EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms.  EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The Zero Suicide Institute (ZSI) @EDC, within the U.S. Division, has an opening for a ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)], reporting to the ZSI Manager.  The position will be based in Waltham, MA, Washington D.C., or remotely from the employee’s home office.

The EDC U.S. Division includes grants and projects in the areas of suicide, substance use disorders, healthcare, and violence and injury prevention. Through this work, EDC provides state and local officials, grantees, policymakers, interested stakeholders and the general public with assistance in developing, implementing and evaluating programs and strategies to prevent injury, violence and suicide.

The ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)] will deliver trainings and consultation related to the Zero Suicide model and suicide safer care. There may be an opportunity for this person to become an AMSR (Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk) trainer or master trainer (depending on experience). While the reach and application of the Zero Suicide model continues to evolve, ZSI currently supports a wide range of health and behavioral settings – including hospitals and integrated delivery networks, community mental health centers, federally-qualified health centers, primary care - as well as health plans, state and tribal governments, and federal agencies. The ideal candidate, therefore, understands suicide care in health and behavioral health care settings with preferred experience of implementing care to patients. The candidate also has experience implementing health promotion and prevention efforts in health care settings. The person in this position will also contribute to the review of the current Zero Suicide toolkit as well as assist in the creation of new resources and tools. The individual will join a rapidly growing team who have both unique areas of expertise and are flexible and skilled at providing support to a variety of groups.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

The ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)] provides consultation about the Zero Suicide model and comprehensive suicide safer care in health and behavioral health settings; typically assigned to multiple, diverse, complex and high-impact projects, involving:

• Managing complex contracts, including project timeline and budget (e.g., documenting, managing resources, assigning work and engaging other staff and external consultants as needed, tracking project deliverables, administrative tasks as needed, and reporting to clients and Zero Suicide Institute leadership)
• Providing consultation about launching, implementing, sustaining, and evaluating Zero Suicide and comprehensive suicide care in health care organizations, states, and other relevant settings; will lead parts of a project or coordinate sections of larger projects
• Helping in the development of curriculum for various settings where comprehensive suicide care is applicable such as outpatient, inpatient, hospital systems, states, primary care, and payers
• Managing administrative procedures
• Monitoring contractual compliance
• Maintaining records
• Preparing recommendation reports
• Writing and developing materials
• Disseminating information, including website content
• Planning and facilitating multi-day events that include senior health care executives and other senior level participants (e.g., tribal leadership, senior federal officials, state-level leaders)
• Working closely with sponsors to ensure event/agenda/speakers meet the specific needs of the participants
• Leading virtual learning collaboratives and communities of practice using adult and web-based learning best practices
• Developing presentations, training, and workshops about health and behavioral health initiatives with focus on underrepresented groups such as American Indian, Alaska Native, veterans/military, and rural communities
• Assisting with the promoting the Zero Suicide framework and specifically, the Zero Suicide Institute @EDC’s work through attendance at conferences and speaking at national events
• Suggesting ideas for improved efficiency or future focus; assisting with the creation of new resources, toolkit content, editing existing content, providing feedback on existing literature and best practices
• Develops rapport with clients, and facilitates connections to additional services when appropriate; consulting with and fostering relationship with experts in suicide prevention and health care
• Suggests new clients and/or types of clients
• Assisting with manuscript development on health care initiatives (e.g., results of Zero Suicide implementation, specific elements of improving suicide care) for publication
• Contributing to design and implementation of business monitoring systems
• Supporting project procurement
• Identifying & recruiting technical consultants; developing their scope of work

The ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)]:

• Coordinates administrative and logistical tasks for events or for the development of new resources
• Facilitates project teamwork and feedback exchanges
• Collaborates on troubleshooting complex problems, proposing initiatives and recommending or negotiating solutions
• Trains and provides guidance or administrative direction to junior staff
• Travel is required across the U.S. regularly and frequently throughout the month, between 35% and 50%.
• International travel may be possible but is not required or frequent

This position requires educational achievement; excellent writing and public speaking skills; demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively in groups; and strong interpersonal & organizational skills. Specific requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of training & experience preferred
• With Bachelor’s degree, at least 7 years related experience
• With Master’s degree, at least 4 years related experience
• Some prior project leadership or supervisory experience preferred; demonstrated ability to lead projects independently, including oversight of multiple projects and competing deadlines
• Demonstrable organizational and troubleshooting skills; demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships with colleagues, partners, and funders over long distances (virtually)
• Strong analytical skills and aptitude for details
• Familiarity with health and behavioral health care systems
• Experience and ability to plan, lead, and manage projects including the ability to take initiative and manage and prioritize time sensitive tasks
• Experience providing consultation at a larger scale (e.g., tribe-wide, regional, state-wide, national)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Outlook, Power Point, Excel)
• Prefer candidates who have clinical experience in health or behavioral health care settings (not individual or private practice) in providing suicide care to patients

The ideal candidate demonstrates the following:

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communications skills. Able to communicate effectively with a variety of internal and external audiences
• Project Management: Experience and ability to plan and execute projects on deadline, including the ability to take initiative and manage multiple time-sensitive tasks simultaneously and prioritize tasks appropriately in a highly fast-paced environment.  
• Technical Skills: Ability to stay up to date with ever-changing world of social and digital media. Strong understanding of how to optimize content based on multiple platforms.
• Collaboration & Relationship Building: Able to work both independently without close oversight, and as a team player who will productively and proactively engage with others across the team and the larger project. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships and navigate sensitivities with individuals working in various levels of public and private sector organizations.
• Personal Qualities: This position is ideal for an individual who excels in professional environments that are dynamic and fast-paced, inclusive, team-oriented, mission-driven, and resource-limited. It is also ideal for those who exhibit a commitment to team success, a positive attitude, proactive thinking, flexibility, and creativity. Interest in and/or knowledge of suicide and suicide prevention fields preferred.

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume. Applications without the requested items will not be considered. The cover letter should be a succinct (2 pages max) statement of interest that includes highlights of relevant qualifications and experience for the role desired. Resumes are not subject to a page limit. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to complete a presentation exercise.

We encourage individuals from communities disproportionately affected by suicide (e.g., American Indians, Alaska Natives, LGBTQ2S, Military, Veterans, rural) to apply for this position.