Director of Northeast Residential Services

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Danvers, MA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Residential Services for the Northeast Region provides executive leadership, oversight, and operational management for the Department of Developmental Services’ state-operated residential programs serving individuals with complex medical and behavioral needs. The role is responsible for planning, organizing, administering, and ensuring the continuous operation of 77 residential homes serving approximately 340 individuals, supported by a workforce of more than 1,100 direct care, nursing, supervisory, and clinical staff providing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reporting directly to the Assistant Commissioner of State Operated Services, the Director advances DDS’s mission to deliver high-quality, person-centered supports in community-based settings, reduce institutionalization, and comply with court-ordered settlements. The Director ensures that residential programs are safe, clinically sound, responsive to individual needs, cost-effective, and fiscally responsible within a large, decentralized public agency. The Director plans, develops, transitions, and expands residential services, managing current programs while preparing for the changing needs of individuals served by Northeast Residential Services. This includes managing program growth, ensuring service quality, developing models such as emergency respite, and supporting implementation amid workforce, clinical, and operational challenges. The Director works with DCAM, landlords, and local housing authorities to establish new residential homes and maintain properties, including overseeing design and construction projects and coordinating day-to-day maintenance. The Director collaborates with statewide state-operated services, regional leadership, Area Offices, clinical teams, and administrative partners on program development, budgets, labor relations, and strategic planning. The position has independent authority to set policy, operational standards, service expectations, quality assurance systems, program priorities, and annual plans for Northeast Residential Services. It directs Residential Program Directors and senior management, evaluates performance, directs corrective actions, and resolves complex operational issues. The Director exercises independent authority over budget development, fiscal priorities, expenditures, and allocation of financial and staffing resources. The role also shapes the development and expansion of emergency stabilization residential services, including implementation strategies, staffing models, clinical structures, and operational controls. It oversees clinical and healthcare service systems for individuals with complex medical, behavioral, and forensic needs, supervises the Health Core Coordinator, establishes regional healthcare and clinical standards, determines placement strategies and service configurations, and represents the Department with Area Offices, governmental entities, and community stakeholders. The position is located at the Hogan Regional Center in Danvers, Massachusetts. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday off; flexibility is needed to meet the needs of the Regional Office.

Requirements

At least six 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.
At least two years of the required experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity, unless an equivalent combination of experience and permitted substitutions applies.
A relevant certificate may substitute for one year of the required experience; a related bachelor’s degree may substitute for two years; a related graduate degree may substitute for three years; and a related doctorate may substitute for four years.
Knowledge of developmental disabilities issues and strategies, including supporting individuals with complex medical, behavioral, and forensic needs.
Experience designing and implementing residential service delivery programs, including clinical support models, program policies, and operational systems.
Leadership and management skills, including staff supervision, professional development, performance management, and organizational improvement.
Knowledge of budgetary principles and resource management, including setting staffing levels and schedules within fiscal constraints and making data-driven funding decisions.
Knowledge of clinical and healthcare delivery systems and ability to evaluate and coordinate medical and behavioral supports and oversee quality and safety standards.
Ability to establish and implement program evaluation, performance measurement, quality improvement, and surveillance systems for accountability and continuous improvement across a large residential network.
Collaboration, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills, including working with Area Offices, community resources, contractors, and external agencies, and managing community relations and placement decisions.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in public health, human services, business management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least five years of professional administrative, supervisory, or management experience, preferably in developmental disabilities or residential services.

Responsibilities

Lead, plan, organize, administer, and ensure the continuous operation of 77 state-operated residential homes serving approximately 340 individuals.
Provide executive oversight of a workforce of more than 1,100 direct care, nursing, supervisory, and clinical staff delivering 24-hour, seven-day-a-week services.
Advance person-centered community-based supports, help reduce institutionalization, and support compliance with court-ordered settlements.
Plan, develop, transition, and expand residential services in response to current and future needs.
Manage program growth, service quality, and development of service models such as emergency respite and emergency stabilization services.
Work with DCAM, landlords, and local housing authorities to develop residential homes and maintain properties; oversee design and construction projects and coordinate routine maintenance.
Collaborate with statewide and regional leadership, Area Offices, clinical teams, and administrative partners on program development, budget management, labor relations, and strategic planning.
Establish and finalize operational policies, service standards, performance expectations, quality assurance systems, program priorities, and annual plans.
Direct Residential Program Directors and senior management staff; establish accountability frameworks, resolve complex operational issues, evaluate performance, and direct corrective actions.
Develop budgets, set fiscal priorities, control expenditures, allocate financial and staffing resources, and make data-informed decisions to support fiscal sustainability and service effectiveness.
Determine strategies, staffing models, clinical service structures, and operational controls for emergency stabilization residential services; oversee implementation and performance.
Oversee clinical and healthcare service systems for individuals with complex medical, behavioral, and forensic needs, including supervision of the Health Core Coordinator and establishment of regional clinical and healthcare standards.
Determine placement strategies, service configurations, and responses to high-risk clinical and operational issues.
Represent the Department in dealings with Area Offices, governmental entities, and community stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned.