The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Rural Population Health Manager within the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a notable $896 million investment designed to strengthen healthcare access, improve health outcomes, and transform care delivery across rural Massachusetts. This highly visible leadership role offers a unique opportunity to drive innovative population health initiatives that directly impact rural communities across the Commonwealth. As the Initiative Lead for Population Health Advancement, you will help shape the future of rural health and healthcare by leading efforts focused on chronic disease management, value-based care, community and clinical integration, remote patient monitoring, Hospital at Home programs, technology-enabled care coordination, and other transformative strategies designed to improve long-term health outcomes.

In this role, you will collaborate with healthcare providers, hospitals, community-based organizations, aging services agencies, EMS partners, state agencies, and public health leaders to advance large-scale initiatives that improve the health and well-being of rural residents. You will oversee complex, multi-faceted programs, guide strategic planning and implementation efforts, manage staff and vendor relationships, and ensure successful execution of critical grant-funded deliverables. The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking leader who enjoys solving complex challenges, building partnerships across diverse stakeholders, and creating sustainable systems that improve healthcare delivery. Beyond program management, this role offers the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by helping rural communities develop stronger, more connected, and more equitable public health and healthcare systems across Massachusetts.

Please Note: This position has statewide responsibilities and therefore primary work location is flexible within DPH work sites. The incumbent will be required to report to the Boston office on a regular cadence

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

• Lead the strategic direction, implementation, and continuous improvement of the RHTP Population Health Advancement Initiative, ensuring alignment with DPH priorities, grant requirements, and long-term rural health transformation goals in close collaboration with partners/workgroup members.
• Develop and manage comprehensive, phased workplans that guide initiative activities, establish priorities, monitor progress, and support successful achievement of program milestones and deliverables.
• Provide leadership and oversight for the design, implementation, and evaluation of population health initiatives focused on chronic disease management, value-based care, care coordination, remote patient monitoring, Hospital at Home programs, and community-based health interventions.
• Chair and facilitate initiative workgroups, represent the initiative in governance forums and cross-agency collaborations, and promote effective communication among internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop policies, procedures, and operational frameworks that support rural population health strategies, improve care delivery systems, and strengthen coordination across healthcare, public health, and community-based organizations.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, EMS agencies, aging services organizations, state agencies, and other stakeholders to advance shared program objectives.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and operational oversight of initiative activities, including workflow management, issue resolution, risk mitigation, resource coordination, and implementation support.
• Supervise, mentor, and support assigned staff, ensuring clear performance expectations, professional development opportunities, accountability, and alignment with program goals and timelines.
• Monitor and support implementation efforts with rural partners by providing technical assistance, training, infrastructure support, and guidance to promote sustainable adoption of innovative healthcare practices.
• Oversee program performance measurement, data collection, and reporting activities, including preparation and review of grant reports, progress updates, spending plans, memoranda, and other required documentation.
• Ensure compliance with CMS grant requirements and other applicable regulations while monitoring vendor performance, fiscal accountability, contract deliverables, and quality outcomes.
• Analyze program data, stakeholder feedback, and emerging rural health trends to inform strategic recommendations, identify opportunities for improvement, and support evidence-based decision-making across the initiative.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience leading large-scale public health, healthcare transformation, population health, or grant-funded initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and complex program objectives.
• Strong knowledge of population health management strategies, chronic disease prevention and management, and value-based care models.
• Skilled in working with rural healthcare systems, community health organizations, hospitals, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), or public health agencies.
• Capacity to build and maintain collaborative relationships with healthcare providers, community organizations, government agencies, and other diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multidisciplinary teams, consultants, vendors, or contracted partners while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Knowledge of healthcare technology solutions, health information exchange systems, remote patient monitoring programs, data interoperability, and care coordination platforms.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting programmatic, financial, operational, and performance data to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, strategic plans, and operational frameworks that support healthcare delivery, population health improvement, or system transformation efforts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level reports, grant documentation, presentations, and stakeholder communications.
• Knowledge of public health principles, health equity strategies, and community engagement practices, with a demonstrated commitment to improving outcomes for underserved and rural populations.
• Knowledge of federal and state healthcare programs, including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiatives, grant compliance requirements, and healthcare financing or reimbursement models.
• 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, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management or (B) 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 experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required 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.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!