Job Description
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) Bureau of Substance Addiction (BSAS) is seeking dynamic applicants to fill the role of the Policy and Special Projects Coordinator. Under the general direction of the Director of Policy, the Policy and Special Projects Coordinator will support policy and program development projects that aim to improve access to, and quality of substance use related services.
The Policy and Special Projects Coordinator will provide analysis, writing, and project coordination for programmatic and policy initiatives as directed by the Director of Policy and/or other bureau senior leadership.
Duties and Responsibilities (These duties are a general summary and not all-inclusive):
- Coordinate responses to inquiries and requests for information from internal and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to development of ongoing policy priorities and track progress toward accomplishments of policy priorities.
- Develop and coordinate project workplans and timelines.
- Develop and implement standards to be used in program monitoring / evaluation.
- Draft presentations, policy recommendations, issue briefs and reports as requested.
- Present findings and policy / programmatic recommendations, orally and in writing.
- Monitor changing federal, national, and state policy changes to inform and support bureau-wide planning and strategy.
- Analyze the impact of legislative, regulatory, and policy changes/proposals to assess impacts, make policy recommendations based on findings, and coordinate implementation of recommendations.
- Confer with management staff and others to contribute to the development of best practices.
- Represent BSAS at meetings.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Capability to understand and apply the State and Federal laws and regulations governing Substance Addiction Treatment Programs.
- Ability to assess a substance Addiction treatment program with respect to BSAS policies and contracts and prepare reports of the assessment.
- Proficient interpersonal communication skills to communicate policies and procedures to providers and the public as established within the Department.
- Proven ability to write concisely to express thoughts clearly, and to develop ideas in logical sequence.
- Capacity to communicate verbally and in writing in a professional, diplomatic, and understandable manner.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment.
- Skills to maintain accurate and organized records.
- Experience in the substance addiction treatment field.
- Understanding of the methods used in general report writing and in the preparation of charts, graphs, and tables.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Enhanced knowledge of substance addiction treatment services in Massachusetts and understanding of the policies and funding mechanisms of Massachusetts’ substance addiction programming.
- In-depth knowledge of State and Federal contracts, regulations and laws governing Substance Addiction Services and their fiscal management.
- Understanding of Electronic Invoice Management/Electronic Service Management information system.
About the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services:
The Mission of the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) is to foster healthy life choices through culturally responsive services that prevent, treat, and promote recovery from substance-related disorders.
Our Guiding Principles include:
- Addiction is a chronic disease that can be successfully prevented and treated.
- Eliminating the stigma associated with addiction is essential to our work.
- Substance use disorders affect individuals, families, and communities across the Commonwealth.
- No single treatment is appropriate for everyone and medications are an important element of treatment for many individuals.
- People affected by substance addiction should be treated with dignity and respect.
- The Bureau of Substance Addiction Services acknowledges the history of structural racism in the United States and its impact on health outcomes. The Bureau is committed to improving the quality of life for all Commonwealth residents, focusing on traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations.
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 diseases, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offers services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to ensure 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.
More information can be found at MA Department of Public Health
Pre-Hire Process:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori
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 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 ADA Reasonable Accommodation 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
- Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
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 related to compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.