Worcester Area Office Director

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Worcester, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Central/West Region of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is seeking a person with demonstrated leadership, organizational and management skills to lead the Worcester Area Office team. The area director fulfills a critical role at the local level and must be able to lead in an active, challenging and rewarding environment.
The Worcester Area Director has primary responsibility for the management of a ninety (90) million-dollar allocation which is directed to the procurement, contracting, development, delivery and oversight of an array of residential, day, clinical, family and support services for approximately 2,700 adult and child eligible individuals and their families across eleven (11) cities and towns. The area director, with their team, continuously determines priority need against available resources, and strives to deliver services where most needed. Maximizing the area allocation to meet assessed needs in a fair and equitable manner and driving federal waiver dollar remuneration to broaden access are some of the key responsibilities.
As the local hiring manager, the next area director should have a deep understanding of the Worcester catchment area and strive to build a competent, diverse and representative workforce. The area director is the local hiring manager and has direct supervisory responsibility for members of the management/leadership team, which could include the assistant area director, service coordinator supervisors, program monitor, health care coordinator and psychologist. They also have indirect supervisory responsibility for an additional thirty (30) plus area office staff, including service coordinators and administrative staff. Understanding and ensuring labor contract compliance and meeting the ongoing training and development needs of the labor force is critical to success. In addition to several quality assurance activities, the area director provides leadership in the implementation and oversight of the Department’s risk and incident management systems, the ISP, waiver billing and assurances, site visitation and program development, etc.
The area director must engage respectfully and professionally with a diverse group of citizens, provider agencies and public officials while ensuring compliance to rules and regulations, thus strong reasoning, analytical skills and communication are key. The area director is responsible for the ongoing direction and leadership of the Worcester Citizen Advisory Board, a group made up of citizen volunteers who advise leadership on matters important to the furtherance of our mission.
The area director is a key member of the Central/West Regional Management Team, contributing to the overall performance of the region by being an active contributor at regularly scheduled meetings, contributing to resource growth and quality and by providing data and other information, as needed. The area director will contribute to Central DDS initiatives, such as new policy development, RFRs, statewide training and new programming and implement/instruct as necessary in their area office, consistent with other areas and regions.
Finally, the area director provides emergency on-call response during off hours as part of the management team which could include providing guidance on emergency calls involving individuals in psychiatric, medical and forensic crisis.

Requirements

• 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.
• A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
• A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
• A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
• A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.
• Strong reasoning, analytical skills and communication are key.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational and management skills.
• Deep understanding of the Worcester catchment area.

Responsibilities

• Primary responsibility for the management of a ninety (90) million-dollar allocation which is directed to the procurement, contracting, development, delivery and oversight of an array of residential, day, clinical, family and support services for approximately 2,700 adult and child eligible individuals and their families across eleven (11) cities and towns.
• Continuously determines priority need against available resources, and strives to deliver services where most needed.
• Maximizing the area allocation to meet assessed needs in a fair and equitable manner and driving federal waiver dollar remuneration to broaden access.
• Build a competent, diverse and representative workforce.
• Direct supervisory responsibility for members of the management/leadership team, which could include the assistant area director, service coordinator supervisors, program monitor, health care coordinator and psychologist.
• Indirect supervisory responsibility for an additional thirty (30) plus area office staff, including service coordinators and administrative staff.
• Understanding and ensuring labor contract compliance and meeting the ongoing training and development needs of the labor force.
• Provides leadership in the implementation and oversight of the Department’s risk and incident management systems, the ISP, waiver billing and assurances, site visitation and program development.
• Engage respectfully and professionally with a diverse group of citizens, provider agencies and public officials while ensuring compliance to rules and regulations.
• Responsible for the ongoing direction and leadership of the Worcester Citizen Advisory Board.
• Contribute to the overall performance of the region by being an active contributor at regularly scheduled meetings, contributing to resource growth and quality and by providing data and other information, as needed.
• Contribute to Central DDS initiatives, such as new policy development, RFRs, statewide training and new programming and implement/instruct as necessary in their area office, consistent with other areas and regions.
• Provides emergency on-call response during off hours as part of the management team which could include providing guidance on emergency calls involving individuals in psychiatric, medical and forensic crisis.

Benefits

• Outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package.
• Work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed