Licensing Specialist

Job Summary

The Commission seeks to hire Licensing Specialist(s) in the Licensing Division. Under the direction of the Licensing Manager, the Licensing Specialist(s) will assist in a variety of tasks relating to the licensing process. The Licensing Specialist(s) will also provide technical support to staff, licensees, applicants, and inquirers on the licensing process and application portal.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide licensing support, including being responsible for all administrative tasks associated with the Commission's electronic licensing system;
  
  
• Evaluating a variety of applications related to licensure submitted to the Commission to ensure that the submission of information is accurate and compliant with state regulations and Commission policies;
  
  
• Participate in minimizing bias in the application and licensing process;
  
  
• Supports the identification, revision, and ongoing maintenance of departmental SOPs and policies.
  
  
• Assist in enforcing the collection of licensing fees and timely reporting of the same in collaboration with the Commission's Finance team;
  
  
• Participate in working groups and cross-functional initiatives to support regulatory, operational, and audit-related activities.
  
  
• Assist in the drafting of Investigations and Enforcement Department reports;
  
  
• Collaborate with internal teams to analyze and maintain licensing data to support reporting and compliance initiatives;
  
  
• Respond to inquiries about licensing and compliance with state regulations and Commission policies;
  
  
• Support Commission staff in responding to general inquiries and Public Records Requests;
  
  
• Represent the Commission effectively in interactions with marijuana establishments and medical marijuana treatment center applicants, licensees, registrants, municipalities, and the public
  
  
• Conduct thorough contract reviews to ensure adherence to state laws and regulatory guidelines and:
  
  
• Process and evaluate background check results and fingerprint results as needed, escalating cases for suitability review as required;
  
  
• Contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work environment by working respectfully with others, supporting diverse perspectives, and upholding organizational values related to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging.
  
  
• Maintain the highest standards of personal, professional, and ethical conduct and support the Commission's goals for a diverse and culturally aware workforce;
  
  
• Ability to meet expectations and accept personal responsibility for all assigned work;
  
  
• Ability to work in a confidential manner and to handle sensitive information;
  
  
• Ability to think creatively, build constructive working relationships, and resolve issues;
  
  
• Coordinating application work with other staff as needed; and
  
  
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

Not applicable

Professional Expectations

The Cannabis Control Commission expects all employees to model:

• Commitment to its Mission, Vision, and Values
  
  
• Contributions Toward Meeting Organizational Goals and Objectives
  
  
• A High Level of Integrity, Collaboration, and Professionalism
  
  
• A Culturally Sensitive, Inclusive, and Accountable Workplace Environment
  
  
• Working Respectfully with Others, Supporting Diverse Perspectives, and Upholding Organizational Values
  
  
• Transparent, Meaningful, and Effective Communication
  
  

Competencies, Skills, and Attributes

• Outstanding organizational skills, which includes the ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks under time constraints and with available resources;
  
  
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; must be able to interact with people at all levels within the Commission, with the entities regulated by the Commission, outside counsel and consultants, outside vendors, and members of the public;
  
  
• Ability to work productively, independently, and creatively in an evolving environment;
  
  
• Must demonstrate a proficiency with computers and the MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
  
  
• Willingness to learn and adapt to state and Commission-specific information technology systems;
  
  
• Must demonstrate strong attention to detail;
  
  
• Ability to work in Commission's Worcester headquarters; and
  
  
• Able to contribute actively to a work environment that embraces diversity.
  
  
• Proven ability to work independently as well as part of a team, prioritize responsibilities, and stay on task in a hybrid environment while meeting deadlines and performance expectations.
  
  
• Actively evaluate current processes and confidently propose improvements to drive operational excellence.
  
  

Qualifications and Requirements

• Paralegal Certificate, Associates Degree , or equivalent experience. Bachelor's degree preferred.
  
  
• Minimum of 3-5 years working in a high-volume atmosphere coordinating work at a non-profit, corporation, or government agency or similarly situated work environment.
  
  
• Experience reviewing complex documents for accuracy and compliance purposes.
  
  

ADA Requirements

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to lift, push, or pull up to 20 pounds.
  
  
• Must tolerate sitting, standing, or walking for extended periods of time.
  
  
• Must be sensitive to and can manage frequent interruptions.
  
  
• Standard office environment with use of, and exposure to various office temperatures, and equipment such as computers, fax machines, copiers, etc.
  
  

Qualifications:
CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION'S MISSION STATEMENT AND OPERATING PRINCIPLES

OUR MISSION


The mission of the Cannabis Control Commission is to honor the will of the voters of Massachusetts by safely, equitably, and effectively implementing and administering the laws enabling access to medical and adult-use marijuana in the Commonwealth.


The Commission will foster the creation of a safely regulated industry that will create entrepreneurial and employment opportunities and incremental tax revenues in and to communities across the state and which will be a best practice model for other states.


The industry will be characterized by participation by small and larger participants and with full and robust participation by minorities, women, and veterans.


We will develop policies and procedures to encourage and enable full participation in the marijuana industry by people from communities that have previously been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement and positively impact those communities.


OUR OPERATING PRINCIPLES

The Commission promises to:

• Conduct all of our processes openly and transparently; and
  
  

• Engage in regular two-way communication with all concerned citizens, patients, health care providers and caregivers, partners, and other constituencies.
  
  

Build a world-class state agency by:

• Committing to the highest level of constituent services using state-of-the-art technology and multiple media;
  
  

• Defining and publicly measuring our performance versus metrics regarding timely execution, accessibility, impact on public health and safety, impact on disproportionately harmed communities, and incremental tax revenue generation;
  
  

• Becoming self-funding and generating a revenue surplus; and
  
  

• Creating a great place to work.
  
  

Enhance and ensure public health and safety by:

• Developing and enforcing effective regulations;
  
  

• Developing and executing a program of continuing public education;
  
  

• Conducting and contributing to research on marijuana-related topics; and
  
  

• Using surplus funds to help address issues in these areas.
  
  

Benefits Package:


The Commission is pleased to offer a comprehensive benefits package to its employees. The specific components and eligibility may vary based upon position classification, hours worked per week and other variables. Therefore, specific benefits for this position may be discussed as part of the interview and offer process.


This position is non-civil service. This position is an non-exempt position.


The overall benefits available include: paid vacation, sick and personal leave time, health, dental and vision insurance through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance, and optional pre-tax Health Savings Account plans.


In addition, the Commission provides employees the opportunity to elect life insurance, long term disability insurance, deferred compensation savings, tuition remission and pre-tax commuter account plans, along with other programs.


The Commission employees also participate in the Commonwealth's State Retirement Plan, which can become a defined benefit plan for those that both vest and subsequently retire from State service. Follow this link for additional retirement information: of-retire/ .


Commitment to Diversity:


The Commission is committed to building a diverse staff across its entire agency and at all levels. The Commission is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.


Notice of Required Background Check - Including Tax Compliance:


The Commission requires a background check on all prospective employees as a condition of employment.


Candidates should be aware of this requirement but should also know that such background check is not initiated until:

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.
   
   

This background check includes a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, Federal IRS and Department of Revenue state tax compliance on all prospective employees as a condition of their employment.


Candidates with advanced degrees and professional licenses may have these credentials verified. Individuals other than those references provided by a candidate may be contacted in the course of completing a full background and qualification check.


Those candidates invited to interview will be contacted by the Commission. Unfortunately, due to the anticipated high volume of applicants for this vacancy, we are unable to provide status updates to specific individuals.