Manager of Strategic Planning and Policy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking a Manager of Strategic Planning and Policy to lead statewide workforce strategy development and policy alignment. The role collaborates across agencies to meet WIOA and state objectives, guiding regional planning and MOUs with core partners.

The position emphasizes leadership, policy design, and program coordination to ensure high-quality service delivery across regions and adherence to federal mandates.

Qualifications

• MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) 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 (A) experience.
• II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
• III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
• IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Visioning & Alignment — Develops and implements long-term visioning strategies that align the statewide workforce system with federal priorities, state administration goals, and EOLWD strategic objectives.
• Policy Development & Integration — Designs, updates, and aligns statewide workforce policies with strategic priorities. Ensures policies reflect federal and state requirements, support consistent service delivery, and advance system modernization.
• Management of MassWorkforce Policy and Informational Systems — Manages and reviews content of all documents to be posted on the MassWorkforce Issuance System. Provides editorial quality control, and coordinates external messaging with EOLWD’s Communications Department.
• Regional Planning Support — Guides regional planning efforts across workforce areas; provides data and strategic direction to align regional plans with statewide priorities.
• Workforce Board Certification — Coordinates and conducts the statewide Workforce Board Certification process; establishes criteria and issues certification determinations.
• Statewide MOU Development & Coordination — Leads development and coordination of MOUs with core partners; ensures consistency and compliance with mandates.
• Supervision of Staff — Supervises two professional staff; provides direction and performance feedback.

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Manager of Strategic Planning and Policy (260006YO)

Job Description

Manager of Strategic Planning and Policy - ( 260006YO )

Description

The Strategic Planning & Policy Manager leads statewide workforce strategy development, policy alignment, and cross-agency coordination to ensure Massachusetts meets federal, state, and Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) objectives. This role develops and implements visioning strategies that guide long-term workforce system direction, ensuring alignment with WIOA, federal priorities, state administration goals, and EOLWD strategic initiatives. The manager oversees policy development to ensure statewide policies, guidance, and operational expectations reflect strategic priorities and support consistent, high-quality service delivery across all regions.

The position serves as the primary coordinator for WIOA State Plan activities, working closely with EOLWD and the State Board to develop, update, and implement the federally required WIOA Combined State Plan. The manager also supports EOLWD in regional planning by guiding regional strategy development, ensuring alignment with statewide goals, and facilitating collaboration among local workforce boards and partners.

This role leads the Workforce Board Certification process, establishing standards, conducting reviews, and ensuring boards meet statutory and regulatory requirements. The manager also oversees statewide development and coordination of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with core partners, ensuring consistent agreements, shared service strategies, and compliance with federal mandates.

Overall, the Strategic Planning & Policy Manager provides high-level leadership in shaping the direction of the Massachusetts workforce system, ensuring strategic coherence, regulatory alignment, and effective collaboration across state, regional, and local partners.

Key Job Responsibilities

Strategic Visioning & Alignment

Develops and implements long ‑ term visioning strategies that align the statewide workforce system with federal priorities, state administration goals, and EOLWD strategic objectives. Leads cross ‑ agency collaboration to ensure coherence between policy direction and operational execution.

Policy Development & Integration

Designs, updates, and aligns statewide workforce policies with strategic priorities. Ensures policies reflect federal and state requirements, support consistent service delivery, and advance system modernization. Coordinates policy input from internal and external partners.

Management of MassWorkforce Policy and Informational Systems

Manages and reviews content of all documents to be posted on the MassWorkforce Issuance System. Provides editorial quality control, and ensures communications are clear, accurate, consistent, professional, and aligned with EOLWD’s broader policies and messaging. Coordinates all external messaging with EOLWD’s Communications Department.

Serves as the primary coordinator for the WIOA Combined State Plan. Leads development, revision, and implementation activities in partnership with EOLWD. Ensures statewide strategies, performance goals, and partner commitments are accurately reflected and compliant with federal guidance.

Regional Planning Support

Supports EOLWD in guiding regional planning efforts across workforce areas. Provides frameworks, data, and strategic direction to ensure regional plans align with statewide priorities, labor market needs, and federal requirements. Facilitates collaboration among workforce boards and regional partners.

Workforce Board Certification

Coordinates and conducts the statewide Workforce Board Certification process. Establishes criteria, reviews board submissions, evaluates compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and issues certification determinations.

Statewide MOU Development & Coordination

Leads development, negotiation, and coordination of statewide MOUs with core partners. Ensures consistency across regions, compliance with federal mandates, and alignment with shared service strategies. Provides guidance to local boards and partners on implementation.

Supervision of Staff

Supervises two professional staff, providing direction, coaching, performance feedback, and workload prioritization. Ensures staff activities support strategic planning, policy development, and statewide coordination objectives.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) 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 (A) experience.

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

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

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

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.

An Equal Opportunity / Afflimate 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.

Official Title

Program Manager VI

Schedule

Full-time

Shift

Day

Salary

94,497.74 - 145,463.14 Yearly

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule

Yes

If you have Diversity, Afflimate Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Karen Clifton-Hayes - 6176265138

Bargaining Unit : M99-Managers (EXE)

Confidential : No