Associate Director, Strategies and Innovation

Associate Director, Strategies and Innovation, Global Health

Location:
District of Columbia
United States

Associate Director, Strategies & Innovation

Development & Communications | Programs Development Unit

Location:

District of Columbia

United States

POSITION TYPE: Employee: Full Time, US

POSITION TITLE: Associate Director, Strategies & Innovation

DIVISION: Programs Development Unit (PDU)

REPORTS TO: AVP, Global Health Programs Development

Project HOPE is an international NGO of more than 900 engaged employees and hundreds of volunteers who work in more than 25 countries, responding to the world's most pressing global health challenges. Throughout our 65-year legacy, Project HOPE has treated millions of patients and provided more than $3 billion worth of medicines to local health care organizations around the world. We have helped build hundreds of health programs from the ground up and responded to humanitarian crises worldwide.

Code of Conduct

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to treat each other with respect, take affirmative steps to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse and Trafficking in Persons, and to disclose all potential and actual violations of our Code of Conduct, which may include Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption, Discrimination or Harassment. Together we can reinforce a culture of respect, integrity, accountability, and transparency.

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Strategies & Innovation serves as the Programs Development Unit's (PDU) lead strategist for U.S. Government funding, working in close collaboration with PDU members, the Technical Unit, Regional teams, and the Emergency Response and Humanitarian units. This role functions as the unit's principal technical design authority for high-value proposals and concept notes targeting development-focused USG opportunities, and partners closely with the CFT, GIK/Supply Chain, GOF, Legal, and Communications teams. This dual mandate combines deep USG expertise spanning the Department of State, CDC, and HRSA with responsibility for the strategic framing, technical design, and innovation integration of Project HOPE's most important submissions across all donor types. The Associate Director leads the architecture of winning proposals by translating organizational capabilities into compelling technical narratives, embedding AI and digital health innovation, and ensuring that Project HOPE's program designs reflect best-in-class global health thinking. In addition to proposal leadership, this role establishes and maintains proposal quality standards and technical review processes for the entire PDU. The Associate Director also provides proposal development support to the Humanitarian Initiatives and Emergency Response teams in natural disaster and complex emergency contexts as needed.

Principal Responsibilities

Higher-Level Proposal & Concept Note Design (Cross-Portfolio)

• Lead the strategic design and technical architecture of proposals and concept notes for all Tier 1 and major Tier 2 opportunities across USG and non-USG channels.
• Develop overarching program theories of change, results frameworks, and technical approaches that differentiate Project HOPE in competitive processes.
• Author and quality-review concept notes, expressions of interest, and letters of inquiry for strategic opportunities across all donor types.
• Facilitate Red Team and Pink Team technical reviews; set and enforce proposal quality standards, win theme development, and evidence integration across the unit.
• Maintain and curate a library of reusable technical narratives, organizational capability statements, evidence summaries, and model program designs.

USG Funding Strategy & Capture Leadership

• Lead capture strategy and positioning for Department of State opportunities, including Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, and other bureaus absorbing former USAID functions.
• Manage the CDC cooperative agreement pipeline across global health security, infectious disease, and NCD program areas.
• Identify and pursue HRSA opportunities in health workforce development, community health, and domestic global health programming.
• Track the evolving USG procurement landscape post-USAID restructuring; map new funding mechanisms, solicitation channels, and decision-maker networks.
• Develop positioning strategies aligned with America First Global Health Strategy priorities and current administration policy frameworks.
• Ensure all USG submissions meet federal compliance requirements.

Innovation, AI & Technical Excellence

• Integrate AI, digital health, and technology innovation components into proposals where they create competitive advantage.
• Lead the unit's adoption of AI-enhanced tools for proposal drafting, content generation, compliance checking, and predictive opportunity scoring.
• Co-develop and maintain standard operating procedures for proposal production, including templates for USG, EU, multilateral, and foundation formats.
• Build partnerships with technology and innovation organizations to strengthen Project HOPE's technical differentiation.

Cross-Functional Support & Knowledge Leadership

• Train and mentor team members on USG procurement, federal compliance, and advanced proposal design techniques.
• Lead thematic deep-dive sessions on technical areas (Global Health Security, MNCH, Infectious Diseases, Health Systems Strengthening, NCDs) in collaboration with the Technical Unit.
• Support any Tier 1 opportunity across the portfolio with strategic design and technical architecture regardless of donor type.
• Coordinate with the Technical Unit to ensure evidence-based program design and past performance documentation across all proposals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in public health, public policy, international development, or related field; PhD or clinical credential a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in global health business development with demonstrated success in USG funding (CDC, USAID/State Department, and/or HRSA).
• Proven track record of leading the technical design of winning proposals across diverse donor types.
• Deep understanding of federal procurement (FAR, AIDAR) and USG compliance frameworks.
• Experience with evidence-based program design, theory of change development, and results framework architecture.
• Strong technical writing, editing, and strategic framing skills; ability to translate complex program ideas into compelling narratives.
• Familiarity with AI-enhanced tools for proposal development and operational efficiency.
• Established network within relevant U.S. Government agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and field-level implementation of global health programs.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.

Physical demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be mobile in an office environment and able to use standard office equipment.
• Must be able to communicate in verbal and written form and must be able to travel internationally.
• Project HOPE employees may be required to travel or work in countries where working conditions are classified as "hardship."

Work environment:

• Typical office environment with exposure to a minimal noise level.
• Emergency deployments may be in resource-deprived environments with austere living conditions.
• Travel for extended periods may be by air and/or other modes of transportation.
• While international travel is not a regular part of every job, programmatic needs may require it intermittently.
• Project HOPE employees may be required to travel or work in countries where working conditions are classified as "hardship."

The salary range for this role is $105-120K annually. Compensation for the role is dependent on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, and experience. Project HOPE offers comprehensive benefits as part of the total compensation package, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, 403(b), paid leave, and much more. For more information about our benefits, please visit our benefits page. Due to the substantial number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be considered. No phone calls please.

However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise.

Thank you very much for your interest in Project HOPE!