Program Implementation Specialist

Position Title: Program Implementation Specialist

Location: Houston, TX (hybrid Harris County)

Salary: $60,000

Position End Date: 09/29/26

Overview:

The CDC Foundation is working with CDC and state and local authorities to provide surge staff to support surveillance, prevention and response activities within the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. The CDC Foundation seeks candidates for a Program/Project Implementation Specialist. The Program/Project Implementation Specialist will work with jurisdiction staff to develop and implement/enhance systems and processes to ensure consistent, high-quality project management.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree required and master’s degree is preferred

· Three to five years of experience in project management, report writing, or public health administration.

· Professional experience or demonstrated knowledge in overdose prevention, substance use disorder treatment, community-based overdose prevention, recovery, and/or drug policy.

· Skilled in program design, implementation, analysis and evaluation

· Self-motivated with exceptional organizational skills and high attention to detail

· Ability to anticipate roadblocks and independently resolve

· Ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple facets of project development and implementation

· Ability to work collaboratively with technical experts, administrators, external partners, and the public

· Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work

· Exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills

· Strong cultural competency and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively in an environment with diverse cultures, multiple perspectives, and competing needs

· Demonstrated ability to work well independently and within teams

· Experience working in a virtual environment with remote partners and teams

· Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Zoom

Responsibilities:

· Works with staff to develop and implement/enhance systems and processes to ensure consistent, high-quality project management.

· Fosters and maintains peer-to-peer relationships with subject matter experts, partners, and other stakeholders aimed at efficient and effective program implementation.

· Serves as programmatic liaison for and between internal and external stakeholders.

· Manages significant matters such as project development, project budgeting, and auditing/evaluating project impact and performance.

· Formulates project-related goals, objectives, operating policies, strategic plans, guidelines, governance, standards and priorities

· Contributes to resource mobilization efforts for the assigned project in consultation and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

· Assists with preparing, negotiating, and monitoring project-related contracts and agreements.

· Serves as the contact person in the absence of team members, in this capacity

· Assist in creating sustainability of overdose prevention programming

Special Notes:

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by the CDC Foundation in order to best support the public health programming.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law.

We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.

Relocation expenses are not included.                                         

About the CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations, and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1 billion and launched more than 1,000 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries last year. Learn more at www.cdcfoundation.org.