Deputy General Counsel Procurement

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 wit