Director, Determination of Need Program

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 112,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Health, is seeking a Director of the Determination of Need (DoN) Program in Boston. This role provides strategic policy direction, oversees DoN reviews of major health care projects, and presents recommendations to the PHC and senior leadership.

You will lead staff, negotiate with applicants, and ensure compliance with program guidelines. The position requires deep knowledge of health care policy, population health impact, and strong

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of related experience in administration or management.
• Experience in health care or government settings is preferred.
• Ability to review and present DoN proposals and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the DoN program staff and operations.
• Analyze complex DoN proposals from financial, operational and community value perspectives.
• Present recommendations to the Public Health Council in meetings and public forums.
• Negotiate with applicants to clarify DoN requirements and ensure compliance.
• Oversee reporting by facilities with approved projects to ensure commitments are met.
• Lead the review and update of DoN sub-regulatory guidelines.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Public speaking

Policy analysis

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Education

Advanced degree in public health

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Director, Determination of Need Program (260006BB)

Job Description

Director, Determination of Need Program - ( 260006BB )

Description

The Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality (BHCSQ) is seeking an experienced and skilled administrator, presenter and negotiator to serve as the Director of the Determination of Need (DoN) Program. The Director provides strategic policy direction consistent with both DPH and DoN Program objectives and works with the DoN Application Manager and program staff to review applications presented for DoN that include, but are not limited to, significant capital expenditures, major changes in service, transfers of ownership, original licensure of health care facilities, and DoN-required services and technologies.

The purpose and objective of DoN is "to encourage competition and the development of innovative health delivery methods and population health strategies within the health care delivery system to ensure that resources will be made reasonably and equitably available to every person within the Commonwealth at the lowest reasonable aggregate cost advancing the Commonwealth's goals for cost containment, improved public health outcomes, and delivery system transformation".

The Director is responsible for operationalizing the DoN program’s policy objectives and strategic approach to reviewing DoN proposals, DoN program operations, and presenting DoN practices and decisions in public forums and to individual C-suite level personnel. The Director should have experience in and/or possess an understanding of competition within the health care industry; deep understanding of population health and impact to health status and outcomes; and the development of industry trends and innovative health delivery methods.

Duties and Responsibilities

(These duties are a general summary and not all inclusive)

• Leadership, advising, and management of the DoN program and its staff.
• Analytical adeptnessto objectively and critically assess project proposal strength and viability from complex financial, operational and community value-based perspectives. Ability to negotiate through applicant obscurity to ensure clarity.
• Presents application recommendations to the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) regulatory body, the Public Health Council (PHC), in monthly public meetings. Prepares and delivers presentations on complex regulation changes or updated DoN Program guidelines, ensuring information is understandable, logical and compelling.
• Uses strong communication skills and diplomacy, to build relationships with relevant stakeholders and negotiate through challenging conversations to advance the mission of DPH and the DoN Program.
• Oversees reporting by facilities and entities with approved projects to ensure compliance with commitments made and to conditions of the DoN Program. Seek new sources of information, methods and models to inform approaches industry innovation and growing complexity.
• Leads BHCSQ’s efforts in completing a comprehensive review of DoN sub-regulatory guidelines, engages internal and external stakeholders in completing review, development, and release of updated guidelines for the review of DoN applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience in health care and/or government.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of management experience.
• Advanced degree in public health, health care administration, or other related fields.
• Strong knowledge of Massachusetts health care and public policy. Able to understand and articulate a wide range of health care issues and regulation
• Ability to critically evaluate proposals in relation to the broader Massachusetts health care landscape as well as DPH and DoN objectives, and advise staff on applying these objectives in context.
• Exceptional program management, communication, strategic planning, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent speaking and analytical skills in public forums and with Sr. level leaders. Ability to analyze and succinctly articulate difficult and often complex, political situations in an effective manner.
• Skillful writer and editor with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively communicate with the public and the media, including making public presentations and answering difficult questions in high visibility situations.
• Skilled in problem solving, consensus building, diplomacy, conflict resolution and team building.
• Ability to identify risks and develop and apply logical and effective mitigation strategies.
• Ability to balance competing policies and interests.
• Capacity to think clearly and perform effectively under stress and adversity.

About the Department of Public Health

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.

We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.

DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

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.

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

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 business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a 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 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.

An Equal Opportunity / Affimative 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.

Primary Location

United States-Massachusetts-Boston-250 Washington Street

Job

Administrative Services

Agency

Department of Public Health

Schedule

Full-time

Shift

Day

Job Posting

Sep 18, 2026, 1:16:08 PM

Number of Openings

1

Salary

111,961.20 - 173,020.79 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmitive Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Sandra Semedo/[e-mail] - 6173524250

Bargaining Unit : M99-Managers (EXE)

Confidential : No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : Yes