Policy Project Manager

Position HighlightsLocation: This position is remote with occasional travel required to Oregon. Oregon-based candidates are preferred. The successful candidate will be hired by the CDC Foundation and will be organizationally located with Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Salary Range: $90,000-$120,000, plus benefits. Individual salary offers will be based on experience and qualifications unique to each candidate. Position Type: Grant funded, limited-term opportunity Position End Date: October 30, 2028, with extension possible OverviewThe CDC Foundation is seeking a Project Manager to lead project management efforts for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Policy & Programs team at the Oregon Health Authority, ensuring cohesive planning and execution of team priorities through high-level coordination and oversight. The Policy & Programs Project Manager will serve as a senior operational strategist, developing and managing the project schedule for the five program initiatives and three funding pathways, tracking key actions and decisions of Initiative Leads, guiding Grant Coordinators, and collaborating with the Program Manager to ensure appropriate cross-functional alignment within the program and elevation of risks and issues to program leadership. They will provide collaborative partnership to the Policy & Programs Senior Analyst, both of whom work with the Deputy Director of Policy & Programs to lead the team ensuring strategic alignment and efficient operations. This position drives continuous process improvement across the Policy & Programs team, enhancing efficiency, consistency and alignment across the five program initiatives and three funding pathways. They oversee intra-initiative efforts as well as cross-functional collaboration by managing key meetings and team communications; maintaining integrated implementation schedules and deliverable tracking systems; directing the development process and dissemination of program materials; and ensuring consistent, transparent information flow across program initiatives and up to program leadership. The Policy & Programs Project Manager plays a critical role in strengthening program effectiveness by optimizing internal administrative and operational processes, applying advanced project management methodologies to improve organizational performance, accountability and cross-team coordination of complex requests for grant proposals and subsequent management of hundreds of grants and contracts that will total almost $1B over five years. This role also mentors project staff responsible for grant coordination and contributes to strategic planning and decision-making. The position works in close partnership with the Operations Project Manager, the Program Affairs & Communications Project Manager, the RHTP Program Manager and RHTP leadership to ensure that program activities are strategically aligned, well-documented and progressing in accordance with CMS guidelines, timelines and priorities support overall program and CMS coherence, impact and operational excellence. The Policy & Programs Project Manager will ensure the teams of subject matter experts and grant coordinators responsible for managing these funds remain in alignment with one another and with the broader Program, driving towards effective completion of federal milestones. Duties and Responsibilities: Leads strategic project management efforts overseeing planning, execution and coordination of complex program activities across the RHTP program’s three funding pathways, five initiatives and associated teams of grant coordinators. Designs and manages integrated project frameworks, including detailed workplans, schedules and tracking systems to monitor timelines, milestones, interdependencies and deliverables for teams of subject matter experts designing and implementing the request for grant proposals and subsequent systems for managing approximately 100 grants and contracts per year. Designs and executes meeting structures, agendas, materials and follow‑up tracking to support consistent cross‑team alignment and execution. Builds and maintains detailed project plans using advanced tools such as Smartsheet to monitor daily tasks, key deadlines, dependencies and milestones. Drives cross-functional alignment and communication, facilitating collaboration among diverse impacted parties to ensure shared understanding of priorities, proactive issue resolution and consistent progress toward program goals. Synthesizes and delivers executive‑level reporting, including dashboards, performance summaries and strategic insights to inform leadership decision‑making and highlight key risks, achievements and upcoming milestones. Oversees planning and execution of internal and external engagements, ensuring strategic alignment of agendas, materials and follow‑up actions with program objectives and impacted party’s expectations. Leads the design, implementation and continuous refinement of advanced project management processes, tools, templates, and workflows. Conducts high‑level analysis of RHTP operational systems, identifying structural gaps, inefficiencies and communication challenges, and drives the development and execution of improvement strategies that strengthen program performance. Champions and institutionalizes standardized project management practices, guiding initiative teams in adopting shared tools, methodologies and reporting structures to improve coherence, accountability and cross‑team coordination. Develops, maintains and governs comprehensive process documentation, ensuring clear guidance for onboarding, knowledge transfer and sustainability of Policy & Programs operational systems across the five‑year grant period. Leads proactive identification, assessment and monitoring of program level risks, issues and dependencies. Oversees the development and governance of comprehensive risk and issue management systems. Directs the creation, implementation and tracking of mitigation strategies, working closely with the Program Manager, program leadership and initiative teams to ensure timely resolution and reduction of risk exposure. Evaluates and advises on the implications of scope changes, timeline shifts and resource adjustments, providing strategic recommendations to maintain alignment with RHTP objectives and CMS requirements. Perform other duties as assigned related to Rural Health. Qualifications and Necessary Skills: Master’s degree in public health or related field from an accredited college or university required (or equivalent combination of education and experience). Minimum of 10 years leading complex projects or programs, with project management as a core responsibility. Proven ability to scope, estimate and allocate resources for multifaceted initiatives with interdependent deliverables. Advanced experience with project scheduling, risk management and coordinating workflows across diverse teams. Experience creating, maintaining and regularly utilizing project trackers within enterprise project management tools to monitor project activities, deliverables, timelines, milestones and progress; Smartsheet experience preferred. Demonstrated leadership in project or program management, ideally within a healthcare‑related organization. Strong capability in evaluating organizational systems, monitoring performance and driving corrective actions or process improvements. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop executive‑level presentations and comprehensive reports. Understanding of Oregon’s healthcare landscape, with emphasis on rural health systems and related challenges preferred. Highly skilled in organizing, prioritizing, and managing multiple concurrent activities, timelines and impacted or interested party needs. Ability to set long‑term strategic objectives and define the plans and actions required to achieve them. Skilled in identifying operational issues and leading efforts to design and implement process improvements. Experience applying regulatory knowledge and sound judgment to ensure compliance with laws, standards and organizational policies. Special Note This position requires the operation of a motor vehicle as a component of the job responsibilities and duties. In adherence with CDC Foundation’s Driver Safety Motor Vehicle Policy ("Policy"), offers for employment for this position require the Applicant to provide authorization to the CDC Foundation to conduct a Motor Vehicle Record ("MVR") review both pre‑employment and also annually post‑employment while in this position. Additionally, if an offer of employment is accepted, employees in these positions must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license in their state of residence, self‑report motor vehicle violations/convictions, and provide proof of acceptable insurance coverage with mandatory minimum coverages as set forth within the Driver Safety Motor Vehicle policy. All offers of employment and continued employment for this position are contingent upon meeting all minimum qualifications of this Policy. 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 FoundationThe CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners to support the public health system, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in preventing and responding to threats to health. In this role, we are focused on one priority: building catalytic, flexible and impactful partnerships—with corporations, philanthropies, individuals and organizations—to help improve the health and lives of people in all communities, everywhere. 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