Vice President of Programs

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 “Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For” by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

Position Summary

The Public Health Institute, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, works to improve health equity and wellbeing for individuals and communities in California, nationally, and across the world. PHI strengthens the ideas, programs, people, and partnerships transforming public health. Through the provision of premier fiscal sponsorship services to 60 programs partners, PHI’s work maximizes program strengths and impact in capacity building, research, use of science and data, launching and scaling what works, centering community, connecting and partnering and policy change to improve health status, health equity and wellbeing. As a fiscal sponsorship organization, PHI provides programs with a range of core organizational services including development, human resources, operations, bid and proposal, awards and contracts management, communications, legal and compliance, and financial services. The focus of the work of this role is to provide support, advice, and partnership to further the work of the fiscally sponsored programs individually and collectively.

The Vice President of Programs (VP of Programs) leads PHI organizational program strategy, partnerships, and program implementation support services to advance PHI’s vision, mission, and strategic priorities in the context of our role as a fiscal sponsor. The position provides direct leadership and management to the assigned Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PI/PDs) to support the growth, success, and impact of PHI programs and works to strengthen and enhance PHI’s services as a reputable and trusted implementing partner and fiscal sponsor. With strategic and operational responsibility for program support and advising services under PHI’s fiscal sponsorship model, the VP of Programs builds and nurtures strong working relationships with programs and external partners including funders, and is responsible for program knowledge management.

The VP of Programs helps to develop and improve systems and processes at the high level in the PHI organizational service departments to serve the collective core needs of programs, provides strong individual program support, as well as promotes collaborative synergy across programs. The successful VP of Programs contributes to strengthening the sustainability of existing programs; recruits new PI/PDs; and develops new programs.

The VP of Programs reports to the President & CEO and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. The position supervises an Associate Vice President for Research Administration, an Executive Assistant, and may supervise one or more other program supervisors.

This is a regular full-time hybrid (remote and in-person) position that is required to work in the office located in downtown Oakland, CA on a regular but flexible schedule to be mutually agreed upon. The incumbent is also required to travel in and outside of California for in-person meetings, events, and other activities several times a year. Candidates based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento area, or Central Valley, within driving distance from Oakland are preferred.

Full salary range for this position: $194,904 to $307,281 per year. The typical hiring range for this position is from $194,904 (minimum) to $251,093 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Lead Organizational Program Strategy

• Develop and implement comprehensive organizational program strategy and direction as a fiscal sponsor to advance PHI’s vision, mission, and strategic priorities
• Strategic responsibility for overall program support and advising services under PHI’s fiscal sponsorship model
• Identify and pursue program areas for strategic growth. Identify and recruit new program leaders, design and create innovative programs, and provide leadership to collaborative fund development and revenue generation strategies and activities
• Cultivate relationships with existing and new funder partners in areas relevant to PHI programs and potential new program areas to support program impact and sustainability
• Advise the President & CEO and executive and senior leaders on PHI program strategy and approach. Develop and lead initiatives to leverage program strengths to pursue strategic opportunities
• Provide perspective and expertise on public health issues, track issues, trends, best practices, and evolving approaches across wide range of areas
  
  

Organize and Lead Fiscal Sponsorship Program Services

• In partnership with other organizational service departments, develop and lead premier fiscal sponsorship service model for public health programs. Evolve and continuously improve the model to strengthen fiscal sponsorship and address program needs
• Design and organize a suite of program support services to provide cohesive, excellent support to programs that advance individual program success and collectively help advance PHI’s mission
• Develop and nurture strong relationships with program leaders and teams
• Work in collaboration with other organizational service departments to ensure consistent, coordinated, high quality program support services and improve effectiveness and efficiency of systems and processes
• Develop and build refreshed approach to cross-program collaboration and synergy to increase program partnerships, impact, and efficiency
• Responsible for new program activities including recruiting, identifying and assessing prospective partners, and onboarding new programs, as well as program retention
• Work closely with fund development, strategic communications, policy and government relations, and legal teams to build robust approach supporting program business and fund development
  
  

Provide Individual Program Oversight and Support

• Provide strategic and operational oversight, support, coaching, advising, and thought partnership to individual PI/PDs to support quality, growth, impact, and success of programs, and advance health equity in partnership with the REDI Department. Serve as high-level implementing partner while respecting program autonomy
• Monitor overall program health, identify areas needing attention, and provide expert support and guidance as needed
• Help build the capacity of individual programs across key domains of program success, including strategy, implementation, operations, fiscal sustainability including fund development, compliance, team, and resilience
• Support the professional development of PI/PDs, encompassing performance management and professional growth. In coordination with the HR Department, complete the annual review process for PI/PDs
• Ensure program alignment with PHI mission and compliance with policies. Communicate changes in key policies and requirements to PI/PDs
• Facilitate connection and coordination to the range of PHI fiscal sponsorship services and resources
• Assist with problem-solving, particularly in complex situations, and crisis resolution and navigation. Support programs during complex and sensitive transitions
• Onboard and orient new programs and support offboarding
• Supervise program staff in the absence of a PI/PD, providing close individual program support and oversight as needed
  
  

Program Knowledge Management

• Serve as an advocate and ambassador of PHI programs internally and externally. Seek opportunities to elevate and communicate the work and impact of PHI programs, both at the individual program level and across key themes, in a range of settings
• Stay informed about program activities to facilitate connections among programs with complementary missions or skill sets and develop systems to track program information
• Develop systems, processes, tools, and dashboards to support facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge generated by programs such as best practices, challenges, intellectual property, and program resources and cataloging of program achievements and impacts
• Develop dissemination system so that organizational learnings are easily accessible to PHI internally, as well as external partners
• Partner across the organization to ensure that program work, learnings, and impacts are incorporated into strategic communications, business and fund development, policy and government affairs, and key operational and management functions
  
  

Organizational Leadership

• Partner with the President & CEO and other executives to steward the overall organization as a member of the Executive Leadership Team
• Incorporate in-depth knowledge of PHI programs into planning and strategy for PHI overall
• Work in partnership with other executives and departments to foster a collaborative and results-driven culture that encourages joy in purpose-driven work, learning and improvement, dynamic thinking and nimbleness in responding to needs and opportunities, compliance, rigor, and focus on mission impact and strategic goals advancement
• Model and create an equity focused environment centered on embracing diversity and authentic inclusion in all areas of work as a prerequisite for advancing health equity purposefully
• May lead policy and government affairs for the organization
  
  

Other

• Provide supervision, support, training, coaching, and feedback to other direct reports
• Work in the office located in downtown Oakland, CA on a regular but flexible schedule to be mutually agreed upon. Travel in and outside of California for in-person meetings, events, and other activities several times a year
• Perform other duties as assigned
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• 12 years of leadership/management experience related to the role in a nonprofit organization, government, or organization working with nonprofit organizations
• 7 years of experience as a manager
• Bachelor’s degree, or substitute with four additional years of related experience
  
  

Other Qualifications

• Wide ranging public health expertise and experience and network of existing relationships across the public health and health ecosystem, research, government agencies, and philanthropy
• Program leadership and management experience, including program planning and demonstrated fundraising experience with governmental and philanthropic funders
• Experience developing and advancing significant bodies of work over time to increase impact and further the organization’s mission and strategic goals
• Experience providing advice, guidance, and thought partnership to a range of public health programs, including community-based programs. Demonstrated leadership, coaching and relationship management experience. Experience providing consulting services to public health programs a plus
• Unwavering commitment to high quality support of programs and excellence in organizational and program management with the ability to achieve strategic objectives and manage a budget
• Relationship and partnership builder extraordinaire. Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with diverse internal and external partners to achieve key goals, including PHI program partners, sister public health organizations, government agencies, policymakers, coalitions, trade associations, foundations, and other public health programs
• Proven experience in recruiting, managing, and developing effective program leaders
• Strong commitment to health equity (including racial equity) and sensitivity towards the experiences of marginalized and/or historically underserved people, othering, structural exclusion, and cultural differences
• Strong leadership skills. Ability to build trust and loyalty, lead and manage teams and individuals, and motivate others to perform well
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills. Persuasive, credible, and polished communicator. Experience as a spokesperson with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Track record of implementing strategies and approaches to improve systems and outcomes
• Capacity to work through complex situations and problems with interpersonal savvy to identify practical solutions and achieve resolution smoothly
• Mission-driven and self-directed with a strong work ethic and demonstrated passion for PHI’s mission, commitment to working collaboratively, and demonstrated capability to operate effectively with peers and partners
• Ability to handle a variety of constituencies, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities
• Experience in public policy and government relations a strong plus
• Graduate degree in a related field and related certifications preferred
  
  

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

EEO Statement

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

ADA Statement:

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at [email protected].

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We’re so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at [email protected].

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