Bureau Director, Public Health Hospitals

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Public Health Hospital System (PHHS) is seeking a dynamic administrator to provide executive leadership for a unique network of four state-operated hospitals that serve some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations. Working closely with senior leadership at DPH and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Bureau Director, Public Health Hospital System guides strategy, operations, and policy across a system that includes Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Tewksbury Hospital, Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, and Western Massachusetts Hospital. Reporting to the DPH Deputy Commissioner of Public Hospitals, the Director works with the hospital leadership teams to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care while advancing the Commonwealth’s safety-net mission for patients with complex medical, social, and behavioral health needs.

In this highly visible leadership role, the Bureau Director will help shape the future of a statewide hospital system by strengthening cross-campus collaboration, advancing operational and infrastructure improvements, and ensuring compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards such as those of The Joint Commission. The Director will partner with hospital CEOs and senior leadership to drive systemwide strategy, support major facility and technology initiatives, and sustain strong partnerships with state agencies that rely on the hospitals’ specialized services. This position offers an opportunity to influence healthcare delivery across Massachusetts while delivering critical hospital programs that are responsive, resilient, and aligned with the evolving needs of the populations they serve.

The Director oversees hospital operations that treat an average daily census of 695 inpatients and 32,206 outpatients annually. The hospitals also house other programs on their campuses that provide services to over 7,000 clients, guests and supported individuals.  The Director works in close partnership with these programs, such as the Department of Mental Health (DMH), to ensure one hospital approach at Shattuck and Tewksbury as well as coordination of policies and procedures across DPH and DMH inpatient care as appropriate.

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

·       Provide executive oversight and strategic guidance to the Chief Executive Officers of the four Public Health Hospitals, ensuring effective hospital operations, program performance, and implementation of improvement and risk mitigation initiatives.

·       Lead systemwide coordination of hospital operations, supporting initiatives that enhance efficiency, quality of care, and alignment with the mission and objectives of the Public Health Hospital System.

·       Serve as the primary liaison for centralized operational services including human resources, labor relations, facilities management, information technology, and capital assets, advocating for appropriate resources and support.

·       Coordinate labor relations matters across the hospital system, including contract recommendations, bargaining unit considerations, and collaboration with state human resources partners.

·       Oversee development and implementation of scalable operational infrastructure, including cross-campus staffing strategies, scheduling systems, and optimization of electronic scheduling and operational software applications.

·       Ensure hospital compliance with quality, utilization, risk management, and accreditation standards, including those established by relevant regulatory and accrediting bodies, while coordinating with legal and privacy offices as necessary.

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