Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) seeks to fill the following full-time position to join a talented project team working as part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-funded “Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center” (SMVF TA Center). The SMVF TA Center offers training and technical assistance to military and civilian agencies developing and implementing strategic plans that build behavioral health capacity by implementing best policies and practices. We are funded by SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a central mechanism for strengthening behavioral health services and systems working nationally across military, federal, and state agencies and local community planning teams to address issues, such as suicide prevention, opiate addiction, homelessness, and trauma.
Ideal candidate should possess first-hand knowledge of military culture and awareness of the unique needs facing SMVF. This may include military Veterans and/or military family members whose lived experience can help inform the SMVF TA Center’s perspective to improve the lives of America’s Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.
Co-Director for SMVF TA Center
The successful candidate for the Co-Director position will work closely with the incumbent Project Director to manage and guide the day-to-day TA Center activities, provide staff supervision and support, coordinate with federal funding agencies to develop and carry out the TA Center annual work plan. As one of the leaders of the SMVF TA Center team, the Co-Director will be oversee a diverse and talented group of individuals and ensure that they are successful in their efforts to provide technical assistance for strengthening behavioral health systems for SMVF, including facilitating strategic planning and action planning for the implementation of best policies and practices. This work involves cultivating on-going relationships with policymakers and cross-agency teams and partners, assessing needs, providing training, and disseminating appropriate and timely technical resources. Military experience, military family members, and/or those with knowledge of military culture preferred; behavioral or public health leadership experience, diversity, and recovery values are welcome.
The SMVF TA Center Co-Director will share the following functions and responsibilities with Project Director:
- Oversight and guidance for all technical assistance activities
- Staff supervision as needed
- Collaboration with project partners, including Project Officers, federal partners, subcontractors, consultants and state and local stakeholders
- Development, monitoring and adapting of annual project work plan
- Participation in quarterly budget reviews and monitoring
- Adherence to program reporting requirements and monitor deliverables for quality assurance
- Planning and facilitation of onsite or virtual strategic planning and technical assistance for military and civilian interagency behavioral health teams in states and territories
- Assessment of technical assistance and training needs and monitoring for emerging themes and trends
- Provision of targeted, culturally appropriate technical assistance or training based on subject matter expertise
Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree or higher; preferably in social sciences, social work, public health, public policy, public administration, or related field.
Experience: Leadership/program experience specific to supporting the behavioral health needs of service members, Veterans and their families is preferred in addition to personal military experience, or experience as a military family member. State, local or program level leadership experience in behavioral/public health or related field, including project management, staff supervision, reporting, etc. Prior work developing and/or implementing behavioral health best practices with diverse populations, training/facilitation, and/or behavioral health research is a plus.
Skills: Strong leader/manager with solid team building skills, innovative thinker, excellent trainer/facilitator, highly organized and detail-oriented, ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and adapt to change, excellent communication skills (oral and written), proficiency with Microsoft Office software.
Position is full-time, immediate opening with competitive salary and excellent benefits package. Remote applicants will be considered. Significant travel is required.
Interested candidates must complete a brief survey at https://pra.typeform.com/to/CVZb4YaD and send cover letter (indicating position title) and resume to Policy Research Associates, 345 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054, fax to 518-439-7612 or email to jobs@prainc.com. People of color, LGBTQ+ people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English are encouraged to apply.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, a recipient of the Times Union “Top Workplace” award, and an American Heart Association Silver Level Recognition award winner for Workplace Health Achievement.