Project Implementation Specialist

CDC Foundation; United States; Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The CDC Foundation is seeking a Project Implementation Specialist to support the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program. The role reports to the Assistant Director of Projects and will guide contractors to meet AWARD, federal requirements, and milestones.

Hybrid work arrangement with potential statewide travel; strong program management, communication, and compliance skills are essential to drive timely project delivery and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, health administration, business, public policy, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in program or project management, preferably in a healthcare or public health setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level materials.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced, evolving program environment.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills with demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with competing deadlines.
• Strong proficiency with project management tools and MS Office (including Microsoft Project).

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day implementation activities across multiple RHTP projects, ensuring tasks and deliverables remain on schedule.
• Coordinate communication and collaboration among project teams, stakeholders, and partner organizations.
• Assist in development, review, and dissemination of project materials, with attention to required branding, disclosure, and compliance expectations.
• Track and monitor project progress, documenting milestones, risks, issues, and needs for escalation and when directed, prepare reports, monitoring, and evaluation documents.
• Prepare summary reports, meeting materials, and implementation updates for project leadership.
• Support planning and execution of internal and external organization meetings.
• Identify operational challenges and work with project teams to troubleshoot and support solutions.
• Maintain organized project documentation, including workflows, guidance documents, and version control.
• Assist with gathering and synthesizing feedback from participating entities to inform continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of implementation strategies, tools, and processes.
• Maintain collegial, productive relationships with colleagues and partners.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

MS Project

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public health, health administration, business, public policy, public administration, or a related field

Master’s degree in public health, health administration, business, public policy, public administration, or a related field

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

Job description

Position Title : Project Implementation Specialist

Salary : $80,000 (plus benefits)

Position End Date : 7/31/2027 (with possibility of extension)

Location : State of Connecticut Department of Social Services - Hartford, CT

Overview :

The CDC Foundation is seeking a Project Implementation Specialist to support the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS). This position will report to the Assistant Director of Projects, under the Division of Rural Health Transformation in the DSS Commissioner’s Office.

The Project Implementation Specialist will support the implementation of Department-led Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) projects under the direction of RHTP program leadership. This will include providing guidance to RHTP contractors to ensure compliance with RHTP Notice of Award, federal requirements, goals and milestones.

This position is currently a hybrid position. This role may require occasional statewide travel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, health administration, business, public policy, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in program or project management, preferably in a healthcare or public health setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level materials.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced, evolving program environment.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills with demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with competing deadlines.
• Strong proficiency with project management tools and MS Office (including Microsoft Project)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health, health administration, business, public policy, public administration, or a related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management credential.
• Experience working with Medicaid, CMS, or other local, state or federal health programs.
• Experience supporting health related projects, program implementation, or cross functional initiatives
• Familiarity with rural health systems, community health workers, or behavioral health services.
• Prior experience working in or closely with a local, state, or federal government agency or government-funded program.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day implementation activities across multiple RHTP projects, ensuring tasks and deliverables remain on schedule.
• Coordinate communication and collaboration among project teams, stakeholders, and partner organizations.
• Assist in development, review, and dissemination of project materials, with attention to required branding, disclosure, and compliance expectations.
• Track and monitor project progress, documenting milestones, risks, issues, and needs for escalation and when directed, prepare reports, monitoring, and evaluation documents.
• Prepare summary reports, meeting materials, and implementation updates for project leadership.
• Support planning and execution of internal and external organization meetings.
• Identify operational challenges and work with project teams to troubleshoot and support solutions.
• Maintain organized project documentation, including workflows, guidance documents, and version control.
• Assist with gathering and synthesizing feedback from participating entities to inform continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of implementation strategies, tools, and processes.
• Maintain collegial, productive relationships with colleagues and partners.

Special Notes

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the CDC Foundation and the Connecticut Department of Social Services in order to best support the state of Connecticut in their public health programming.

This position is currently a hybrid position. CDC Foundation retains the right to make adjustments to this as required.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.

Relocation expenses are not included.

About the CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations, and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1 billion and launched more than 1,000 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, and to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries last year. Learn more at www.cdcfoundation.org.

About the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS), has a mission that we, along with our partners, provide person-centered programs and services to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities. DSS delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS services about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, online and phone access options.

DSS is the overall lead agency for Connecticut’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which is anticipated to be at least $100 million per year for five years for Connecticut (first year grant award was approximately $154 million). CT’s RHTP grant includes thirty projects, each of which is assigned to one of 10 state agencies to implement, including eight projects assigned to DSS.