Deputy Director of Strategy (Project Director II)

The Action Alliance within EDCs 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 nations 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.

You will:

• 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.

Qualifications :

Education:

• Masters 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.

Skills & 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.

Preferred Education Skills & Experience:

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

Additional Information :

Please submit the following with your application:

• Cover letter.
• Current CV or résumé.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship. At this time the EDC is unable to support employment-based visa sponsorship.

EDC affirms its steadfast commitment to uphold the highest standards of conduct ensuring the protection of all individuals from misconduct and maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of these rights. Safeguarding refers to the measures and practices put in place to protect individuals particularly vulnerable groups from harm abuse neglect and exploitation. 

EDC is a smoke-free workplace and offers a supportive work environment competitive salary and excellent benefits.  

Total Rewards:  

EDC offers the following comprehensive benefits package for all eligible employees: 

• 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 

The starting full-time equivalent (FTE) base salary range for this position is $87000 to $107000. 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran you have the right to request accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the EDC job opportunities website as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by e-mailing or by calling .

Remote Work :

Yes

Employment Type :

Part-time