Career Opportunity: Senior Project Director, Healthy Start Technical Assistance and Support Center

Organization Overview 

The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to driving dramatic and sustainable improvements in the complex issues facing children’s health. We provide deep expertise in building and managing effective change strategies that align partners and engage participants to achieve better outcomes for children’s health. At the heart of what motivates us is the belief that children and families deserve better systems and supports so that every child achieves their optimal health. Because of this belief, addressing social determinants of health, eliminating health disparities, and achieving equity are central to our mission. We believe that by creating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, we will similarly foster greater strength and resilience within and beyond the organization. 

Position Overview

NICHQ is seeking a full-time Senior Project Director to oversee the Healthy Start Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC) at NICHQ. The Healthy Start TASC provides training and technical assistance (TA) to support federally-funded Healthy Start grantees in improving their service delivery and meeting their program benchmarks focused on addressing infant and maternal mortality. The HS TASC strengthens grantees’ ability to implement strategies and programs that improve perinatal outcomes by increasing equitable access to quality community-based services. These HS grantees target communities experiencing an IMR (infant mortality rate) 2.5 times the national rate with the greatest disparity gap in African American (AA) and American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) populations. The grant funding that will support this role has been awarded through May 2029 contingent upon availability of federal funds each program year.
 

The ideal candidate will be an experienced project leader dedicated to strengthening and enhancing the TASC’s work and team. They are a visionary leader passionate about meeting the needs of grantees and fostering a thriving TASC comprised of staff, consultants, and partners. Social justice and eliminating health inequities are central to who they are and how they show up in their work. They are enthusiastic about meeting and engaging with the team and the Healthy Start community and come across as genuine and engaged. They have a proven track record (15+ years) of leading high-impact programming and teams. They understand the power of strong partnerships and lead by example, never underestimating the importance of building authentic and trusting relationships. They will inspire and support the team in cultivating a creative, resilient, collaborative team environment.   

Summary

Salary: $113,000-$132,000
Career Level: Experienced
Status: Full-Time, exempt employee 
Education: Master’s degree in public health or related field preferred plus more than 15 years directing programs/projects in a healthcare, academic, or nonprofit setting. Equivalent relevant experience may be substituted for education.

Position Responsibilities

  • Project Direction
    • Ensures adherence to the mission, vision and aims of the project
    • Provides leadership and directs all aspects of project scope, workplan, and deliverable to ensure success
    • Leads cross team and cross functional leadership including advanced communication and collaboration
    • Demonstrates knowledge of NICHQ methodology including model for improvement, breakthrough series, collaborative learning, health equity and manages the frameworks independently
    • Cultivates and oversees strategic and project-specific relationships with funders, partners, consultants, and faculty
    • Represents the project and organization at internal and external meetings and conferences
    • May provide content expertise through teaching, coaching, and providing technical assistance, as required 
    • Oversees and/or leads internal and external reporting
  • People Management
    • Supervises and mentors project staff including managing their project work, performance assessment, and professional development.
    • Oversees project team and ensures roles and responsibilities on project are clearly delineated and managed            
  • Grants Management
    • Oversees all project related income and expenses 
    • Manages the administration of contracts and cooperative agreements, including monthly and quarterly reporting of time and deliverables, addressing scopes of work changes, and invoicing approval
    • Oversees project-specific contracting with consultants and faculty, including developing and managing detailed scope of work. 
  • Organizational Contributions 
    • Manages additional internal special projects, as requested
    • Contributes to cross project sharing, learning and consistent integration of organizational support functions 

Position Qualifications

  • Demonstrated leadership managing people and complex projects in health care or related settings 
  • Demonstrated experience and skill writing summary reports, white papers, peer reviewed publications
  • Demonstrated experience and success in business development, including leading and/or writing proposals  
  • Demonstrated experience cultivating partnerships
  • Demonstrated understanding and experience with leading large-scale systems change
  • Ability to apply principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
  • Ability to think strategically, including process level thinking to optimize systems and resources
  • Exhibits high level of organization, time management skills and management of numerous details for multiple projects 
  • Strong communications skills, both oral and written. 
  • Ability to communicate sensitive information with a variety of stakeholders in a tactful manner  
  • 15+ years experience in healthcare or related systems directing and leading projects
  • Master’s degree in public health or related field preferred plus more than 15 years directing programs/projects in a healthcare, academic, or nonprofit setting. Equivalent relevant experience may be substituted for education.
  • Experience managing project/program budgets greater than $500,000/year required, experience with government funding, preferred.
  • Skilled multi-tasker who can prioritize, work autonomously, establish timelines and meet deadlines
  • Proficiency with office systems, computers, and MS Office Suite

Benefits  

We offer a generous benefits package for employees including competitive compensation; remote work; paid time off including vacation, sick and holidays; insurance including medical, dental, vision, disability and life; retirement; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance programs; paid parental leave and professional development benefits.

To Apply 

To apply for this employment opportunity, please apply online. If you have trouble accessing the application, please email [email protected].

Apply Now

NICHQ is committed to increasing the representation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in our workforce and to value and embrace their skills, perspectives and experiences for the benefit of our mission. NICHQ is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. NICHQ strongly encourages applications from candidates who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQI, or from any other minoritized group.