Deputy Director of Strategy (Project Director II)

Education Development Center • Waltham, MA

8d • $87,000 - $107,000

About The Position

The Action Alliance within EDC's Be Well program area is seeking a part-time Deputy Director of Strategy to provide senior-level leadership and strategic integration across its national suicide prevention portfolio. This position is anticipated to work 20 hours per week.
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) is the nation’s public-private partnership advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Housed at Education Development Center (EDC), the Action Alliance convenes leaders across sectors to drive coordinated, evidence-based, and measurable action to reduce suicide and strengthen systems of care nationwide.
Reporting to the Secretariat Director, this role serves as a senior strategic advisor focused on cross-initiative alignment, long-term positioning of the Action Alliance, and implementation of its priority initiatives and stewardship of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention to maximize national impact.
The Deputy Director works closely with and supports alignment across work led by the:
Project Director for Strategic Priorities
Project Director for Suicide Care Policy and Health System Transformation
This role emphasizes programmatic strategy, subject matter leadership, executive-level engagement, and governance support.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public health, health policy, public administration, social sciences, or a related field, with 8 - 10 years of progressively responsible experience in suicide prevention, behavioral health, public health policy, including 3 - 5 years leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives at a national or state level, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in suicide prevention initiatives, including deep knowledge of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and national suicide prevention initiatives and policy.
• Experience serving as an organizational representative and subject matter expert in news media, industry events, advisory boards and other external forums with the ability to translate complex suicide prevention data and policy into clear, actionable messaging.
• Demonstrated experience providing senior-level strategic or advisory leadership for complex initiatives, preferably at a national level.
• Strong understanding and expertise in policy development and the public health approach to suicide prevention, including suicide care, crisis care, suicide prevention messaging, and suicide prevention policy.
• Excellent relationship-building, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated project leadership and management skills to ensure consistent, reliable, and clear progress on initiatives and navigate competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience developing strong collaborative relationships with funders and federal partners, including Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Experience engaging and activating executive-level leadership and developing new partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience working with and supporting a diverse team that spans different backgrounds and contractor affiliations.
• Ability to quickly and succinctly summarize facilitate consensus building and decision-making in real-time and the ability to synthesize large, and often competing, amounts of feedback from diverse perspectives to determine next steps and strategic progress.
• The ability to manage work independently, identifying and securing resources as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of evaluation and strategies for tracking progress and impact of national initiatives.
• Experience supporting coalitions, advisory bodies, or public-private partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Ensure alignment of Action Alliance initiatives with the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
• Integrate policy, health system transformation, research, crisis care, communications, and data efforts into a cohesive, high-impact portfolio.
• Advise the Secretariat Director on strategic positioning, emerging opportunities, and implementation approaches to maximize national influence.
• Lead development of the Action Alliance Strategic Plan in partnership with the Secretariat leadership team.
• Monitor emerging trends in suicide prevention and provide strategic insights to leadership, staff, and partners.
• Provide strategic guidance and supervision to the Project Director of Suicide Care Policy and Health System Transformation, the Project Director of Strategic Priorities, and the Senior Advisor for Special Projects.
• Support directors in priority setting, navigating cross-cutting challenges, and ensuring coordination across initiatives.
• Foster collaboration and shared accountability across leadership roles.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with executive leaders across health systems, health plans, federal agencies, national nonprofits, industry, philanthropy, and other private sector partners.
• Represent the Action Alliance externally on strategic and subject matter issues.
• Facilitate consensus-building among diverse public and private sector partners advancing shared priorities.
• Partner with the Secretariat Director and leadership team to identify and pursue strategic partnership opportunities.
• Advise on the development and use of progress measures and evaluation findings to inform strategic decisions and demonstrate impact.
• Support effective engagement of Advisory Groups and the Executive Committee by ensuring clarity, alignment, and strategic focus across initiatives.
• Strengthen governance processes that reinforce accountability and measurable national impact.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid holidays
• Generous vacation benefits for full- and part-time employees
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Pre-tax transport benefit
• Robust retirement plan with TIAA/CREF (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association/College Retirement Equities Fund)
• Paid sick time and personal time annually
• Parental leave
• Employee assistance program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level