Job Description

　　The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking a dynamic professional to be its new Director of Litigation. This role will play an instrumental part in upholding the Department's mission to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, ensuring access to high-quality public health services, and promoting wellness and health equity across the Commonwealth. As the Director of Litigation, you will be responsible for managing, coordinating, and advising on all litigation matters impacting the Department.

　　Your role involves overseeing a team tasked with responding to subpoenas, handling discovery processes, and drafting legal documents such as pleadings, motions, and memorandums of law. As the leader of the Office of General Counsel's litigation team, you will recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate attorneys who defend the Department's position or prosecute matters in adjudicatory proceedings. Your expertise will extend to formulating program priorities, providing oversight on policy development, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements related to litigation, public records, meetings law, and state ethics.

　　Furthermore, you will take the lead in developing databases, policies, and procedures, as well as providing training for attorneys and staff. Your strategic guidance will contribute to the effective utilization of resources, enabling DPH programs to carry out their mission in alignment with legal authority and statutory mandates. By maintaining expertise in relevant areas of law and collaborating with program attorneys and senior staff, you will contribute to the Department's commitment to legal compliance and the promotion of public health. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the well-being of all people in the Commonwealth.

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

　　Lead and direct the Office of General Counsel's litigation team, setting annual goals and providing overall strategic direction to ensure the effective defense of the Department's position in legal matters.Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate a team of attorneys responsible for litigation, ensuring a high level of expertise and adherence to legal standards.Formulate program priorities and goals in collaboration with the General Counsel, contributing to the strategic direction of the Department.Provide oversight and strategic guidance on the development of policies, procedures, and training initiatives to promote compliance with legal requirements, including those related to litigation, public records, meetings law, and state ethics.Make hiring recommendations to the General Counsel, ensuring the acquisition of skilled legal professionals to strengthen the litigation team.Develop and implement databases, policies, and procedures to enhance the effectiveness of the legal team and facilitate compliance with statutory mandates.Maintain current expertise in relevant areas of law, including civil procedure, administrative procedure, public records, records retention, open meetings, state ethics, and contracts.Evaluate and comment on legislative language relevant to Department programs, contributing to the development of legislation and regulations.Collaborate with program directors and staff on policy development to ensure alignment with legal guidelines and mandates.Provide legal guidance to program directors and staff regarding investigations, enforcement actions, federal grant compliance, data security, reporting, and other pertinent legal matters.Assist in state budget analysis and legislation analysis and oversee special projects.

　　Preferred qualifications:

　　Strong knowledge of personnel support and management. Extensive knowledge of civil litigation and administrative law as well as familiarity with criminal law.Knowledge of specific legal requirements and principles associated with work in state government.General knowledge of public health and contract law.Extensive skill and experience in complex civil litigation, legal analysis, statutory drafting, and interpretation, and writing and analyzing regulations. Excellent interpersonal, advocacy, and problem-solving skills. Strong communication and presentation skills.

　　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.

　　Learn more about our important work:MA Department of Public Health

　　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 before the candidate being hired.

　　Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified per the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

　　Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records 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 Reasonable Accommodation Online 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

　　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.

　　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!

　　COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.

　　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.