Program Manager, Veterans and Military Families

Organization

The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day. Learn more at bushcenter.org.


Essential Responsibilities

The Veterans and Military Families (VMF) policy team at the George W. Bush Institute helps veterans and their families thrive beyond the uniform with a focus on education, employment, and health and well-being. For service members and veterans directly impacted by invisible wounds such as Traumatic Brain Injury and psychological health conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, their injuries can serve as a significant barrier to a successful transition and meaningful quality of life. Through its Check-In program and Veterans Wellness Alliance (VWA), the VMF team works with key partners to reduce these barriers that impact the lives of our veterans and their families.

The VMF Program Manager supports execution of the VWA's vision and fulfills the day-to-day operational needs of Check-In. The Program Manager assists with guiding the strategic direction of the Alliance and driving coordination of best-in-class national organizations focused on a singular mission.

Additionally, in collaboration with the VMF Director and Deputy Director, the Program Manager, contributes to VMF's work related to education and employment with a particular focus on the impact to veteran and military family well-being.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Health & Well-Being

• Plan and execute all Veteran Wellness Alliance activities, in coordination with the VMF Director, to include semi-annual Alliance meetings.
• Implement a strategy for the long-term operations of the Veterans Wellness Alliance.
• Serve as a staff-support focal point for coordination of activities for the Alliance: working groups, engagements, and events.
• Develop collaborative products and resources for the members of the Alliance to best inform and resource the peer-to-peer members.
• Support the development of measurement objectives.
• Manage the operational aspects of Check-In, including key milestones, deliverables, and overall objectives.
• Build relationships and serve as liaison between key well-being partners and the Bush Institute VMF team.
• Plan, schedule, and manage key meetings to include but not limited to the Veteran Wellness Alliance semi-annual meetings, virtual and in person. In collaboration with the VMF Assistant, this includes product development, agenda management, and logistical and administrative coordination as required.
• Support the Deputy Director in initiatives related to wellness in the workplace and civic engagement. Complete other duties and tasks as needed and/or assigned.

General VMF Responsibilities

• Assist the VMF policy team with relationship development and work to sustain and enhance partnerships with the academic and research community, as well as donors, senior officials, community leaders, non-profits, businesses, and the military and veteran community as required.
• Coordinate internally with other Bush Center teams, including the Research and Evaluation and Marketing and Communications staff areas.
• Regularly contribute to and write original thought leadership and policy content for web, social media, print, and other distribution channels.
• Assist with coordinating work of relevant independent contractors.
• Represent VMF and the Bush Institute to external organizations as required.
• Develop, coordinate, and execute events that support and highlight the work of VMF and the Bush Institute.
• Complete other duties and tasks as needed and/or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The qualified candidate will possess (a/an):

• Bachelor's degree; preferably an advanced degree.
• Minimum of five years of related work experience.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of veteran transition and reintegration issues. Military veteran or military family status is preferred not a requirement.
• Strong project management skills.
• Strong problem solving and creative solution building skills.
• Experience in program and project management, plan development, measurement of systems and content management.
• Strong multi-tasking skills and comfort with a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to successfully meet deadlines autonomously.
• Commitment to the values, mission, and vision of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Additionally, the qualified candidate will:

• Be a self-starter.
• Demonstrate clear and engaging collaborative skills as this position will interact with various team members in a dynamic organizational environment in addition to various donors, partners and stakeholders.
• Perform with a highly driven, results-oriented work ethic and provide metrics as requested.
• Have strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrate experience with creating and managing budgets.
• Be passionate about solving complex health challenges in service to veterans and their families. * A history of working with VSOs/MSOs is a plus.
• Possess proficiency with various technologies, software and programs including but not limited to the usage of a computer, copier, mobile devices and Microsoft Office Suite (primarily, but not limited to, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access) as well as videoconferencing services such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams.
• Must be able to work onsite in our Dallas, TX office.

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position.


The Bush Institute in 2017 launched the Veteran Wellness Alliance ( to bring together innovative, high-quality health care providers and peer to peer veteran networks to expand capacity to deliver high quality care for veterans and increase the number of veterans accessing high quality treatment for the invisible wounds of war.

Building upon key foundational activities such as our recommended Common Questions for Veteran Serving Organizations and establishing the first definition of high quality care for the invisible wounds, the Bush Institute moved from concept to action, and launched Check-In. Check-In is the first of its kind tool that connects veterans, service members, and their families, caregivers, and survivors to high-quality mental and brain health care. Powered by the VWA, Check-In provides veteran peer networks a simple pathway for their members to obtain mental and brain health care through the VWA's high-quality clinical providers.


This position, along with the entire VMF team, is dedicated to improving high-quality brain and mental health care -- empowering veterans and their families to thrive in their communities long after service.


Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit stationary at a desk and use computer equipment.

Position: Program Manager, Veterans and Military Families

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: Director, Veterans and Military Families


Department: Institute


Division: Veterans and Military Families