Food and Nutrition Research Project Manager

Altarum • Full-time • Remote • 9m ago

Altarum Institute (Altarum) Population Health Division is seeking a remote Project Manager (PM) for a fast-paced, demanding, but rewarding, consulting environment. We work to improve the health of disenfranchised populations by combining our expertise in public health and health care delivery to address health disparities, improve programs, and build better systems of care through an equity-focused lens. You will have the opportunity to lead cross-functional teams and interface with clients, staff, subcontractors, and other stakeholders to ensure project goals are accomplished within prescribed time frames and funding parameters. This role requires you to utilize your expertise to provide thought leadership, strategic visioning, and expert consultation to the team and clients. Additionally, business development, networking, and developing strong partner relationships are crucial to this role.

This PM position will specifically support projects in the Food and Nutrition focus area, as well as also allow for cross-area work in other community health areas (including, maternal and child health, behavioral health, and sexual and reproductive health). For over 30 years, Altarum has worked directly with federal and state agencies, universities, and other organizations on food, nutrition, and chronic disease prevention initiatives to help them maximize their impact. Our team includes registered dietitians with decades of research and evaluation experience and subject matter expertise in nutrition security, obesity, physical activity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Responsibilities

- Establish work plans and multi-disciplinary staffing plans for each phase of project and arrange for recruitment or assignment of project personnel.
- Manage and mentor staff, encouraging collaboration and promoting a positive relationship between colleagues.
- Manage programs to ensure that implementation and prescribed activities are carried out in accordance with specified objectives.
- Plan and develop methods and procedures for evaluating food and nutrition programs, lead and coordinate evaluation, training, and/or technical assistance activities, and exercise control over personnel responsible for specific functions or phases of programs.
- Demonstrate advanced subject matter expertise, as well as a clear understanding of team’s and broader Altarum capabilities to leverage.
- Review project proposal or plan to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements, and allotment of available resources to various phases of projects.
- Provide professional client interface, ensure responsiveness to client requirements.
- Continually identify lessons learned, evaluate completed tasks and make process improvements based upon successful and unsuccessful project elements. Develop best practices to share across Altarum.
- Present findings to clients, policymakers, service providers, and community groups, as needed.
- Assist with developing, preparing, and coordinating Requests for Proposals (RFP), grant applications, and grant related activities to obtain funding for practice area related programs and Altarum related work.
- Provide thought leadership, subject matter expertise, and project/client management capabilities as needed

Qualifications

- Master’s degree in public health nutrition or related field and 13+ years of experience, including 6+ years of relevant project management experience; PMP Certification is a plus
- Direct experience managing food and nutrition evaluation initiatives
- Must have experience designing and implementing mixed-methods evaluation studies
- Has knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead projects independently and exercises discretion and sound judgement
- Experience and interest in facilitation is a plus
- Experience managing budgets, plans, teams and complex time-sensitive deliverables and deadlines
- Experience planning and managing projects that are moderately complex, e.g., management of subcontractors’ scope of work and deliverables, overseeing a matrixed team
- Track record of leading, thinking strategically, innovating, acting with integrity, and exceeding client expectations

Knowledge

- Principles of effective team leadership and mentoring
- Subject matter expertise in federal, state, and local food and nutrition programs
- Knowledge of evaluation methodologies, design, instrument development, environmental scans, data collection and analytic approaches

Competencies

- Proven ability to successfully lead teams to produce high-quality results for evaluation projects
- Ability to identify and lead teams to pursue strategies for new business growth
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and high level of attention to detail; flexibility to manage multiple priorities, sometimes simultaneously, under tight deadlines
- Facilitation of meetings, day-long convenings, and other working sessions Communication of food and nutrition portfolio to funders, decision-makers, and lay audiences

Logistical Requirements

- At this time, we will only accept candidates who are presently eligible to work in the United States and will not require sponsorship.
- Our organization requires that all work, for the duration of your employment, must be completed in the continental U.S. unless required by contract.
- If you are local to our offices in Arlington, Silver Spring, Ann Arbor, or Portland this role will be hybrid.
- Must be able to work during eastern time unless approved by your manager.

ABOUT ALTARUM:

Altarum is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the health of individuals with fewer financial resources and populations disenfranchised by the health care system. We work primarily on behalf of federal and state governments to design and implement solutions that achieve measurable results. We combine our expertise in public health and health care delivery with technology development and implementation, practice transformation, training and technical assistance, quality improvement, data analytics, and applied research and evaluation. Our innovative solutions and proven processes lead to better value and health for all.

In addition to the meaningful and challenging work, Altarum offers an outstanding benefits program that includes paid time off, tuition reimbursement, 401k (3% employer contribution plus opportunity for gainsharing), a flexible work environment, and much more. We invite you to explore exciting and rewarding career opportunities with us.

Altarum provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.