Federal Health Program Modernization Director

Leadnear Technologies Private Limited.; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Guidehouse seeks a senior leader for its Federal Health Advisory practice to drive transformations for HHS/ACF, manage a portfolio of engagements, and build trusted executive relationships. You will oversee delivery, align multi‑partner teams, and ensure value across contracts.

The role requires extensive public‑sector experience, including HHS and child welfare, with a proven track record in proposals and large multi‑disciplinary programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in public health, business administration, organizational development, or related fields.
• 12+ years of total experience, including industry or consulting experience.
• 10+ years of experience supporting public sector agencies, including required experience with HHS.
• Experience supporting child welfare programs, child and family services, or related human services programs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead new business pursuits and proposals.
• Excellent program/project management skills with demonstrated experience leading large multi‑disciplinary teams across a range of projects.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong business relationships with senior executive clients.
• Well‑rounded leadership skills to provide strategic, analytical, and operational direction to teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead with Vision: actively manage a portfolio of ACF and federal human services client engagements and consulting staff, ensuring all contractual requirements and deliverables are met.
• Be a Strategic Partner: strategize with consultant teams on project approach, facilitate communications, and manage risk across engagements.
• Serve as a Trusted Advisor: build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with ACF and federal human services client executives.
• Be a Good Steward: manage all aspects of project financials and deliver all projects on budget and on schedule.
• Champion Compliance: maintain and promote compliance with contractual, regulatory, and internal policy requirements.
• Drive Growth and Sales: grow the practice at a rate of $10M+ in annual new business; lead executive for new opportunities.
• Pioneer Thought Leadership: develop white papers, attend conferences, and create solutions focusing on child welfare, program integrity, and modernization.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert: act as domain expert for client challenges including child welfare operations and fraud, waste, and abuse mitigation.
• Build Strong Teams: provide direct line management for consultants on client engagements.
• Help Grow Careers: lead career development and recruitment; retain team members.
• Mentor and Coach Staff: train and onboard new team members.
• Shape Team/Firm Culture: cultivate an authentic, collaborative, performance‑oriented culture.

Job description

Job Family : Strategy & Transformation Consulting Travel Required : Up to 10% Clearance Required : Ability to Obtain Public Trust

What You Will Do

As a leader within the Guidehouse Federal Health Advisory practice, you will partner with clients to drive impactful transformations in support of HHS and Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) mission to promote the economic and social well-being of children, families, individuals, and communities. You will be responsible for growing a book of business, building trusted client relationships, leading dynamic teams, and delivering transformative project results across ACF and related federal human services programs. You will oversee all aspects of the development and delivery of contracts and projects, including child welfare program modernization, program integrity and fraud, waste, and abuse mitigation, organizational strategy and evaluation, operational improvement, workforce and leadership development, stakeholder engagement, communications, and change management. This role involves leading multiple concurrent contracts and regularly interacting with executive-level clients to ensure successful, high-quality project delivery. Applicants must have extensive experience as a consulting or public sector leader and trusted advisor to public sector executives, with required experience supporting child welfare, human services, and fraud, waste, and abuse-related initiatives.

Client Relationship Management and Engagement Delivery

• Lead with Vision: Actively manage a portfolio of ACF and federal human services client engagements and consulting staff, ensuring all contractual requirements and deliverables are met.
• Be a Strategic Partner: Strategize with consultant teams on project approach, facilitate communications, and manage risk across engagements.
• Serve as a Trusted Advisor: Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with ACF and federal human services client executives.
• Be a Good Steward: Manage all aspects of project financials and deliver all projects on budget and on schedule.
• Champion Compliance: Maintain and promote compliance with contractual, regulatory, and internal policy requirements.

New Business Development

• Drive Growth and Sales: Be personally engaged in and accountable for growing the practice at a rate of $10M+ in annual new business for the firm. Serve as the lead executive for new business opportunities.
• Pioneer Thought Leadership: Help build the Guidehouse brand across ACF and federal human services clients by developing white papers, attending conferences, and creating solutions and methodologies focused on child welfare, program integrity, operational modernization, and fraud, waste, and abuse mitigation.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert: Serve as a content and domain expert for ACF and human services client challenges, including child welfare operations, program integrity, fraud, waste, and abuse, organizational effectiveness, and facilitation of high‑stakes meetings.

Consulting Staff Leadership

• Build Strong Teams: Provide direct line management for consultants assigned to owned client engagements.
• Help Grow Careers: Lead career development, advocacy for, recruitment of, and retention of members of the Federal Health Advisory team.
• Mentor and Coach Staff: Train and onboard new team members.
• Shape Team/Firm Culture: Provide a vision for developing and sustaining an authentic, collaborative, and performance‑oriented culture.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in public health, business administration, organizational development, or related fields.
• Required experience supporting fraud, waste, and abuse prevention, detection, program integrity, improper payment reduction, or related compliance initiatives.
• 12+ years of total experience, including industry or consulting experience, excluding internships, part‑time roles, co‑ops, fellowships, and academic research.
• 10+ years of experience supporting public sector agencies, including required experience with HHS.
• Required experience supporting child welfare programs, child and family services, or related human services programs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead new business pursuits and proposals with proven results.
• Excellent program/project management skills with demonstrated experience leading large multi‑disciplinary teams across a range of projects.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong business relationships with senior executive clients.
• Well‑rounded leadership skills to provide strategic, analytical, and operational direction to teams.

What Would Be Nice To Have

• Master’s degree, preferably in public policy, public administration, social work, public health, business administration, organizational development, or related fields.

What We Offer

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commi