Director of Contracts and Payment

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as the Director of Contracts and Payments within the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP). The Bureau works to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities throughout the Commonwealth, with a commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting equitable access to public health services. As a member of the Bureau's Administration and Finance (A&F) team, you will lead procurement, contracting, purchasing, contract monitoring, and payment operations that support critical public health programs. You will apply financial management, grant management, and budget analysis knowledge to coordinate funding availability, address financial issues, and strengthen business practices in close partnership with the Fiscal Unit and program teams. The Fiscal Unit retains responsibility for Bureau fiscal oversight.

You will lead a seven (7) person team, with three direct reports and four indirect reports, and hold responsibility for conducting and approving purchases within delegated authority, overseeing procurement activities, and supervising staff who perform purchasing functions. Working with Bureau leadership, program managers, and financial partners, you will develop practical solutions to complex fiscal and operational challenges, support staff growth, and improve the systems that connect contracts, purchasing, payments, and financial operations. You will also assess policies, procedures, and operational decisions through a racial equity lens, with attention to health and social disparities, to support inclusive and equitable BCHAP practices and programs. This position offers the opportunity to combine team leadership and financial expertise with meaningful work supporting the health and quality of life of Massachusetts residents.

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

• Oversee BCHAP procurement, contracting, purchasing, contract monitoring, and payment operations, ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal requirements, established policies, and sound financial management practices.
• Conduct and approve purchases within delegated authority; oversee procurement activities and supervise staff responsible for purchasing, ensuring appropriate documentation, approvals, and internal controls.
• Provide leadership, strategic planning, thoughtful decision-making, and internal monitoring of BCHAP purchasing and contracting practices while balancing limited resources, competing priorities, and evolving statewide service needs.
• Work closely with the Fiscal Unit's analysts and program teams to coordinate funding availability, address funding-related issues, and support contracts, purchases, and payments.
• Apply working knowledge of financial management, grant management, and budget analysis to support informed decisions and effective coordination across interdependent units.
• Advise program managers and staff on procurement regulations, contracting requirements, Chapter 257 rate setting, contract scope development, and appropriate contract monitoring practices.
• Directly supervise three staff and provide leadership and oversight to four indirect reports. Manage performance appraisals, coaching, mentoring, training, and individualized professional development, and support other staff managers in maintaining effective teams.
• Coordinate team meetings and establish communication tools, feedback mechanisms, and performance expectations that support collaboration, staff achievement, and career advancement.
• Develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures for contracting, procurement, purchasing, and payments. Ensure requirements are clear, understood, and implemented; maximize limited resources; track A&F deliverables; and lead quality improvement initiatives that strengthen compliance, internal controls, and workflow efficiency.
• Partner with the Assistant Director of Fiscal Operations, the Administration and Finance Director, and other Bureau leaders to strengthen systems across the A&F team, address complex fiscal and operational issues, and contribute to Bureau planning and quality improvement activities.
• Maintain productive relationships with DPH Purchase of Service, Accounting, other bureaus, and administrative offices to coordinate activities and resolve complex issues involving multiple functions.
• Assess policies, procedures, and operational decisions through a racial equity lens, with attention to health and social disparities, and integrate racial equity considerations into contracting, procurement, purchasing, and payment practices.
• Provide critical support, technical assistance, and training to Bureau staff on financial procedures, contracting requirements, and systems, including the Information Warehouse, MOSAIC, PTS, and other relevant applications. Ensure staff have the training needed to fulfill their responsibilities.
• Balance requests from program staff requiring assistance with fiscal emergencies, senior management requiring financial analysis of long-term or ongoing issues, and other bureaus requiring timely responses to detailed questions. Provide analytical expertise, program-specific analyses, and practical recommendations to resolve problems.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Demonstrated experience managing procurement, contracting, purchasing, contract monitoring, and payment operations within a public-sector, healthcare, or similarly complex organization, including direct purchasing and purchase approval responsibilities.
• Working knowledge of fiscal and financial management, grant management, budget analysis, financial analysis, and responsible stewardship of public funds.
• Strong understanding of Massachusetts state procurement and contracting requirements, fiscal policies, and applicable state and federal compliance standards.
• Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures related to systems change, process improvement, internal controls, audits, and tracking and monitoring compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Proven ability to supervise and develop staff through performance appraisals, coaching, mentoring, team development, training, and individualized professional development plans that reflect staff strengths, development needs, career aspirations, and abilities.
• Strong leadership, facilitation, strategic planning, project management, and time management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects to completion while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial and contracting requirements, build productive relationships, and guide and motivate others.
• Experience collaborating across departments to resolve complex fiscal and operational challenges and support informed financial and business decisions.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts state financial and administrative systems, including the Information Warehouse, MOSAIC, PTS, or comparable applications.
• Ability to incorporate racial equity considerations into financial procedures, contracting, procurement, purchasing, and operational decisions, with attention to health and social disparities.
• Sound judgment, honesty, integrity, and a commitment to leading by example and supporting public service.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams.

Qualifications:
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in financial management work (i.e. budgeting, accounting, auditing, management analysis, program evaluation, financial reporting of program results), of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

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 or higher 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.

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.

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.

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