Chief Prosecutor

Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Massachusetts Department of Public Health seeks a seasoned legal leader to serve as Chief Prosecutor within the Office of General Counsel. You will head the Prosecution Unit handling disciplinary actions, enforce professional standards, and safeguard public health.

You will mentor attorneys, set enforcement priorities, and collaborate with boards, investigators, and senior legal leadership to strengthen regulatory enforcement across the Commonwealth.

Qualifications

• Experience managing legal teams in regulatory enforcement or government setting.
• Strong knowledge of administrative law and civil litigation related to professional licensing.
• Ability to develop enforcement policy, priorities, and performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Direct the Prosecution Unit's daily operations and prosecution of disciplinary complaints.
• Establish prosecutorial policies and enforcement priorities for timely, legally sound resolutions.
• Supervise prosecutors and staff; provide performance guidance and professional development.
• Review complaints, assign cases, determine strategies and additional investigations.
• Oversee complex administrative litigation, settlements, and sanctions recommendations.
• Coordinate with licensing boards, investigators, and law enforcement partners.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Regulatory Enforcement

Administrative Law

Healthcare Licensing

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Massachusetts Bar Admission

Job description

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced and accomplished legal professional to serve as Chief Prosecutor within the Office of General Counsel (OGC). This important leadership position supports the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure (BHPL), which oversees the licensing and regulation of healthcare professionals across the Commonwealth. Through the fair and consistent enforcement of professional standards, BHPL works to protect public health and safety, promote accountability, and maintain public confidence in the healthcare professions. As Chief Prosecutor, you will lead the Prosecution Unit responsible for pursuing disciplinary actions involving allegations of professional misconduct, negligence, fraud, and other violations of applicable laws and regulations. Your leadership will help ensure that enforcement actions are handled effectively, consistently, and with appropriate consideration for due process and the rights of all parties involved.

This position offers an opportunity to lead a team of experienced attorneys, influence regulatory enforcement practices, and strengthen the Commonwealth's approach to protecting patients and consumers. You will provide strategic direction on complex legal matters, establish enforcement priorities, and collaborate with licensing boards, investigators, senior legal leadership, and state and federal law enforcement partners. A key focus will be improving case management practices, addressing growing and increasingly complex caseloads, and developing policies that support timely and equitable resolutions. The Chief Prosecutor will also play an essential role in mentoring legal professionals, advancing their litigation expertise, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team. For an accomplished attorney seeking a leadership opportunity that combines sophisticated legal work, organizational management, and meaningful public service, this position provides the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to public health and professional accountability throughout Massachusetts.

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

• Direct the daily operations of the Prosecution Unit, overseeing the prosecution of disciplinary complaints referred by professional licensing boards within BHPL.
• Establish and implement prosecutorial policies, procedures, and enforcement priorities that promote consistent, timely, and legally sound resolution of professional misconduct complaints.
• Supervise and evaluate prosecuting attorneys and support staff, providing leadership, performance guidance, and professional development opportunities to maintain high standards of legal representation.
• Review complaints referred for prosecution, assess the sufficiency of investigative findings and supporting evidence, and determine appropriate case assignments, prosecutorial strategies, and additional investigative needs.
• Oversee complex administrative litigation, including case preparation, evidentiary matters, adjudicatory hearings, settlement negotiations, and recommendations for disciplinary sanctions.
• Manage an active caseload of enforcement matters while providing legal guidance and consultation to prosecuting attorneys on complex litigation, administrative law, and professional licensing issues.
• Develop and maintain effective case management, tracking, and reporting systems to monitor workloads, evaluate productivity, establish performance benchmarks, and address case backlogs.
• Collaborate with the Office of Public Protection, Board Counsel, licensing boards, and investigative staff to strengthen investigative procedures, improve evidence collection, and coordinate enforcement activities.
• Design and implement continuing legal education, cross-training, and professional development initiatives to strengthen staff expertise in litigation, regulatory enforcement, investigative practices, and emerging legal issues.
• Recommend and implement improvements to enforcement policies, administrative procedures, regulations, and legislative initiatives in consultation with senior legal leadership and BHPL management.
• Coordinate with state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General, District Attorneys, and other regulatory authorities, on matters involving professional misconduct, fraud, drug diversion, and unlicensed practice.
• Represent the Prosecution Unit in professional meetings, interagency discussions, and public outreach activities while ensuring compliance with due process requirements, confidentiality obligations, and safeguards that preserve the integrity and impartiality of adjudicatory proceedings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising attorneys in a litigation, regulatory enforcement, or government legal environment, including evaluating performance, assigning work, and supporting professional development.
• Extensive knowledge of administrative law, civil litigation, trial and appellate procedures, evidentiary standards, and adjudicatory proceedings involving professional licensing or regulatory enforcement.
• Strong understanding of Massachusetts laws, regulations, and professional standards governing healthcare licensing, disciplinary actions, and administrative enforcement proceedings.
• Proven ability to develop and execute effective litigation strategies, evaluate complex legal and factual issues, and provide sound legal guidance on sensitive or high-profile enforcement matters.
• Experience with investigating and prosecuting matters involving professional misconduct, healthcare fraud, drug diversion, negligence, unlicensed practice, or other violations affecting public health and consumer protection.
• Skilled in establishing enforcement priorities, managing competing caseload demands, allocating legal resources, and improving operational efficiency while maintaining fairness and procedural integrity.
• Demonstrated success in developing legal policies, implementing case management improvements, and using performance measures to evaluate productivity, case progression, and enforcement outcomes.
• Ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with licensing boards, investigators, government attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders on complex regulatory and legal matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, legal research, negotiation, and advocacy skills, including the ability to present complex legal issues clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead organizational change, mentor and motivate legal professionals, exercise sound independent judgment, and maintain the highest standards of ethics, confidentiality, and professional accountability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint and Teams.

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: www.mass.gov/DPH

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.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

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

Qualifications

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.

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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