Director of Contracts and Payment

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP), is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to direct contracts and payments as part of the Bureau’s Administration and Finance team. The role leads procurement, contracting, purchasing, contract monitoring, and payment operations that support public health programs. It applies financial management, grant management, and budget analysis knowledge to coordinate funding, address financial issues, and strengthen business practices in partnership with the Fiscal Unit and program teams. The Fiscal Unit retains responsibility for Bureau fiscal oversight. The Director leads a seven-person team, including three direct reports and four indirect reports. The position conducts and approves purchases within delegated authority, oversees procurement activities, and supervises purchasing staff. In collaboration with Bureau leadership, program managers, and financial partners, the Director develops solutions to complex fiscal and operational challenges, supports staff development, and improves systems connecting contracts, purchasing, payments, and financial operations. The role also evaluates policies, procedures, and operational decisions through a racial equity lens, with attention to health and social disparities. The position provides critical support, technical assistance, and training to Bureau staff on financial procedures, contracting requirements, and systems. It balances immediate requests and fiscal emergencies with longer-term financial analysis and operational needs. Applicants must meet the stated minimum entrance requirements: at least five years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial financial management experience, including at least one year in project management, supervisory, or managerial capacity, or an equivalent combination of experience and the specified substitutions for relevant education or certificates.

Requirements

At least five years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in financial management work, such as budgeting, accounting, auditing, management analysis, program evaluation, or financial reporting of program results; at least one year must be in project management, supervisory, or managerial capacity, or an equivalent combination of experience and permitted substitutions.
Ability to conduct and approve purchases within delegated authority and oversee procurement activities.
Experience supervising staff and supporting performance management and development, as reflected in the minimum entrance requirements and job duties.
Ability to work with financial and program teams to coordinate funding, contracts, purchases, and payments.
Ability to provide guidance on procurement regulations, contracting requirements, contract scope development, and contract monitoring.
Ability to develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures and support compliance, internal controls, and workflow improvement.
Strong leadership, facilitation, strategic planning, project management, and time management skills, including managing multiple projects accurately and meeting deadlines.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial and contracting requirements and build productive relationships.
Ability to collaborate across departments to resolve complex fiscal and operational challenges and support informed decisions.
Ability to incorporate racial equity considerations into financial procedures and operational decisions, with attention to health and social disparities.
Sound judgment, honesty, integrity, and commitment to public service.
Education substitutions for the five-year experience requirement: a relevant certificate may substitute for one year; a related bachelor’s degree for two years; a related graduate degree or higher for three years; or a related doctorate for four years.
Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with Human Resources Division Hiring Guidelines.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing procurement, contracting, purchasing, contract monitoring, and payment operations in a public-sector, healthcare, or similarly complex organization, including direct purchasing and purchase approval responsibilities.
Working knowledge of fiscal and financial management, grant management, budget analysis, financial analysis, and stewardship of public funds.
Strong understanding of Massachusetts state procurement and contracting requirements, fiscal policies, and applicable state and federal compliance standards.
Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures related to systems change, process improvement, internal controls, audits, and compliance tracking and monitoring.
Experience developing staff through performance appraisals, coaching, mentoring, team development, training, and individualized professional development plans.
Experience collaborating across departments to resolve complex fiscal and operational challenges.
Knowledge of Massachusetts state financial and administrative systems, including the Information Warehouse, MOSAIC, PTS, or comparable applications.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams.

Responsibilities

Oversee BCHAP procurement, contracting, purchasing, contract monitoring, and payment operations, ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements, policies, and sound financial management practices.
Conduct and approve purchases within delegated authority; oversee procurement and supervise purchasing staff, ensuring appropriate documentation, approvals, and internal controls.
Provide leadership, strategic planning, decision-making, and internal monitoring of purchasing and contracting practices while balancing limited resources, competing priorities, and statewide service needs.
Work with Fiscal Unit analysts and program teams to coordinate funding availability, address funding-related issues, and support contracts, purchases, and payments.
Apply financial management, grant management, and budget analysis knowledge to support informed decisions and coordination across units.
Advise program managers and staff on procurement regulations, contracting requirements, Chapter 257 rate setting, contract scope development, and contract monitoring practices.
Directly supervise three staff and provide leadership and oversight to four indirect reports; manage performance appraisals, coaching, mentoring, training, and professional development.
Coordinate team meetings and establish communication tools, feedback mechanisms, and performance expectations that support collaboration, staff achievement, and career advancement.
Develop, implement, and monitor contracting, procurement, purchasing, and payment policies and procedures; clarify requirements, maximize resources, track A&F deliverables, and lead quality improvement initiatives.
Partner with the Assistant Director of Fiscal Operations, the Administration and Finance Director, and other Bureau leaders to strengthen A&F systems, address complex fiscal and operational issues, and contribute to planning and quality improvement.
Maintain relationships with DPH Purchase of Service, Accounting, other bureaus, and administrative offices to coordinate activities and resolve cross-functional issues.
Assess policies, procedures, and operational decisions through a racial equity lens and integrate racial equity considerations into contracting, procurement, purchasing, and payment practices.
Provide technical assistance and training on financial procedures, contracting requirements, and systems, including the Information Warehouse, MOSAIC, and PTS.
Balance requests for assistance with fiscal emergencies, senior management requests for financial analysis, and other bureaus’ needs for timely responses; provide analyses and practical recommendations to resolve problems.