Chief operating officer

Tewksbury Hospital, operated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), is seeking a strategic and dynamic administrator to serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO). This experienced leader will be responsible for assisting with the day-to-day operations of a 375-bed, Joint Commission-accredited hospital that provides comprehensive treatment, care, and comfort to adults with medical and/or mental illness.

The COO serves as a member of the Leadership and Senior Management Teams and will take the lead role in the overall planning, directing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating all hospital programs, policies, and procedures, including vendor contract negotiations. Much of the day-to-day operations of the facility are guided by the COO to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies and consistent adherence to the hospital’s expressed mission and strategic initiatives. The COO provides leadership and direct supervision of food and nutrition services, campus police, health information services, and facilities management. Given the critical nature of hospital infrastructure, expertise in facilities management, including oversight of hospital buildings, grounds, and maintenance operations, is essential to this role.

Leading organizational change management is another key aspect of this role, requiring the ability to inspire and guide teams through transformative initiatives. The COO will foster collaboration and maintain transparency across all levels of the organization while effectively communicating the strategic vision. The ideal candidate has significant project management experience, preferably in a unionized environment. Additionally, the candidate should have in-depth knowledge of Joint Commission standards and regulatory compliance with state and local agencies to ensure adherence to the highest quality standards. Experience managing large-scale facilities operations, including infrastructure improvements and capital projects, is highly desirable.

The COO works closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Clinical Officer (CCO), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Director of Nursing (DON), Facilities Director, and Quality and Clinical Services to maintain and surpass the high level of services required by The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other regulatory and oversight agencies. The incumbent must be able to manage and coordinate multiple and competing priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Provides strategic and overall operational leadership and evaluates departmental performance, resource allocation, and utilization to establish and prioritize departmental goals and activities.
• Collaborates with the CEO to ensure the effective functioning of the hospital with a focus on safety and quality and assumes hospital-wide responsibility for compliance with external review bodies including but not limited to CMS, DPH, and TJC.
• Oversees facilities management, including maintenance operations, capital planning, infrastructure improvements, and environmental safety to ensure a safe and effective hospital environment.
• Leads and manages facility and lease contracts, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements while optimizing operational efficiencies.
• Partners with the CEO regarding the implementation of various organizational/operational improvements such as systems process changes to improve and/or streamline services, e.g., effective facilities management.
• Provides leadership through goal setting, direction, and supervision of assigned departments.
• Collaborates with the senior leadership team, IT, Labor, and HR Business Partners to support centralized functions and services.
• Evaluates and selects various consultants and vendors to provide expertise to operations and services for the hospital.
• Leads and initiates the examination of the hospital’s service delivery model, patient treatment, and care planning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 
  Five to seven (5-7) years of experience in healthcare/medical care operations, with direct experience overseeing facilities management, hospital infrastructure, and capital projects.
• Certification in Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO), Certified Professional Medical Services Management (CPMSM), or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).
• Strong experience in drafting, negotiating, and managing facility and lease contracts and agreements.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission Standards and CMS Conditions of Participation.
• Substantive working knowledge of the guidelines of healthcare quality improvement.
• Past work experience and the ability to work effectively with oversight agencies and federal and state regulatory agencies, including in a unionized setting.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including a high degree of organizational skills and the ability to motivate and supervise staff, to analyze complex problems and issues and to design workable solution.
• Ability to communicate clearly and diplomatically, both orally and in writing to various levels of management and clinical staff.
• Ability to manage a diverse workforce and the ability to embrace diversity as a strategic advantage.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and Outlook.

About Tewksbury Hospital:

Tewksbury Hospital operates a 375-bed facility and a campus of over 700 acres of land. Its patient care services are provided under the auspices of the Department of Public Health and Mental Health. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the administration of a Joint Commission accredited LTAC hospital that provides high quality, comprehensive treatment, care, and comfort to adults with chronic medical and mental illness. A full range of services are provided including 24/7 Nursing, Nurse Practitioners, Medicine as well as psychiatric and psychological services, a 6-chair dialysis suite, clinical laboratory, radiology, respiratory care, nutrition, speech/language, pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, therapeutic recreation and arts, and pharmacy. The high-quality clinical environment is strictly governed by regulatory standards that mandate day to day interventions and services.

Learn more :

Pre-Hire Process:

A tax & background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.

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 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 Online Request Form

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Employment and Staffing at 1-800-510-4122, option 4.

For technical questions regarding MassCareers access and navigation please contact MassHR at 617-979-8500.

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!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.

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.

Official Title : Administrator VIII

Primary Location : United States-Massachusetts-Tewksbury-365 East Street

Job : Administrative Services

Agency : Department of Public Health

Schedule : Full-time

Shift : Day

Job Posting : Nov 7, 2025, 12:57:20 PM

Number of Openings : 1

Salary : 109,765.96 - 169,628.22 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Sandra Semedo: [email protected] - 6173488482

Bargaining Unit : M99-Managers (EXE)

Confidential : No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : No