EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

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 has a commitment to promoting equity and access to high-quality education and health services that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. EDC expresses its commitment to increasing equity through its strategies, services, and products, contributing to building capacity and transforming lives.

At EDC, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and clients above all else. In response to the increased transmissibility with recent variants and in compliance with President Biden’s Executive Order for Federal Contractors, all US-based EDC employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, as a condition of employment. Accommodations due to medical or religious exemptions will be considered.

EDC is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

EDC’s Health Promotion, Practice, and Innovation (HPPI) portfolio has an opening for a full-time Project Associate I. The HPPI portfolio includes projects related to trauma, violence and injury prevention, substance abuse prevention, and mental health and suicide prevention. The Project Associate I position has a specific focus in suicide prevention, and reports to the Director of Health and Behavioral Health (HBH) Initiatives of EDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource Center contract (SPRC). The position is eligible to work in EDC’s Waltham, MA or Washington, DC offices, and is open to telecommuters.

This full-time Project Associate I position will support SPRC and other EDC suicide prevention projects focused on advancing national efforts for systems-level change within health and behavioral health care, such as the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 and the Zero Suicide framework. The Project Associate I is expected to collaborate across teams, particularly the SPRC-funded Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Secretariat and HBH teams and may also work on other EDC projects. Key functions include supporting the development of innovative resources, planning and facilitating virtual communities of practice, maintaining strategic partnerships, and convening and supporting national leaders in suicide prevention to advance strategic goals (e.g., public and private sector business and industry leaders, health care executives and senior administrators, payers, accreditors, national guild associations). The ideal candidate possesses a high level of confidence and professionalism interacting with different types of stakeholders, exceptional communication skills (i.e., both verbal and written), and successfully executes and tracks tasks to completion independently. Supporting project management (e.g., tracking deliverables, creating and monitoring timelines, establishing reporting mechanisms) and coordinating sections of larger projects is expected.

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 Project Associate I will support EDC’s suicide prevention priorities through a variety of capacities and functions that support work across multiple projects including:

• Producing and managing the development of resources to meet project or program objectives including summary recommendations, and other written products
• Communicating complex technical information and interpreting data or research findings accurately and developing clear summaries for stakeholders
• Planning and facilitating structured discussions with national-level stakeholders and incorporating expert input into reports and policy recommendations  
• Taking and sustaining initiative in facilitating and/or supporting national stakeholders to advance best practice development, research design and prospective suicide prevention/behavioral health programs
• Moderating, designing, and/or speaking during webinars, conference presentations, and meetings with external partners
• Organizing and facilitating stakeholder groups
• Supporting and/or leading design, production, and dissemination of high-profile resources and reports for the field
• Supporting the Director and staff in assessing needs in the suicide prevention field, and offering conceptual and creative support in developing materials to meet project deliverables 
• Assisting with updating and improving tools and resources that help health care systems and providers provide safer, evidence-based suicide care
• Leading parts of projects or coordinating sections of larger projects (e.g., project start-up tasks, establishing project plans, managing timelines)
• Assisting with manuscript and other communication material preparation
• Assisting with both within and cross-project communications
• Completing other tasks and projects as assigned

The Project Associate I provides support to project staff, including:

• Serving as backup to direct when needed
• Managing project budget
• Monitoring contractual compliance
• Maintaining records
• Preparing recommendations
• Drafting performance reports
• Writing and developing materials
• Disseminating information, including website content
• Developing presentations
• Managing administrative procedures
• Contributing to design and implementation of business monitoring systems
• Suggesting ideas for improved efficiency or future focus
• Supporting project procurement
• Identifying and recruiting technical consultants; developing their scope of work
• Coordinating proposal development

The Project Associate I:

• Coordinates administrative and logistical tasks
• Coordinates project start-up (i.e., establishes project plans and timelines)
• Facilitates project teamwork and feedback exchanges
• Collaborates on troubleshooting complex problems, proposing initiatives and recommending or negotiating solutions
• Acts as liaison between home offices and field-based staff
• Coordinates communications and project activities
• Trains and provides guidance or administrative direction to junior staff; may supervise junior or support staff; may coordinate the work of less experienced staff
• May travel within the US up to 5-6 times per year

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.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Relationship Building: Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships with senior executive-level stakeholders, partners, and funders from the public and private sector over long distances.
• Collaboration: Ability to work both on a team and independently without close oversight. Skilled as a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside EDC. Skilled at facilitating consensus-building and priority setting, especially with priority partners outside EDC.
• Management Experience: Experience managing parts of projects and processes to ensure that high quality deliverables are produced on time.
• Content Knowledge: Interest in the public health approach to suicide prevention, some experience in the mental health, behavioral health, or suicide prevention fields is beneficial. Knowledge of health care administration, policy, and financing is also preferred.
• Training Experience: A strong understanding of adult learning principles as they relate to virtual and in-person trainings. Excellent facilitation skills and ability to translate inputs from subject matter experts into a dynamic learning environment for adult learners, especially in an online environment.
• Technology: Applicant embraces technology and uses it to increase efficiency and support cross-team communication. Knowledge of administrative systems and techniques, as well as information/knowledge management.
• Communications: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in supervisory relationships, with colleagues, and with project partners and funders. Experience developing and reviewing written materials for outside audiences.
• Organization: Ability to manage time and successfully work on multiple projects at once.

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:

• Bachelor’s degree, with at least 4 years related research, education, international development, or administrative coordination experience, requiring computer competence
• Master’s degree, with at least 3 years related experience (as above), preferred
• Some prior project leadership or supervisory experience, preferred
• Demonstrable organizational and troubleshooting skills
• Strong analytical skills and aptitude for details
• Ability to lead projects independently while consulting with colleagues and senior staff, as appropriate
• Proficiency in MS Office applications

Applications should be submitted directly via our website (www.edc.org/careers-edc). Applicants are required to submit both a cover letter and a resume. Applicants are advised to combine their cover letter and resume into a single file for submission. The cover letter should be a succinct statement of interest to include highlights of relevant qualifications and experience for the role desired and should not exceed two pages. The resume should not exceed three pages. Applications without requested items will not be considered. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to provide writing samples and/or participate in exercises to demonstrate skills and experience as part of the interview process. 

As an EOE/AA employer, EDC does not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status. EDC is a smoke-free workplace.