diff --git a/membershipworks/models.py b/membershipworks/models.py
index e9efbaf..d4968ec 100644
--- a/membershipworks/models.py
+++ b/membershipworks/models.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from typing import Optional
+
 import django.core.mail.message
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import models
@@ -169,6 +171,11 @@ class Member(models.Model):
             models.Index(fields=["last_name"]),
         ]
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_user(cls, user) -> Optional["Member"]:
+        if hasattr(user, "ldap_user"):
+            return cls.objects.get(uid=user.ldap_user.attrs["employeeNumber"][0])
+
     def sanitized_mailbox(self, name_ext: str = "", use_volunteer=False) -> str:
         if use_volunteer and self.volunteer_email:
             email = self.volunteer_email
diff --git a/paperwork/dashboard.py b/paperwork/dashboard.py
index 6b01057..c0e442b 100644
--- a/paperwork/dashboard.py
+++ b/paperwork/dashboard.py
@@ -16,23 +16,15 @@ class PaperworkDashboardFragment(dashboard.DashboardFragment):
     def context(self) -> Any:
         links = {}
 
-        if hasattr(self.request.user, "ldap_user"):
-            uid = self.request.user.ldap_user.attrs["employeeNumber"][0]
-            links["Member Certifications"] = reverse("paperwork:member_certifications")
-        else:
-            uid = None
+        member = Member.from_user(self.request.user)
+        if member is not None:
+            links["Member Certifications"] = reverse(
+                "paperwork:member_certifications", kwargs={"uid": member.uid}
+            )
 
-        departments = Department.objects.prefetch_related("shop_lead_flag__members")
-        if self.request.user.is_superuser:
-            departments = departments.all()
-        elif uid is not None:
-            user_member = Member.objects.get(uid=uid)
-            # TODO: could be a lot simpler if membershipworks was in the same database
-            # TODO: should also select children
-            member_flags = list(user_member.flags.all().values_list("pk", flat=True))
-            departments = departments.filter(shop_lead_flag__in=member_flags)
-
-        if len(departments) > 0:
+        if self.request.user.is_superuser or (
+            member is not None and Department.filter_by_shop_lead(member).exists()
+        ):
             links["Department Certifications"] = reverse(
                 "paperwork:department_certifications"
             )
diff --git a/paperwork/models.py b/paperwork/models.py
index 93106aa..10a186b 100644
--- a/paperwork/models.py
+++ b/paperwork/models.py
@@ -66,7 +66,20 @@ class CmsRedRiverVeteransScholarship(models.Model):
         db_table = "CMS Red River Veterans Scholarship"
 
 
+class DepartmentQuerySet(models.QuerySet):
+    def filter_by_shop_lead(self, member: Member) -> models.QuerySet["Department"]:
+        """Get departments for which `member` is a shop lead"""
+        # TODO: could be a lot simpler if membershipworks was in the same database
+        # TODO: should also select children
+        member_flags = list(member.flags.all().values_list("pk", flat=True))
+        return self.prefetch_related("shop_lead_flag__members").filter(
+            shop_lead_flag__in=member_flags
+        )
+
+
 class Department(models.Model):
+    objects = DepartmentQuerySet.as_manager()
+
     name = models.CharField(
         max_length=64,
         validators=[RegexValidator("^[-_ A-Za-z0-9]*$")],
diff --git a/paperwork/views.py b/paperwork/views.py
index 420a4b0..6f3594c 100644
--- a/paperwork/views.py
+++ b/paperwork/views.py
@@ -32,17 +32,10 @@ class MemberCertificationListView(ListView):
 
 @login_required
 def department_certifications(request):
-    departments = Department.objects.prefetch_related("shop_lead_flag__members")
     if request.user.is_superuser:
-        departments = departments.all()
-    elif hasattr(request.user, "ldap_user"):
-        user_member = Member.objects.get(
-            uid=request.user.ldap_user.attrs["employeeNumber"][0]
-        )
-        # TODO: could be a lot simpler if membershipworks was in the same database
-        # TODO: should also select children
-        member_flags = list(user_member.flags.all().values_list("pk", flat=True))
-        departments = departments.filter(shop_lead_flag__in=member_flags)
+        departments = Department.prefetch_related("shop_lead_flag__members").all()
+    elif member := Member.from_user(request.user) is not None:
+        departments = Department.objects.filter_by_shop_lead(member)
     else:
         departments = []