Director, Dissemination & Implementation Programs

AcademyHealth; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment — remote and办公

Job summary

AcademyHealth in Washington, DC, seeks a dynamic leader to design and deliver dissemination and implementation programs that move health care innovations into practice. You will serve as program manager for flagship initiatives, including scale-up efforts and implementation across sectors.

You will co-lead the Innovation Adoption Center operations, translate strategy into actionable plans, manage teams and budgets, and collaborate with senior leadership to secure funding.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in dissemination and implementation science with scalable interventions.
• Minimum seven years in implementation science, health services research, or health policy.
• At least three years in a management or leadership role with budget responsibility.
• Proven ability to secure and manage grants, contracts, or sponsorships.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Experience fostering collaboration across departments and partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of dissemination and implementation programs.
• Serve as Operations Co-Lead of the Innovation Adoption Center.
• Translate strategy into execution with measurable adoption.
• Oversee multi-sector initiatives combining coalition-building with implementation support.
• Develop budgets, staffing plans, timelines, and resource allocations.
• Drive business development and fundraising activity targeting $1–2 million annually.
• Represent AcademyHealth in external meetings and conferences.
• Lead or co-lead convenings, both virtual and in-person.

Skills

Dissemination and implementation

Program management

Stakeholder coordination

Budget planning

Team leadership

Fundraising

Education

Master’s degree in implementation science / health policy / public health

Equivalent experience in related field

Job description

AcademyHealth is the professional home and leading national organization for health services researchers (HSR), policymakers, and health care practitioners and stakeholders. We – together with our members and partners – increase the understanding of methods and data used in the field, enhance the professional skills of a vibrant and diverse community of researchers and research users, support evidence-based policy and practice, and advocate for the use of evidence to improve health and health care for all. Our core priorities are to support the people who generate and use evidence, strengthen the systems and data infrastructure of the field, and ensure that evidence is used to improve health and health care. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable working environment.

How you’ll contribute:

In this role, you will lead the design and delivery of dissemination and implementation programs that move proven health care innovations into everyday practice. You will bring dissemination and implementation science expertise to work across AcademyHealth, and you will serve as program manager for flagship initiatives, including our national effort to scale cancer biomarker testing and related implementation initiatives.

You will also serve as Operations Co-Lead of the Innovation Adoption Center, partnering with the Chief Programs and Science Officer, who serves as the Center's Strategic Lead. In that capacity you will translate strategy into execution, manage teams and resources to deliver high-impact results, and contribute to business development to meet organizational and programmatic needs.

You will report directly to Elizabeth Cope, Chief Programs and Science Officer.

Program and Portfolio Leadership (approximately 60% of role)

• Serve as program manager for flagship implementation initiatives, including our work to scale cancer biomarker testing, with day-to-day responsibility for coalition coordination, workplans, deliverables, and partner relationships.
• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for the Innovation Adoption Center as Operations Co-Lead, ensuring alignment with AcademyHealth's mission, strategic priorities, and organizational goals.
• Translate strategy into actionable plans, performance metrics, and deliverables that drive measurable adoption of evidence-based practice.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of multi-sector initiatives that combine coalition-building with practice-level implementation support.
• Develop and manage budgets, staffing plans, project timelines, and resource allocations to ensure efficient, high-quality execution and fiscal accountability.
• Collaborate closely with Center Leads across AcademyHealth's Signature Programs to ensure seamless workflow for cross-functional programs.
• Identify opportunities to enhance program performance, integrate innovation, and strengthen systems for learning and continuous improvement.
• Maintain accountability for outcomes, quality standards, and staff engagement across assigned areas of responsibility.

Business Development and Partnerships (approximately 25% of role)

• Lead business development activities, including identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities and cultivating relationships with current and prospective funders, sponsors, and partners.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to refine and implement AcademyHealth's business development strategy, ensuring a diverse and sustainable funding base.
• Serve as principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or lead proposal author for competitive funding opportunities.
• Contribute to the organization's sustainability by leading or co-leading development of new and renewal proposals totaling approximately $1–2 million annually, or equivalent in strategic partnerships or sponsorships, as defined in annual performance goals.

Thought Leadership and Field Engagement (approximately 10% of role)

• Provide subject‑matter expertise in dissemination and implementation science/practice to shape AcademyHealth’s strategic direction and programmatic priorities.
• Lead the conduct of research and analyses, including literature reviews and syntheses on spread and uptake of evidence-based practices, to produce written products (e.g., issue briefs, papers, reports).
• Represent the organization in external meetings, panels, and conferences to enhance visibility and influence.
• Design and lead convenings—virtual and in‑person—on topics of importance to the field.

Team Leadership and Talent Development (approximately 5% of role)

• Supervise and mentor staff, providing clear expectations, coaching, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture that supports innovation, learning, and accountability.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in implementation science, health policy, public health, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in dissemination and implementation science, including experience moving evidence-based interventions into practice at scale.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of substantive, professional experience in implementation science, health services research, health policy, or a related area.
• At least three (3) years in a management or leadership role with responsibility for teams, budgets, and strategic outcomes.
• Proven program management experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and translating strategy into measurable results.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing grants, contracts, or sponsorships from public and private funders.
• Strong understanding of health systems, the evidence-to-practice gap, and current issues in health services research.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs and translate strategy into measurable results.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Experience fostering collaboration and alignment across departments and partner organizations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to innovate, problem-solve, and adapt in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to AcademyHealth's mission and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What you should know:

• AcademyHealth is a hybrid work environment, with options for remote and office work.
• Applicants outside the metropolitan DC area are encouraged to apply.