Description:

Description:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced and strategic legal professional to serve as Deputy General Counsel for Procurement within the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a historic $896 million investment dedicated to strengthening healthcare access, improving health outcomes, and advancing long-term sustainability in rural communities across Massachusetts. This highly visible role offers the opportunity to help guide the legal framework supporting one of the Commonwealth's most significant healthcare transformation initiatives. Working closely with agency leadership, program teams, fiscal staff, contracts personnel, and legal colleagues, the selected candidate will play an essential role in ensuring that public resources are managed responsibly and that procurement activities support DPH's mission to improve the health and well-being of residents across the state.

As the principal legal advisor on procurement and contracting matters, this position offers a unique opportunity to influence policy, strengthen operational practices, and provide trusted counsel on complex legal and regulatory issues. The Deputy General Counsel for Procurement will help shape agency-wide standards, support innovative public health initiatives, and ensure compliance with state procurement laws, ethical requirements, privacy obligations, and contractual regulations. This role is ideal for an attorney who enjoys balancing legal analysis with practical problem-solving, collaborating across diverse stakeholder groups, and contributing to high-impact public service work that directly supports healthcare delivery and public health advancement throughout the Commonwealth.

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

Serve as the principal legal advisor on procurement and contracting matters, providing guidance on state procurement laws, regulations, policies, and ethical standards to agency leadership and staff.
Lead the legal review of RFRs, contracts, and procurement activities to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and agency requirements.
Act as the primary legal point of contact for procurement matters governed by state procurement regulations, including 801 CMR 21.00, while providing timely legal counsel and support to DPH programs.
Collaborate closely with program, fiscal, contracts, records management, and operational teams to support procurement planning, contract execution, and efficient business processes.
Develop, implement, and maintain legal standards, policies, procedures, and best practices that strengthen compliance, promote operational efficiency, and support agency objectives.
Conduct legal research and analysis related to procurement, contracting, administrative law, and regulatory matters, and provide recommendations to support informed decision-making.
Review, draft, and revise contracts, policies, regulations, memoranda, and other legal documents to ensure alignment with statutory requirements and organizational priorities.
Represent and support the agency in dispute resolution matters by gathering and analyzing relevant facts, legal authorities, case histories, and supporting documentation.
Provide legal guidance on privacy, confidentiality, and data protection requirements, collaborating with the Privacy and Data Access Office to address complex issues and safeguard sensitive information.
Educate and train agency staff on procurement laws, contracting requirements, compliance obligations, and emerging legal developments affecting agency operations.
Support legislative and policy initiatives by preparing legal analyses, drafting memoranda, and advising leadership on proposed legislation and regulatory changes impacting DPH programs.
Manage a diverse legal workload while fostering a professional, respectful, and inclusive work environment, supporting the development of legal staff, and partnering with agency stakeholders to advance public health policy goals.

Required Qualifications:

General knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices of law.
Familiarity with the procedures followed in courtroom and administrative proceedings.
Understanding the methods and ability to conduct legal research and technical report writing.
Ability to read and interpret legal documents and apply the laws, rules and regulations governing agency operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying Massachusetts public procurement laws, regulations, and policies within a government or public sector environment.
Knowledge of state contracting processes, competitive procurements, RFRs, and contract administration practices.
Experience with reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex contracts, agreements, and procurement-related legal documents.
Strong understanding of administrative law, regulatory compliance, and legal risk management principles affecting public agencies.
Proven ability to provide clear, practical legal advice to executive leadership, program staff, and cross-functional stakeholders on complex legal matters.
Familiarity with privacy, confidentiality, public records, and data governance requirements applicable to public health and government operations.
Capacity to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare legal memoranda, policy analyses, and presentations for diverse audiences.
Ability to build collaborative relationships across legal, fiscal, procurement, operational, and programmatic teams to support organizational objectives.
Experience with legislative analysis, policy development, and regulatory drafting within a public health, healthcare, or governmental setting.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint and Teams.

DPH Mission and Vision:
The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to promote and protect health and wellness and prevent injury and illness for all people, prioritizing racial equity in health by improving equitable access to quality public health and health care services and partnering with communities most impacted by health inequities and structural racism.

We envision a Commonwealth with an equitable and just public health system that supports optimal well-being for all people in Massachusetts, centering those with systemically and culturally oppressed identities and circumstances.

Learn more: www.mass.gov/DPH

Learn more: Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Pre-Hire Process:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

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 Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:
If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. 4

Qualifications:
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements: Applicants must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, admission to the Massachusetts Bar and (A) at least three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the practice of law.

Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid Motor Vehicle Drivers License at a Class level specific to assignment.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate's years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.