Organization Overview

The National Council's vision is to make mental wellbeing, including recovery from substance use challenges, a reality for everyone. Despite an overwhelming need, nearly 30 million people across the US do not have access to comprehensive, high-quality, affordable mental health and substance use care when they need it.

Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of nearly 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults, and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote a greater understanding of mental well-being as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid program, we have trained more than 3 million people in the US to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

The National Council is growing rapidly to meet this moment. Since 2020, our budget ($77M) and the number of passionate staff (250 ) have grown more than 50%. In addition, while we maintain office space in Washington, DC, we are a remote-first organization, meaning our employees work remotely from their locations across the United States.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and commit ourselves to creating an inclusive environment for everyone.

Position Summary

At the heart of the National Council's mission to provide critical support to community mental health and substance use service organizations and other essential stakeholders lies our Practice Improvement and Consulting Department (PIC). The PIC plays a pivotal role in delivering timely, impactful technical assistance and consulting, aligning with our organization's policy objectives, priorities, and the annual work agenda.

In alignment with directives from the Senior Director/Director, PIC, the role of the Project Coordinator is to enhance the department's functionality by offering logistical and administrative project support within a dynamic matrix environment. This includes aiding the daily operational flow of the department, all within the scope of the National Council's strategic aims.

We are on the lookout for candidates who embody a spirit of positivity, creativity, and proactivity, coupled with the ability to execute tasks efficiently. An ideal candidate demonstrates a commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity, particularly by advocating for initiatives that challenge systemic inequalities, structural, and institutional biases, and privilege disparities within systems of care. Your role will be instrumental in incorporating expansive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) expertise into the development and execution of equity-centered programs and initiatives, ensuring our practices are respectful and inclusive, promoting active listening, humility, and amplifying diverse perspectives.

This position is designed for individual contributors who are prepared to work remotely from anywhere in the United States, with the expectation of adhering to our business hours in Washington, DC, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET.

Key Responsibilities

PIC Department Activities

• Coordination and Planning: Efficiently arrange and manage the logistics for both in-person and virtual meetings, potentially including live moderation for virtual events. Utilize your coordination skills to ensure seamless execution.
• Project Oversight: Craft and oversee project outlines and work plans, employing strong organizational skills to monitor and report on the project's budget and financial health.
• Development and Implementation: Collaborate on the creation of tools, templates, and systems that bolster project objectives, working closely with project staff. This includes supporting project data collection and evaluation efforts to inform continuous improvement.
• Problem-solving and Collaboration: Proactively identify project needs and obstacles, engaging with team members to navigate challenges and complete tasks efficiently.
• Communication: Serve as a key liaison, engaging with subject matter experts, funders, consultants, project participants, and other stakeholders. Your role involves articulating practice improvement and consulting initiatives across the National Council's network, including drafting content for e-newsletters and synthesizing research findings.
• Inquiry and Information Management: Handle inquiries related to products, projects, and consultations, as well as member requests for information on practice improvement, demonstrating strong research and technical writing skills.
• Administrative Excellence: Execute administrative duties with precision, from processing invoices and procurement to taking call notes, scheduling, and preparing materials. Your PowerPoint development and copy-editing skills will be essential in creating impactful presentations and documents.
• Growth and Development Support: Assist in proposal writing and business development initiatives as required, showcasing your technical writing and organizational skills.

Organizational Participation:

• Engage actively in departmental, project, and all-staff meetings, contributing valuable insights and updates.
• Be willing to travel on behalf of the National Council as necessary, representing our commitment to practice improvement and stakeholder engagement.
• Embrace additional responsibilities as assigned, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to the National Council's mission.
• This role demands a proactive approach, a keen eye for detail, and a dedication to excellence in project coordination, communication, and administrative support. Your skills in coordination, technical writing, research, organization, and PowerPoint development/copy editing will be pivotal in driving the success of our projects and initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; degree in public health, social work, human services, health care administration, mental health and substance use services or related fields is desirable
• At least 1-3 years of experience in customer service, administrative support, and/or project coordination; experience in mental health and substance use services or public health settings is preferred
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office and Office365-MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and Teams
• Proficiency in virtual meeting/collaboration, project management, and survey software (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Asana, Survey Monkey, Higher Logic)
• Strong attention to detail with particular emphasis on financial tracking and invoicing, and data submission and deliverable tracking
• Proactive in coordinating tasks, schedules, and projects with little direction
• Budget management and tracking
• Ability to self-manage and work independently on certain tasks while contributing to a team project structure and proactively seeking assistance where needed
• Ability to work with team to identify and implement processes and workflows
• Ability to remain flexible, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to quickly learn new software platforms and programs
• Experience in grant and proposal support is a plus
• Ability to travel up to 10%