MANAGING DIRECTOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE FOR WESTERN STATES REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 "Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For" by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

ORGANIZATION: Public Health Institute

The Managing Director leads the Project Management Office (PMO) that provides operational infrastructure supporting various forms of multi-state public health collaborations among western states.

The PMO supports a spectrum of multi-state collaborative work, such as:

• Implementation support for the West Coast Health Alliance
• Coordinated multi-state initiatives on priorities states identify for regional collaborations
• Regional learning and exploration: States engaging in peer exchanges, task forces, pilots, convenings, and exploratory initiatives

States determine what issues benefit from multi-state collaborations-where regional approaches will strengthen their capabilities individually and collectively to carry out critical public health functions in the changing public health landscape. The PMO provides neutral infrastructure to support multi-state collaborative work on issues where states find meaningful value in working together.

This is a hands-on implementation leadership role. The Managing Director works under the direction and leadership of participating states to provide essential coordination, synthesis, and practical support that enables states to work together effectively. The work builds on the deep subject matter expertise and leadership that exist within each state health department. States collectively identify priorities and are the governance and directing structure for West Coast Health Alliance matters, including making decisions about multi-state collaborative work; the PMO and Managing Director support states with implementation of those priorities while ensuring collaborations connect with existing regional and national infrastructure.

The Managing Director must quickly build trust with state health officials and key partners, synthesize complex inputs into practical options, and support states in translating priorities into concrete action. This position reports to the President & CEO of the Public Health Institute (PHI) and is accountable to state health officials from participating states.

This is a remote full-time position that is expected to conduct some travel to participating states. This is a time-limited, one-year position with a possibility of extension based on funding availability.

Full salary range for this position: $147,452 to $230,245 per year. The anticipated hiring range for this position is from $200,000 to $225,000, based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined using a variety of factors, such as the candidate's knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as internal equity consideration and budget availability.

Employment Type: Full Time

Provide operational infrastructure for implementation support to the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), working under the direction and leadership of the four WCHA states, their State Health Officials, health departments, and governors' offices:

• Staff, coordinate, and provide meeting and facilitation support to WCHA working groups on state-identified priorities such as immunizations, infection control and prevention, and communications
• Assist states in their coordinated efforts to evaluate and respond to changes in federal public health policy and recommendations
• Provide analytical and coordination support for WCHA review of data, information, and reports from credible clinical and scientific professional organizations that use evidence-based methodologies
• Working with state subject matter experts and SME consultants to the PMO, synthesize best available science and state input to develop practical options for unified recommendations that support safety, efficacy, transparency, access, and trust
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with WCHA state health officials; conduct listening sessions to understand priorities, constraints, and implementation needs
• Draft position statements, policy recommendations, and guidance documents for WCHA state review process on issues such as immunization schedules, infection control practices, preventive services, and FDA authorization changes
• Assist WCHA states and work with state communications leaders to develop aligned messaging and communication strategies to provide credible public health information and counter misinformation
• Facilitate sharing of tools and best practices among states and coordination with national professional organizations
• Support development and implementation of WCHA partnership and governance processes
• Identify resource needs and potential funding to support the work of the WCHA

Facilitate voluntary regional learning, coordination, and task forces on priority issues among western states and partners:

• Build trusted relationships with state health officials and key partners across diverse operational contexts; conduct listening sessions to understand priorities and interest in multi-state collaborations
• Staff task forces, committees, and initiatives on issues states identify for collaborative work; support pilots and exploratory projects
• Coordinate regional convenings and summits that build relationships, identify shared priorities, and develop action plans
• Support peer exchanges, best practice sharing, and exploratory initiatives among participating jurisdictions
• Synthesize diverse perspectives and develop practical options that strengthen state capabilities to protect community health, recognizing the uniqueness of each state and that collaborative work and implementation strategies will be shaped by each state's distinct context
• Support development and execution of implementation plans arising from collaborative work, including communication approaches and materials as requested by states
• Create flexible pathways for participation that allow engagement on specific issues in a variety of ways that reflect state priorities and needs
• Coordinate activities with regional and national public health collaboratives to build alignment and connect with existing regional and national infrastructure; identify where multi-state collaborations add value versus where existing mechanisms can be strengthened

Collaborations may include work with a range of partners including state and territorial health departments, Tribes, local and regional agencies, academic and research partners, community-based organizations, regional networks and existing alliances, and national organizations.

• Lead administrative, operational, and financial functions of the PMO for effective, compliant operations
• Manage grant administration and financial oversight: ensure compliance with funder requirements; monitor budgets, expenditures, and financial reporting; track deliverables and milestones; prepare reports for funders
• Hire, supervise, and manage PMO staff including Program Manager/Coordinator and consultants
• Oversee contracting processes with consultants, vendors, and service providers
• Maintain comprehensive records, governance documentation, and decision-making processes
• Provide neutral operational infrastructure that supports states without imposing additional administrative burden
• Manage project timelines and ensure delivery of commitments to participating states
• Develop and implement systems for knowledge management, resource sharing, and documentation
• Lead planning and execution of regional convenings, including logistics, budget management, and follow-up
• Develop and implement fund development approaches to resource multi-state collaborative work and build long-term sustainability
• Establish and maintain operational policies and procedures for the PMO

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Public Health Experience

• Significant experience working in governmental public health preferably at the state level or extensive work closely partnering with state health departments (minimum 10 years)
• Demonstrated understanding of how state public health systems operate, including governance structures, funding mechanisms, and decision-making processes
• Experience working in or closely with federal public health agencies
• Established credibility as a leader who strengthens public health systems, practice and infrastructure to improve outcomes
• Deep understanding of the practice of public health and public health policy
• Master's degree in public health, public policy, public administration, or related field; or bachelor's degree plus additional relevant experience

Collaborative Leadership and Coalition Building

• Proven track record of standing up new multi-jurisdictional initiatives while building on existing infrastructure
• Experience convening diverse partners to create new ways of working together
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across different political contexts and maintain focus on public health outcomes
• Skilled at building consensus among stakeholders with competing priorities while supporting shared goals
• Experience identifying and leveraging existing collaborative infrastructure
• Minimum 7 years management experience

Implementation and Execution Skills

• Action-oriented leader with strong track record of translating complex ideas into executable plans and delivering results in multi-stakeholder environments
• Skilled at managing projects end-to-end, balancing competing priorities, and maintaining momentum across key initiatives
• Proven ability to work through influence and support rather than formal authority
• Experience connecting new initiatives with existing infrastructure to maximize efficiency

Relationships Skills

• Strong ability to build trust with senior public health leaders and partner organizations
• Highly skilled in navigating political and organizational contexts while maintaining focus on evidence-based public health practice and shared goals of the partners
• Experience building bridges between different organizational entities and multi-state collaborative efforts

Analytical, Synthesis, and Communication Skills

• Exceptional ability to synthesize complex information, assess options, and translate evidence into clear, actionable approaches
• Skilled at identifying where new infrastructure adds value versus where existing capabilities can be enhanced
• Strong focus on practical implementation and effectiveness rather than abstract concepts
• Highly effective written and verbal communicator for diverse audiences, producing concise policy and technical materials

Administrative and Financial Management Skills

• Experience with grant administration, budget management, and compliance with funder requirements
• Strong organizational systems and attention to operational detail
• Experience hiring, supervising, and managing staff and consultants
• Ability to establish and maintain effective administrative processes and documentation systems

• Direct experience with multi-state public health collaborations or regional networks
• Familiarity with existing western regional public health infrastructure and multi-state collaboratives
• Experience working on potential priority areas such as communications, data sharing, laboratory capacity, infectious disease prevention, or emergency response
• Experience with technical public health capabilities like laboratory networks, data-sharing initiatives, or joint procurement
• Established relationships with state health officials and regional partners in the western United States
• Experience managing virtual teams and distributed collaborations

Political Savvy Without Politics: Navigates political dynamics while keeping focus on evidence-based public health practice and supporting state leadership.

Adaptive Support: Meets states and partners where they are rather than imposing solutions.

Impact Orientation: Focuses on supporting states to achieve public health improvements for communities through effective multi-state collaborations.

Collaborative Support: Enables multi-state collaborations through demonstrated value and effective implementation support.

Systems Thinking: Identifies opportunities for multi-state coordination that strengthen state capacity and build on existing infrastructure.

Partnership Building: Connects initiatives with existing capabilities to maximize efficiency and avoid duplication.

Practical Focus: Emphasizes implementation and public health practice over abstract planning or conceptual work.

Operational Excellence: Manages administrative, financial, and operational functions with attention to compliance, efficiency, and accountability.

Resilience and Persistence: Maintains momentum and finds pathways forward when approaches don't work.

Community Focus: Ensures multi-state collaborative activities address the range of communities and populations across the region.

This position is classified as exempt based on job duties. However, based on FTE, salary level, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

• Interested applicants please attach the following to your application:
  • Updated resume/CV
  • Cover letter describing relevant experience and approach to leading multi-state collaborations
  • Three professional references (including relationships with you and contact information)

Please submit your application by 5:00 PM PT on March 16, 2026.

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

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