Area Director

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is seeking an experienced, highly motivated, and dynamic leader to serve as the Area Director for the Plymouth Area Office. The Area Director is the highest-level DDS management position at the local level and provides strategic leadership and day-to-day oversight of the Area Office and the comprehensive network of services and support available to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: (The duties and responsibilities stated are a general summary and not all inclusive.)

1. · The Area Director has overall accountability for the administrative, clinical, programmatic, personnel, contractual, and fiscal operations of the Area Office. Responsibilities include oversight of residential, day and employment, clinical, family support, and other community-based services; management of a multi-million-dollar budget; provider contracting and performance; resource allocation; quality and risk management; and leadership and development of Area Office staff.
2. · The position is responsible for ensuring the availability and coordination of 24-hour emergency on-call response capacity for complex, urgent, and high-risk situations involving individuals served by DDS and the service delivery system.
3. · As the senior DDS representative at the local level, the Area Director serves as a key liaison with individuals and families, provider organizations, municipal officials, other Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) agencies, healthcare and educational partners, public safety agencies, advocacy organizations, and other community stakeholders. The Area Director develops and maintains effective partnerships to address individual and systemic needs and promote coordinated, responsive, and high-quality community-based services.
4. · The Area Director assesses local service needs and leads the planning, development, procurement, monitoring, and evaluation of services and supports. The position oversees the appropriate allocation of available resources, including Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver resources, and provides leadership and oversight of the Individual Support Plan (ISP) process.
5. · As a member of the Southeast Regional Management Team, the Area Director works collaboratively with Regional and statewide leadership to implement DDS priorities, address complex operational and service-delivery issues, strengthen provider capacity, and advance the mission of the Department.· The successful candidate will be a skilled and collaborative leader with significant experience in human services management, intellectual and developmental disability services, fiscal and contract administration, organizational leadership, and community-based service systems. The position requires excellent judgment, communication, and organizational skills and the ability to effectively balance individual and family needs, service quality, regulatory requirements, fiscal stewardship, workforce management, and competing operational priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess significant leadership and management experience within a complex human services environment, along with a strong understanding of services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Preferred qualifications include:

• Excellent organizational and administrative skills, with demonstrated ability to establish priorities, manage multiple complex responsibilities, meet deadlines, and effectively oversee a multifaceted service delivery system.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with individuals and families, staff, providers, community partners, senior leadership, government officials, state agencies, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated senior-level leadership and management experience, including strategic planning, staff supervision and development, performance management, organizational change, decision-making, and promoting accountability within a complex organization.
• Significant experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with demonstrated knowledge of person-centered services, community-based supports, and practices that promote choice, independence, inclusion, self-determination, and quality of life.
• Knowledge of and experience with Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers, including waiver-funded services, eligibility and service requirements, documentation, compliance, and the use of Waiver resources to support individuals in community-based settings.
• Demonstrated experience developing, managing, monitoring, and overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets, including fiscal planning, expenditure monitoring, forecasting, resource allocation, and alignment of resources with programmatic and operational priorities.
• Significant experience with contract administration, procurement, and provider oversight, including contract development and negotiation, performance monitoring, fiscal accountability, evaluation of service outcomes, and compliance with contractual and program requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex human services programs and operations across multiple functional areas, including the coordination of administrative, clinical, programmatic, fiscal, and personnel responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex operational, programmatic, clinical, and fiscal information, identify trends and emerging concerns, evaluate alternatives, and make sound and timely management decisions.
• Experience with quality management, risk management, incident management, investigations, and regulatory compliance within a human services or similarly complex service environment.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and respond to complex, sensitive, urgent, and high-risk situations, exercising sound judgment and appropriately coordinating and escalating issues when necessary.
• Demonstrated experience leading, supervising, mentoring, and developing professional and management staff, including establishing expectations, promoting accountability, supporting professional development, and fostering an effective and collaborative workplace.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with individuals and families, provider organizations, advocacy groups, community organizations, governmental entities, and other stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating with senior government officials, municipal partners, state agencies, healthcare organizations, educational systems, public safety entities, courts, or other community-based organizations is preferred.
• Ability to interpret, implement, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards, contractual requirements, and agency directives.
• Demonstrated commitment to person-centered practices, individual rights, equity, inclusion, self-determination, and meaningful community participation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Strong problem-solving, negotiation, conflict-resolution, and decision-making skills, with demonstrated ability to balance individual needs, service quality, available resources, regulatory requirements, and competing organizational priorities.
• Strong computer and data-management skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to effectively utilize databases, reports, and information systems to analyze information, monitor performance, and support management decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise a high degree of professional judgment, discretion, integrity, and confidentiality when managing sensitive individual, personnel, provider, fiscal, and organizational matters.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly responsible and visible leadership position, demonstrating flexibility, initiative, responsiveness, and the ability to successfully manage changing priorities and emerging needs.

SCHEDULE INFORMATION:

Full-time – 37.5-hour weekly position.

Schedule Monday through Friday - 8:45 to 5:00

Days Off: Saturday and Sunday

Interested applicants should be flexible in schedule as there may be occasional nights and weekend meetings with individuals, guardians, families and other agencies. There is travel involved for this position; on-call responsibilities; will carry a phone for afterhours/weekends emergencies on a rotating basis with the Area Director.

ABOUT THE Department of Developmental Services:

The mission of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is to create innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder to participate fully and contribute meaningfully to their communities as valued members. DDS serves over 43,000 vulnerable individuals throughout their lifetimes, providing a spectrum of day, employment, and residential supports. The agency directly oversees and manages $3 billion in public funds ($2.7B operating budget) and approximately 5,500 staff, the largest state employee workforce of any agency in the Massachusetts executive branch of government.

For more information about our agency and programs visit: www.mass.gov/dds

Pre-Hire Process:

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.

• Education, Licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines

A Criminal and tax history 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.

Recommended candidates must successfully complete pre-employment screening which includes:

• Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) Abuse Registry Search: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dppc-abuser-registry
• Criminal background check (CORI) by regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori
• National Background Checks, Chapter 234 of the Acts of 2014, conduct fingerprint-based check. https://www.mass.gov/lists/dds-fingerprint-background-checks

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For technical help with Mass Careers, including help logging into your profile and/or resetting your password please call the Employment Service Center at 617-979-8500 for assistance.

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4.

ALL EMPLOYEES ARE PAID ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS AND MUST HAVE DIRECT DEPOSIT.

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 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.

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 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.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

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!

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.