salary: 35,247.68 - 100,907.45 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Kamilia Drogosz - 6172793332

Bargaining Unit: M99-Managers (EXE)

Confidential: No

E_mail: kamilia.drogosz@mass.gov

Phone: 16172793332

Cert: COMS