Counsel/Records Access Officer

Job Description

Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
Job Posting

Job Title: Counsel/Records Access Officer

Reports to: General Counsel

OVERVIEW OF THE AGENCY AND THE POSITION

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission is an independent agency that oversees law enforcement departments and officers throughout the Commonwealth. The Commission is charged with the following:

• Establishing certification standards for law enforcement departments and officers;
• Determining whether those standards have been met;
• Developing regulations and policies governing law enforcement;
• Decertifying, suspending, or ordering retraining for officers who commit misconduct or otherwise fail to satisfy requirements;
• Maintaining, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding law enforcement; and
• Conducting investigations, adjudicatory proceedings, and public hearings regarding such matters.

• Serving as the Commission's Records Access Officer, as that position is described in Chapter 66 of the Massachusetts General Laws and associated regulations;
• Overseeing the process of responding to public records requests made to the Commission and tasks associated with those requests;
• Developing substantive written responses and preparing responsive records in reply to public records requests;
• Tracking records requests, deadlines, and related information electronically;
• Managing the assessment of fees for the production of public records, including by developing fee estimates;
• Drafting petitions to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office, and addressing appeals to that office and courts, regarding the Commission's public records responses and fee assessments;
• Communicating with requesters, including by answering phone calls, emails, and letters, and negotiating with them regarding their requests;
• Responding to subpoenas and other forms of discovery;
• Redacting materials and preparing privilege logs based on legal protections for particular forms of information;
• Preparing reports on public records requests for internal review, and preparing data for inclusion in the state public records report, which is annually filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office;
• Collaborating with the Municipal Police Training Committee regarding the exchange of sensitive information;
• Ensuring that Commission records are retained for the required time period, and managing the process of submitting document destruction requests to the Commonwealth's Records Conservation Board;
• Providing analysis and guidance on legal and policy matters to Commission personnel, particularly those involving information management, public records, and data privacy and security;
• with training, legal compliance, risk assessment, and implementation of internal controls, consistent with applicable sources of authority; and
• Continuing to develop, implement, and refine the Commission's public and internal databases, information management systems, and processes by collaborating with other operational divisions within the Commission and outside groups;
• Assisting with training, legal compliance, risk assessment, and implementation of internal controls, consistent with applicable sources of authority; and
• Developing and maintaining a thorough knowledge of the responsibilities of all Commission units.
• Reporting to the Commission's Boston office at least two days per week and as otherwise directed.

• Contributing to the development and refinement of regulations, policies, standards, protocols, and manuals governing the Commission and members of law enforcement, as well as decisions and orders in matters involving individual officers;
• Defending Commission decisions and actions, and otherwise representing Commission interests, in administrative agency adjudications and other proceedings;
• Working with others to address litigation related to the Commission;
• Contributing to the preparation of Commission meeting materials and minutes;
• Otherwise working with, and representing the Commission before, governmental entities, stakeholders, and members of the public; and
• Responding to inquiries, concerns, and proposals related to law and policy from those outside the Commission.

1. A candidate is invited to a second or subsequent interview; and
2. The candidate has signed the Background Check Authorization Form and related releases.

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law and membership in good standing in the Massachusetts bar;
• Proficiency, or the ability to quickly develop proficiency, in the law regarding public records access, records retention, data privacy and security, subpoenas, and discovery ;
• An appreciation for the mission of the Commission;
• Strong skills in written and verbal communication; and in legal research, analysis, and advocacy;
• An interest in, and a capability to contribute effectively to, the development of policies governing the Commission and law enforcement;
• A commitment to practicing ethically;
• A strong work ethic and dedication to producing work at the highest levels of quality;
• A commitment to handling confidential and sensitive information in accordance with privacy and security protocols, and with discretion;
• A commitment to ongoing professional development and satisfying any internal or external continuing legal education requirement;
• Proficiency with computers and the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and willingness to learn state- and Commission-specific electronic systems;
• Strong organizational skills, and attention to detail;
• The ability to take ownership of, and simultaneously advance, multiple initiatives, and meet expectations;
• The ability to achieve desired objectives in a relatively new and growing agency through patience, creative thinking, flexibility, and mission-driven approaches;
• An interest in mastering new areas, and the capability to do so;
• The ability to achieve results by working independently and with self-reliance;
• The ability to work with others efficiently and effectively;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; an appreciation for teamwork and collegiality; and an ability to interact well with people at all levels within the Commission, stakeholders, outside counsel, outside vendors, and members of the public;
• An appreciation of the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and of the importance of interacting respectfully and sensitively with people of different backgrounds;
• A willingness to perform routine administrative duties as needed;
• A commitment to reside within 50 miles of the Commonwealth's Boston Office while employed by the Commission; and
• A willingness and ability to report to work in the Commission's Boston office when called upon to do so ( the current requirement being two days per week and as otherwise directed) .

• Practicing law in the public sector;
• The work of, and law governing, state agencies, including commissions;
• Knowledge of and practice working with e-discovery platforms ;
• Knowledge of and practice working with Salesforce platforms ;
• Prosecuting or otherwise litigating matters in courts or before other tribunals ;
• The conduct of adjudicatory and informal hearings ;
• Labor and employment law ;
• The Open Meeting Law, Conflict of Interest Law, and Administrative Procedure Act;
• Contracting and procurement;
• Professional licensure and discipline ;
• Investigations and audits;
• Legislative affairs and government relations;
• Legal compliance initiatives;
• Public policy analysis and development;
• Internal policy development;
• Starting up or building a new entity;
• Supervising others;
• Training and presenting to colleagues and others; and
• Editing the written work of others.