Senior Deputy General Counsel

The Bureau of Health Care Safety & Quality (HCQ) under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the Senior Deputy General Counsel. In this role, you will lead a team of dedicated legal professionals in shaping the legal framework that supports health care facility licensure, regulatory compliance, and health care policy innovation across Massachusetts. This position plays an essential role in guiding the Bureau’s mission, with particular focus on the Determination of Need (DoN) program, ensuring that regulatory processes are fair, transparent, and aligned with state health objectives. It offers a dynamic environment for an experienced attorney to engage directly with agency leadership, legislative bodies, and other key stakeholders on high-impact legal matters, ranging from administrative law and regulatory drafting to enforcement, public health policy, and health care access.

This is a highly collaborative and strategic leadership role for a legal professional who thrives in a public service setting and has a deep understanding of administrative law, public health regulation, and legal compliance. It requires legal oversight of more than 15 regulatory areas and coordination across multidisciplinary teams within the Department of Public Health, other state and federal agencies, and the Attorney General’s Office. The position also offers the opportunity to influence health care policy through legislative recommendations, regulatory reform, and direct engagement with the Public Health Council, all while building and maintaining systems that ensure consistency, integrity, and efficiency in the delivery of legal services across HCQ programs.

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

•          Provide strategic legal counsel to the Bureau of Health Care Safety & Quality (HCQ), with a primary focus on the Determination of Need (DoN) program, ensuring alignment with federal and state laws as well as HCQ’s mission and policy objectives.
•          Oversee the delivery and coordination of legal services across all HCQ programs, including regulatory interpretation, application review, enforcement actions, and due process for licensure decisions and disciplinary matters.
•          Lead the legal aspects of health care facility licensure, including advising on initial licensure, renewals, inspections, investigations, and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
•          Manage the drafting, review, and promulgation of complex health care regulations and policies, while providing legal support for the bureau’s centralized functions and administrative procedures.
•          Interpret and provide guidance on a broad range of laws impacting HCQ operations, including the Administrative Procedures Act, public records law, open meeting law, conflict of interest law, and privacy regulations.
•          Collaborate with bureau leadership, program staff, and legal colleagues to establish consistent legal processes and systems across HCQ, ensuring efficient, lawful, and policy-aligned operations.
•          Serve as the bureau’s legal advisor for legislative initiatives, including analyzing proposed legislation, drafting bills, and preparing legal memoranda on matters affecting HCQ’s regulatory responsibilities.
•          Represent HCQ in interagency collaborations, including coordination with the Office of the Attorney General and other state and federal partners, to address legal risks and support litigation-related activities.
•          Provide legal support to the Public Health Council, including presenting regulatory changes and program updates, and ensuring compliance with public meeting protocols and procedural requirements.
•         Supervise and guide a team of attorneys, facilitating communication across legal and programmatic teams within HCQ to promote cohesive and legally sound decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications:

•          Demonstrated ability to manage legal personnel and lead legal operations within a healthcare oversight or regulatory agency.
•          Deep understanding of the legal framework governing health care facilities, including licensure, enforcement, and regulatory compliance.
•          Proficient in state ethics laws, including conflict of interest compliance, and the legal requirements surrounding due process and administrative procedures.
•          Skilled in drafting, analyzing, and advising on proposed legislation and regulatory changes impacting public health and healthcare delivery.
•          Knowledgeable in laws related to the custody, confidentiality, and disclosure of state agency records and health information.
•          Familiar with the regulations, standards of practice, and licensure requirements applicable to entities and professionals regulated by HCQ.
•          Capable of interpreting and integrating legal guidance into agency policy development and implementation processes.
•          Adept at balancing and synthesizing competing public health priorities to maximize public protection within available resources.

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 and share a one-pager on DPH and what we do\: DPH at a Glance PDF | Doc

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 Record 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 ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

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

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 a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, 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 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.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

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.

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