The Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS) at the Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced leader who is eager to join a mission-driven and fast-paced team in effectively and efficiently supporting the day-to-day operational needs of BIDLS.  The selected candidate will provide direct and indirect supervision to a total of 55 staff, including 5 Managers, and will oversee an annual budget in excess of $500M. To be successful, the incumbent of this position must be detail-oriented and also must understand the complexities of systems change and implementation in government systems, with the ability to ensure alignment with the Bureau’s and Department’s mission, goals, and objectives.

Integral to this position will be leading development and implementation of a strategic vision to build racial equity into all components of Bureau operations – to develop a forward-looking approach in a state government context.  On an on-going basis, this position will be responsible for assessing our policies and operational decisions through a lens of racial equity with a focus on health and social inequities to reduce structural racism in the health of MA’s residents as well as the Bureau’s workplace, policies, and programs.

The Director of Operations will develop and implement consistent systems adhering to DPH’s Racial Equity Roadmap. The systems addressed are financial and budget management, procurement and contract management, facilities management, personnel management, and overall operations management.  Due to consolidation of Information Technology (IT) resources, this position also holds a strong dotted-line relationship to IT program managers responsible for all IT applications and IT operations for the Bureau. The senior level capacity represented by the Director of Operations is essential to ensure that operational and administrative efforts are consistent and coordinated, that resources and maximized in a flexible way, and that rules pertaining to both federal and state accounts and procurement laws and regulations are observed equitably across all divisions.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

Racial Equity

• Partner with BIDLS leadership and staff to address racial equity in all facets of operations.
• Collaborate with other Bureaus on Department-wide initiatives.
• Develop and implement a plan for regular assessment of policies and practices using a benefit vs. burden lens; provide recommendations for improvement.

Personnel Management

• Oversee all aspects of BIDLS administrative support to ensure practices and procedures apply to collective bargaining unit, management, and consultant staff.
• Plan and develop personnel policies, procedures, supervisory requirements and ongoing training and support, including racial equity learning opportunities and resources for including racial equity objectives in performance metrics/evaluations.

Facilities Management

• Ensure oversight of a 5-year, 125M phased renovation project.
• Manage all aspects of facilities management for the DPH Jamaica Plain Campus/State Public Health Laboratory.
• Provide oversight of the building staff and operations including security, janitorial services, mechanical engineering, HVAC, environmental health and safety, central shipping and receiving, and inventory control. 

Fiscal Management

• Oversee all spending plan development, analysis, oversight, and develop a framework to include equity lens in the process.
• Ensure that federal and state fiscal compliance mechanisms are developed and regularly reviewed to ensure the integrity of a more than $500M complex, multi-faceted, and challenging service system.
• Oversee the development and implementation of financial tracking and forecasting systems for 35 federal grants, and 12 state, trust, and retained revenue accounts with different fiscal years and fiscal requirements. 
• Confirm comprehensive review of the funding and insurance mechanisms that support $105M in immunization spending.
• Manage COVID funds in collaboration with the Command Center.

Information Technology Management 

• Provide programmatic oversight of more than 20 applications within the Bureau structure, including one in the active development phase (the Laboratory Information Management System – LIMS).
• Oversee the development and integrity of multi-faceted applications, databases and the hardware, software required to support them.
• Coordinate the Bureau’s relationship with the IT Help Desk and the IT Operations of the Department.

Contract Management 

• Ensure coordinated contract management procedures across BIDLS. 
• Monitor the provision of the necessary training, support, and monitoring assistance required by both fiscal staff and the service contract.
• Coordinate systems development with the MDPH Budget and Procurement Offices.
• Oversee coordination of contracts using chapter 141 procurement rules for facility maintenance contracts. 
• Oversee more than $500M in COVID related contracts
• Oversee the Bureau’s plan for integrating the expectations of chapter 257 into our service contracts administered by the Bureau’s Office of HIV/AIDS.
• Partner with BIDLS leadership and staff to integrate racial equity into procurement processes and contractual scopes of work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Practical experience in the frameworks of working with racial and ethnic disparities in a public health facility, as well as, familiarity with the socio-cultural issues facing communities throughout the Commonwealth.
• Strong budgetary skills with the ability to work well with outside companies/agencies and the capacity to develop accurate RFR’s and RFP’s as well as supervise the bidding process.
• Facility maintenance experience and management within the public and/or private sectors.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of operations, IT and project management including coordination, communication, prioritization, troubleshooting, adherence to budget and completion of goals.
• Tact, diplomacy, and composure needed for interaction with contractors, vendors, and laboratory staff.
• Capacity to manage a diverse workforce including bargaining unit environment; ability to embrace diversity as a strategic advantage.
• Critical thinking skills, using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Record of managing a team of professional staff, senior level managers; ability to lead, inspire and empower demonstrating confidence and leadership presence.
• Thoroughness, independence and excellent written and oral communication skills with proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

About the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS):

The DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS), predominantly located in Jamaica Plain, provides public health response to infectious disease. These services include programmatic and epidemiologic response, as well as laboratory testing through the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL).

Infectious disease response services address concerns of the general public as well as those disproportionately affected by infectious disease through a variety of risk factors. BIDLS administers ongoing disease reporting for over 90 reportable diseases in the state. Disease reporting review and follow-up with clinical providers and local boards of health is a central function of the bureau. Surveillance activity is complemented by an extensive contracted service system. These services are funded through state and federal resources and include prevention education, community outreach screening for infectious disease, immunization services, health service navigation, medical case management, insurance enrollment, housing assistance, and referral and linkage to infectious disease treatment.  

The SPHL provides scientific expertise and capacity to identify infectious agents, chemical agents, and other toxins that cause human disease.  The SPHL is an active partner in joint activities with other bureaus/agencies such as environmental health, food and drug, agriculture, disease prevention and health promotion programs, and public safety.  The SPHL is a reference laboratory of the national Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and is a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Select Agent laboratory. SPHL staff work closely with laboratory and disease prevention programs at the CDC, and partners with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

About the Department of Public Health:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.
 
We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
 
DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

More information can be found at: MA Department of Public Health?

Pre-Hire Process:

A tax & background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired. 

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the   Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #2.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) 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 two (2) years must have been in a 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.

Comprehensive Benefits

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.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Executive Order #595: As a condition of employment, successful applicants will be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption as of their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. Applicants who receive an offer of employment who can provide documentation that the vaccine is medically contraindicated or who object to vaccination due to a sincerely held religious belief may make a request for exemption.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative 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 VIII

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-305 South Street

Job: Administrative Services

Agency: Department of Public Health

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day

Job Posting: Jan 10, 2023, 1:16:45 PM

Number of Openings: 1

Salary: 96,597.00 - 149,277.39 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Sandra Semedo Sandra.C.Semedo@mass.gov - 6173524250

Bargaining Unit: M99-Managers (EXE)

Confidential: No

Hybrid Work Eligible: Yes