About Us:

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s environmental resources while ensuring and promoting a clean energy future for the state’s residents. Through the stewardship of open space, protection of environmental resources, and enhancement of clean energy, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.

Who We Serve:

Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to combine energy and environmental agencies under one Cabinet secretary. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) serves Commonwealth residents interested in outdoor recreational activities, clean energy solutions and those who work with animals and livestock. Equally, EOEEA works with energy consumers, power companies, clean energy providers and farmers to delicately balance the interaction with environmental protection laws and regulations while being a cornerstone for our economic prosperity.

Secretariat Overview:

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretariat (EOEEA) provides oversight of the Commonwealth’s energy and environmental agencies, namely, the Division of Energy Resources (DOER), Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR). EOEEA also has divisions within the Secretariat, including the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE or Massachusetts Environmental Police), Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, Coastal Zone Management (CZM) office, and Division of Conservation Services (DCS). All agencies and divisions promote the environmental or energy related goals and initiatives of the Administration and the Secretary of EOEEA.

Human Resources Deputy Director

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is accepting resumes and applications for the position of Human Resources Deputy Director. * A cover letter and resume must be submitted as part of the application process and attached “as relevant” to the requisition.

The Human Resources Deputy Director (HRDD) reports to the EEA Secretariat Human Resources Director and is responsible for providing HR strategic leadership and HR support for complex and matrixed units (Agencies) across the Secretariat and may serve as the HR site leader for one or more agencies within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The HRDD will have frequent contact with staff in the Competency centers and the EEA HR Director. Further the HR Deputy Director will have regular contact with the EEA Director of Labor Relations and Deputy Director of Labor Relations.

The HRDD serves as a coach and consultative resource for agency leadership regarding HR strategy and organization structure. The HRDD is responsible for the oversight, administration and implementation of HR policies, and coordination of HR initiatives and activities within the agency and works within the EEA HR Shared Services to ensure delivery of the highest quality of customer service to the Agency and its employees. The HRDD will respond to employee/labor relations issues and determine the need for investigation and either refer to the Center of Expertise (COE) or conduct those investigations for the agency partnering with labor relations as appropriate. The HRDD will be responsible for drafting investigative summaries and assisting managers in drafting corrective actions and other performance initiatives. The HRDD will partner with the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with agencies and other members of the HR team to help drive diversity initiatives within the organization, ensure diverse candidate slates for open positions, and support a safe, positive and inclusive workforce. The HRDD will work closely with the ADA & Diversity Manager in matters related to reasonable accommodation and disability. Given the complexities of the agencies supported, these activities will often involve the communication, implementation, and coordinator of varying HR policies and practices across multiple sites and work units.

The HR Deputy Director has a hybrid work schedule / telework with a primary reporting location in Boston, MA.

Specific Responsibilities include:

HR Strategic Planning and Policy Implementation – Under the direction of the EEA Human Resources Director, and in coordination with the EEA Human Resources Competency Centers, the HRDD works in concert with the assigned Agency Head / Appointing Authority on strategic planning, policies and best practices that ensure high quality service delivery that will address both organizational and employee needs and the implementation of Human Resources policies and strategies.

• Assist Agency Senior Management in helping to evaluate and prioritize critical needs for staffing, and monitor the overall hiring process
• Acts as first point of contact on all human resources matters affecting agency personnel including requests for notification of workers compensations / injury, matters involving violation of HR policy including harassment, sexual harassment, workplace violence, and that matter requiring investigation under the HRD Center of Investigations (COE).
• Work with Agency Head, and Senior Staff to determine training and development needs and coordinates with the Training and Outreach Competency Center; works with finance staff to procures resources necessary to deliver programs to meet those needs and monitors training to ensure that needs identified are met and addressed to the satisfaction of the Agency.
• Manage all “Tier 1” Employee/Labor Relations issues for the Agency and provide support and consult with the Director of Labor Relations. Will also monitor all Tier 2 and Tier 3 grievances, charges etc.
• Monitors requests for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Paid Family Leave (PFML) from Agency staff coordinating return to work with EOEEA Leave Coordinators.

Hiring and Employment - Directs the Agency regarding hiring and interview process and ensure that consistent application of HRD hiring guidelines (use of interview panels, guides and evaluation forms, and candidate recommendation forms for all candidate selections). Ensures communication of new hire, employee transfer, and termination information to appropriate Competency Center HR staff (Payroll, Benefits). Coordinates with DEI coordinators to ensures a diverse slate of applicants for open positions.

Classification and Position Management: Works directly with hiring managers in an advising capacity around issues of proper classification and related personnel actions for job requisitions, reclassifications, out of title, contractor conversions, and promotions in accordance with HRD policy and procedure.

• Develops, reviews, and updates MQs and Form 30s. Participates in evaluation process with Competency Center and recommends evaluation level to ensure organizational consistency and effectiveness.
• On an ongoing basis, work with Agency managers on reorganization and restructuring efforts, to ensure effective delivery of agency / functions, promotional opportunities, proper classification and to identify and reclassify positions.
• Confer with management personnel to advise on collective bargaining agreements’ promotional salaries.
• Confer with management to advise on salary recruitments and adjustments, monitoring for MEPA (Mass Equal Pay Act) and management compression and collisions.
• Research acting pay requests upon receipt of information to ensure compliance with CBA and HRD guidelines regarding. Communicate and coordinate document closure with Agency / Commission designee, and all applicable Competency Centers (Payroll, Operations, and Labor). Monitors the need for updates to “Reports To” for SSTA on an ongoing basis. Submits changes to Competency Center for implementation.
• Use HR analytics / HRCMS reports to monitor Agency/ transactions. Tracks FTE reporting after bi-weekly payroll run.

Diversity Recruitment, Equity and Inclusion- works in concert with EEA Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Collaborates with Agency to expand recruitment efforts to increase diversity and align the Secretariat’s diversity goals and to continue to employ, develop and retain a high performing diverse workforce, that leverages a work environment that cultivates and values diversity and inclusion.

Performance Appraisal Management - Coach managers and employees on the use of the MassPerform or EPRS tools. Continue to provide ongoing support throughout the evaluation cycle including tracking of employee ratings, assist in development of remedial plans, and development plans. Coordinates with Competency Center to ensure that all bargaining unit employees have a current EPRS form and Form 30 on file by the end of fiscal year and manage Agency participation in the annual MassPerform online system.

Training and Learning Management:

Identifies training needs for agency staff; supports agency management team in annual compliance of mandatory training and conducts training and information sessions on various topics as assigned.

Employee Recognition Program

Supports agency PRP Coordinator, develop broadcast communications to launch participation; provide consistent leadership throughout the process from selection committee assembly through internal ceremony and participation in Governor’s ceremony.

Experience and Education Required

Five (5) plus years of human resources experience. Bachelor’s degree in business administration, human resources management or a related field/or its equivalent. Knowledge and experience in human resources programs and initiatives, including classification, compensation, recruitment, hiring, employment, organizational design & development, training & development, benefits management, immigration, state and federal labor laws are required. Experience in a unionized environment is preferred.