Director, Health of the Public and Science

Job Title: Director, Health of the Public and Science

Job Description Summary

The nation's largest medical society devoted solely to primary care – the AAFP – works tirelessly to support the physicians most determined to see that all people can enjoy good health. Our mission for more than 75 years has been to improve the health of patients, families and communities by serving the needs of family physicians with professionalism and creativity. Our next Health of the Public and Science leader will have an extraordinary opportunity to positively impact the lives of patients in communities across the United States as well as the lives of the AAFP teammates who support them.

Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the Director of Health of the Public and Science is responsible for leading a high-performing team and serving as the central operational and strategic hub that coordinates and integrates work across the Health of the Public and Science (HOPS) division and with other organizational divisions. This role focuses on team leadership, daily program coordination, strategic planning, financial management, and ensuring that multiple concurrent grants, implementation projects, and science initiatives advance efficiently and align with organizational priorities. The Director manages a team of 8-10 professional staff with a budget of approximately $2-3 million, and coordinates a portfolio of funded projects. The Director will be supported by the CMO or a designated Medical Director for clinical expertise.

This position requires the successful candidate to reside within the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Job Description

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES & TIME ALLOCATION

1. Team Leadership & Daily Coordination (30%)

Leads a team of 8-10 professional staff. Responsibilities include: recruiting and developing qualified professionals; establishing clear performance expectations and providing regular feedback and mentoring; removing blockers and enabling team success; facilitating team cohesion and a collaborative, evidence-driven culture; managing performance issues and conducting evaluations; ensuring team members have the resources, training, and professional development needed to succeed; and modeling organizational values and best practices.

2. Strategic Planning & Financial Management (10%)

Provides strategic direction for the HOPS division in alignment with organizational priorities. Responsibilities include: developing and communicating strategic and operational plans for the division; setting measurable goals and performance indicators; managing the division's budget of approximately $2-3 million; monitoring financial performance and identifying cost efficiencies; forecasting resource needs; preparing strategic reports and recommendations for senior leadership; ensuring compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements; and identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.

3. Cross-Functional Project Coordination & Integration (20%)

Acts as the central integrator and coordinator of work across multiple functional teams within HOPS (guideline development team, implementation team, quality measurement team) and across organizational boundaries with other divisions (Practice Advancement, Education, etc.). Responsibilities include: identifying and managing dependencies between projects; ensuring teams are aligned and moving in the same direction; facilitating communication and collaboration between teams; coordinating workflows and timelines; resolving cross-team conflicts or resource conflicts; and ensuring that work in one area supports and doesn't duplicate work in another.

4. Grant & Project Portfolio Management (15%)

Oversees a portfolio of multiple concurrent funded research and implementation projects. Responsibilities include: maintaining clear understanding of all active projects, funding sources, timelines, and deliverables; tracking project progress and identifying risks or delays; coordinating with grants management office and other support functions; ensuring projects remain aligned with organizational strategy; making resource allocation decisions across the portfolio; serving as liaison between funded projects and organizational leadership; and supporting team members in meeting grant requirements and deadlines. Does not serve as PI/Co-PI but works closely with project leads and funding agencies.

5. Governance, Guideline & Science Team Support & Coordination (15%)

Supports the governance and guideline development process and ensures the team has the resources and coordination needed to succeed. Responsibilities include: understanding guideline development methodology (systematic review, GRADE, evidence synthesis) well enough to coordinate work, ask informed questions, and support the team's governance process; coordinating guideline development timelines and milestones; facilitating stakeholder engagement and expert panel processes; ensuring guidelines move from development to implementation; translating technical guideline content into implementation-ready tools and resources; supporting the Commission on Health of the Public and Science, and supporting the evidence review and synthesis work of the team.

6. Implementation Science Program Leadership (5%)

Provides leadership for the organization's implementation science approach and methodology. Responsibilities include: ensuring evidence-based guidelines and practices are implemented effectively across the organization; selecting and applying appropriate implementation frameworks and models (CFIR, RE-AIM, etc.) to guide implementation work; building organizational capacity for evidence-to-practice translation; ensuring fidelity and quality in implementation of guidelines; managing relationships with implementation science researchers and external partners; and ensuring implementation work is coordinated with guideline development and quality measurement efforts.

7. External Partnerships (5%)

Provides support for the organization’s work with external partners, including representation with external organizations (e.g., ACS, ADA, CDC).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Master’s degree in public health, Health Services Administration, Health Policy, Implementation Science, Epidemiology, Business Administration, or directly related discipline; OR Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of progressive experience in health policy, public health, healthcare management, or research administration. Post-graduate coursework or practical experience in implementation science is desired.

Experience

Minimum 7 years of experience managing professional teams in health care, research, or health policy settings; minimum 5 years of experience coordinating multiple concurrent projects or grants; minimum 3 years of experience with budget management and financial planning; demonstrated experience with program/project management in complex environments; demonstrated ability to work across organizational boundaries and serve as an integrator; experience managing or coordinating grant-funded work; demonstrated success building and leading high-performing teams; experience with strategic planning; and experience translating evidence into practice or supporting implementation of clinical/organizational initiatives.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

MPH, MBA, PhD, or DrPH in related field; formal training or certification in implementation science or evidence-to-practice translation; formal training in project management (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent); formal training in financial management or business analytics; experience with Quality Improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA); published work or presentations on evidence-based practice, implementation science, health policy, or program management; experience serving as project manager for NIH, AHRQ, or CDC-funded projects; knowledge of health informatics and electronic health record systems; experience in a professional association or health policy organization setting; experience with grant administration or research management; and experience with strategic planning processes.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical Requirements

Physical stamina to work long hours; ability to travel approximately 10-15 days per year for meetings and professional development.

Computer Skills

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); ability to learn and use organization-specific database and management systems; familiarity with project management tools and software; data analysis and visualization skills; experience with financial reporting/analysis software; and comfort with video conferencing and collaborative platforms.

Please apply using the following link:  
https://aafp.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/AAFP_Careers/job/Leawood/Director--Health-of-the-Public-and-Science_27-26

Job Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $100,000 and over