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 is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

EDC has an opening for a full-time Deputy Director (Project Director I) of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Secretariat as part of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) project at EDC, reporting to the Director of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Secretariat, to be located in Washington, DC; Waltham, MA; or via remote home office (Washington, DC area preferred).

The Deputy Director (Project Director I), manages the Secretariat team at EDC that provides operational support to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance), the nation’s public-private partnership for suicide prevention. 

Supported primarily by the SPRC project, the Action Alliance Secretariat provides strategic support to  the Action Alliance’s Executive Committee (EXCOM) and advances key Action Alliance priority initiatives, including various national-level work groups and task forces that advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The Action Alliance is responsible for engaging, collaborating with, and motivating diverse partners (e.g., policymakers, federal agency leaders and staff, health system leaders, media, business leaders, faith leaders, suicide attempt survivors and survivors of suicide loss) to catalyze innovative suicide prevention efforts nationwide. 

The Deputy Director (Project Director I) is responsible for directing Action Alliance projects via effective project management, budget and operational oversight, and supervision of the Secretariat team. The Deputy Director (Project Director I) is responsible for ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and on task, and has overall responsibility for the execution of key tasks to advance the work of the Action Alliance and its strategic priorities. Candidates must have strong project management and facilitation skills, team leadership and supervisory experience, impeccable writing and editing skills, strong organizational qualities, good judgement, ability to confidently make independent decisions, and ethical integrity. The Deputy Director (Project Director I) must have the ability to work in complex, fast-paced, ever-changing, and politically sensitive contexts with executive-level leaders in federal government and private industry.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly, professionally 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, including coordinating closely with other SPRC teams at EDC. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

The Deputy Director of the Secretariat (Project Director I):

• Directs operations (e.g., budget, staffing, logistics, deliverables) for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention at EDC.
• Serves as a member of EDC’s SPRC Leadership Team, including directly interfacing with other team leads on resource allocation and cross-project priorities, participating in leadership and staff meetings.
• Provides strategic direction and contributes to strategic planning for the EDC SPRC project.
• Collaborates and communicates regularly with EDC’s partners on the SPRC project.
• Supervises project staff and serves as backup to Action Alliance Director, when needed.
• Manages casual staff, short-term staff, and sub-contracts (i.e., budget, workplans, deliverables).
• Responsible for the programmatic/technical success as well as for administrative/business/financial viability of project(s).
• Ensures team is comprised of appropriate staffing levels and the expertise needed to be successful.
• Develops, trains, monitors, and supervises Secretariat team, as well as casual staff and short-term staff in the use of project management tools and sets expectations for use of these tools.
• Oversees Secretariat team efforts to identify and implement new operational strategies and tactics to increase efficiency.
• Directs Action Alliance business development activities, from driving Action Alliance-related proposals  through executing new contracts.
• Responsible for collaborating with the EDC Office of Sponsored Programs to establish streamlined and responsive proposal, contracting, reporting, and billing procedures.
• Oversees administrative procedures, including records maintenance/organization, contractual compliance, and performance reports. Ensures consistent and accurate documentation of project activities and deliverables across all Action Alliance projects.
• Directs project monitoring and oversees quality standards and creative production processes for Action Alliance products (e.g., reports, virtual events, live events).
• Oversees biannual EXCOM meetings including staffing, budget, logistics, project management, and strategic direction.
• Works with team to compile monthly activity reports on key Action Alliance activities for leadership and oversees process to develop regular briefings for Action Alliance leadership.
• Oversees product development and quality assurance processes for Action Alliance priority group, advisory group, and task force deliverables in collaboration with partners.
• Offers senior-level technical content support; may act as Principal Investigator.
• Is primarily responsible for the production and management of resources to meet project or program development implementation objectives.
• Sets strategic priorities; oversees Action Alliance work plans and approves revisions to work plans; tracks and reports on progress.
• Determines resource needs; arranges appropriate internal or subcontracted services.
• Other EDC, SPRC, and Action Alliance tasks as assigned.

The Deputy Director (Project Director I):

• Leads operational, project management, and administrative efforts for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention at EDC.
• Supervises team staff and supports projects across the Action Alliance to achieve priority objectives.
• Promotes equity and opportunity in support of EDC’s commitment to diversity.
• Collaborates with program participants or team members to achieve project or program objectives
• Guides feedback exchanges.
• Supervises junior or support staff; may coordinate the work of less experienced staff.
• Manages sub-awards or sub-contracts.
• Builds positive client, vendor, partner, and funder relations.
• Coordinates work of team leaders &/or project staff who may be located in field or remote sites.
• Train and coaches.
• Supervises technical &/or administrative staff; may have administrative supervision over 1-5 staff and provide technical direction to additional staff.
• May organize cross-project or interdepartmental activities.
• May be involved directly with program participants, partners, or team members, collaborating to achieve project or program objectives.
• May travel frequently.

This unique opportunity provides the excitement of working for a successful, high-growth, mission-driven organization, continuing to grow as a trusted, objective leader in the field of suicide prevention. Candidates should have a high knowledge in the areas below as well as the following skills, abilities, and personal characteristics.

• Project Leadership: Experience and ability to plan, lead, and manage projects including the ability to take initiative and manage multiple time-sensitive tasks simultaneously and prioritize tasks appropriately in a fast-paced environment.
• Management: Supervises professional Secretariat team and oversees the development, updating, and tracking of Action Alliance’s progress advancing key priorities. Coaches staff and supports their professional growth.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Takes initiative and actively looks for new opportunities for partnerships and business development and both conceptualizes and executes on new ideas.
• Communications: Ability to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials and conversations. Experience and credibility when presenting materials to external audiences.
• Collaboration: Ability to work both independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside EDC and the Action Alliance.
• Personal Qualities: A professional who excels in a mission-driven, resource-limited environment. Someone who exhibits flexibility, enthusiasm, responsiveness, aptitude for details, a positive attitude, creativity, strategic and analytical thinking, responds well to feedback, nurtures and exhibits appreciation for a culture of quality improvement, self-motivation, and problem solving skills, as well as the ability to be proactive, and to produce quality work under tight deadlines.  The ideal candidate understands that the Action Alliance work will continually evolve in order to address suicide prevention in a timely and effective manner in this country and is someone who excels in an ever- changing environment.

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

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of training & experience required in a related discipline
• 6–9 years related experience, with 2–4 years of project management  experience, including budget responsibility and staff supervision 
• Demonstrable leadership skills
• Excellent analytical skills and aptitude for details

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume. The cover letter should be a succinct statement of interest to include highlights of relevant qualifications and experience for the role desired. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to provide writing samples and/or participate in exercises to deomnstrate skills and experience. Note: applications without requested items will not be considered.