Program Implementation Specialist

Program Implementation Specialist

Location: San Jose, CA (Hybrid) supporting the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department

Position End Date: 09/29/2026

Salary: $85,000 plus benefits

Overview:

The CDC Foundation is working with CDC and state and local authorities to support surveillance, prevention, and response activities within the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. The Program Implementation Specialist will work closely with the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department to strengthen community-based overdose prevention efforts and enhance operational systems that support effective program implementation. This role will focus on expanding access to lifesaving overdose prevention resources, strengthening partnerships with community stakeholders, and developing sustainable systems that support data-informed decision making. The specialist will help design and implement program operations, policies, and tools that ensure consistent, high-quality implementation of overdose prevention strategies across multiple settings.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required and master's degree is preferred
• Three to five years of experience in project management, report writing, or public health administration.
• Professional experience or demonstrated knowledge related to overdose prevention, substance use services, or community-based health programming.
• Skilled in program design, implementation, analysis and evaluation
• Self-motivated with exceptional organizational skills and high attention to detail
• Ability to anticipate roadblocks and independently resolve
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple facets of project development and implementation
• Ability to work collaboratively with technical experts, administrators, external partners, and the public
• Experience supporting community-based public health programs related to overdose prevention, substance use services, or community health outreach.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work
• Exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong cultural competency and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively in an environment with diverse cultures, multiple perspectives, and competing needs
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently and within teams
• Experience working in a virtual environment with remote partners and teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Zoom

Responsibilities:

• Supports expansion of community-based overdose prevention initiatives by identifying and developing new distribution channels for lifesaving overdose reversal medications and related resources.
• Designs and implements systems to improve program operations, including development of policies, procedures, and operational guidelines.
• Leads development of a volunteer engagement program to support community outreach and public health prevention activities.
• Develops program toolkits and documentation that capture best practices, workflows, and lessons learned
• Identifies opportunities to expand distribution of overdose prevention resources through community partnerships, outreach events, and alternative service settings.
• Uses data, participant feedback, surveys, and program metrics to inform operational improvements and strengthen program effectiveness.
• Collaborates with program staff to evaluate service delivery models and implement improvements based on emerging needs and data trends.
• Coordinates with community partners and stakeholders to support expanded outreach and resource distribution.
• Supports development of training materials and operational guidance for staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.
• Assists with monitoring program performance indicators and preparing reports that summarize program outcomes and impact.
• Supports strategic planning efforts that enhance the sustainability and scalability of overdose prevention programming.

Special Notes:

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the CDC Foundation and the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department in order to best support California in their public health programming.

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 Foundation:

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations, and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC's critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1 billion and launched more than 1,000 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries last year.