Senior Program Manager, Native Communities, Overdose Prevention Program

Vital Strategies; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Vital Strategies, a global public health organization, seeks a Senior Program Manager for Native Communities within the Overdose Prevention Program. The role focuses on subgrant lifecycle management, technical assistance, and capacity building to empower subgrantees and advance program objectives across regions.

Based in the New York City metro area, this full-time position offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, nonprofit management, social work, public policy, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Deep commitment to racial equity and public health justice, with experience operationalizing these values through program design and technical assistance delivery.
• Knowledge of Indigenous Native American tribal health and social supports.
• Ability to build positive work relationships across a diverse range of cultural, generational, ethnic, racial, educational, and social backgrounds.
• Knowledge of drug use, overdose prevention, and harm reduction programs and policy.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to make sound, informed judgments under competing priorities.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite or equivalent.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to integrate new information and adapt with agility; and facilitate collaboration, clarify roles and responsibilities, and build alignment among stakeholders with differing perspectives to support effective implementation.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Responsibilities

• Collective Planning and Strategy Development - Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary team and contribute unique perspective to develop and monitor the implementation of a comprehensive strategy and annual work plan for the portfolio that integrates the collective expertise and experience of the team, current overdose data and epidemiology, policy landscapes, community needs, and lessons learned from prior implementation.
• Technical Assistance and Subgrant Agreement Management - Serve as a technical expert and point of contact for subgrantees. Use knowledge of overdose prevention and public health strategies to support subgrantees in all phases of award lifecycle, providing tailored technical assistance while flagging complex needs for support by senior colleagues.
• Operational Support for Technical Assistance & Capacity Building - Identify subgrantee needs for support, training, and other resources, with a focus on building the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs).
• Other - Develop portfolio specific annual procurement plans aligned to the collective strategy for confirmation by regional colleagues; implement procurement plan in coordination with team members while ensuring compliance with organizational standards; other duties as assigned.

Skills

Public health

Project management

Subgrant management

Stakeholder liaison

Equity and inclusion

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public health or related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Job Brief

Senior Program Manager, Native Communities, Overdose Prevention Program

Vital Strategies is a global public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include noncommunicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, and data for health. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by people with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities (EEO) for those seeking employment.

About the Program:

The Overdose Prevention Program partners with governments and communities to advance evidence-based strategies that reduce overdose deaths. Through grant funding and tailored technical assistance, the program helps government, institutional, and community partners strengthen policies, implement innovative programs, and mobilize local action to address the evolving overdose crisis.

Our work spans the neighborhood, local, regional, and jurisdictional levels, supporting sustainable public health solutions that are responsive to local needs. Program staff are organized into multidisciplinary regional teams, each managing a portfolio of states or Native communities. These teams work closely with colleagues in Operations and with subject matter experts in Communications, Program Evaluation & Knowledge Management, and Legal & Policy to deliver coordinated, high-impact support.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Program Manager contributes their expertise in non-profit operations and subgrant management in the overdose prevention field to serve as the primary point of contact for subgrantees in their assigned portfolio, guiding them through the full lifecycle of their subgrant agreements from development and implementation through closeout. They provide technical assistance, facilitate subgrant documentation, track and monitor project milestones and accomplishments, and connect subgrantees to resources to build their capacity to advance program objectives.

The Senior Program Manager contributes their lived experience and professional knowledge while learning from the experience and expertise of colleagues as the team plans, monitors, and continually improves the program.

This is anew role for the Overdose Prevention program. It is a full-time positionpreferably based in the New York City metro area; we will consider other locations in the U.S. dependent on the work (North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Nevada, or Washington state). We offer highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $ 88,000 to $ 98,000 USD.

Reporting & Key Relationships:

The Senior Program Manager is an integral member of a multidisciplinary team. Reporting to the Regional Deputy Director, the position collaborates closely with a Senior Technical Advisor to oversee the development and implementation of subgrants and is a primary liaison to counterparts in the Grants & Contracts unit regarding compliance and operational oversight of subgrantees.

The Senior Program Manager develops relationships with and provides expert guidance to subgrantees as they implement and report on project activities and connects them to resources to build their capacity to manage and implement subgrants.

To foster continuous learning the Senior Program Manager will participate in an internal Community of Practice with peers who serve in the same capacity in other OPP regions and may attend conferences with external stakeholders working on overdose prevention.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Collective Planning and Strategy Development -

• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary team and contribute unique perspective to develop and monitor the implementation of a comprehensive strategy and annual work plan for the portfolio that integrates the collective expertise and experience of the team, current overdose data and epidemiology, policy landscapes, community needs, and lessons learned from prior implementation.
• Cultivate a culture of curiosity and shared learning that supports a holistic approach to programming: consult regularly with colleagues on needs related to core responsibilities; adapt own planning to integrate other professional perspectives.
• Apply an intersectional racial justice framework across all planning processes, program design, and implementation.

Technical Assistance and Subgrant Agreement Management -

• Serve as a technical expert and point of contact for subgrantees. Use knowledge of overdose prevention and public health strategies to support subgrantees in all phases of award lifecycle, providing tailored technical assistance while flagging complex needs for support by senior colleagues.
• Partner with the relevant technical lead to draft, finalize, and issue subaward agreements and amendments that meet organizational review and approval standards, and clearly define programmatic and operational responsibilities and deliverables of the subgrantee.
• In collaboration with the Grants & Contracts (G&C) team, assess the capacity of proposed subgrantees and develop risk mitigation and capacity building plans; incorporate findings into subaward agreement language and monitor implementation on an ongoing basis.
• Maintain project progress tracking systems and management platforms to reflect, track, and monitor the status of deliverables, milestones, and program accomplishments in an accurate and timely manner.
• Serve as the primary liaison for G&C, subgrantees and subgrant award owner, clearly communicating requirements, timelines, and expectations amongst all groups.
• Review, synthesize, and analyze subgrantee reports and communications to assess implementation progress; identify challenges or obstacles and make recommendations to the regional team.
• Compile and prepare summary progress reports for internal and external partners, including donor and regional program team and leadership.

Operational Support for Technical Assistance & Capacity Building -

• Identify subgrantee needs for support, training, and other resources, with a focus on building the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs).
• Connect subgrantees with relevant capacity-building supports; support partners in accessing resources and assess their effectiveness through surveys and feedback.

Other -

• Develop portfolio specific annual procurement plans aligned to the collective strategy for confirmation by regional colleagues.
• Implement procurement plan in coordination with team members while ensuring compliance with organizational standards.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education -

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, nonprofit management, social work, public policy, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills & Abilities -

• Deep commitment to racial equity and public health justice, with experience operationalizing these values through program design and technical assistance delivery.
• Knowledge of issues, systems, governance structures, and institutions related to Indigenous Native American tribal health and social supports.
• Ability to build positive work relationships across a diverse range of cultural, generational, ethnic, racial, educational, and social backgrounds.
• Knowledge of drug use, overdose prevention, and harm reduction programs and policy p
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to make sound, informed judgments under competing priorities.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit operations, structures, and business models.
• Ability to integrate new information, analyze and synthesize information, prepare reports, and communicate findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• Aptitude for identifying challenges, analyzing situations, and discussing solution options.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain adherence to timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite or equivalent.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to integrate new information and adapt with agility; and facilitate collaboration, clarify roles and responsibilities, and build alignment among stakeholders with differing perspectives to support effective implementation.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Experience:

Required -

• Minimum six years of professional experience managing programs with small Native community-based implementation partners; experience with overdose prevention or harm reduction programs required.
• Minimum three years’ experience in subaward or subgrant management, including agreement development, compliance monitoring, and partner reporting.
• Minimum three years’ experience in project management with consistent adherence to timelines and deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience liaising with multiple internal and external stakeholders across operational and programmatic functions.

Preferred -

• Direct experience working in an operational role at a nonprofit organization.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• This position is based in the New York City area, where hybrid office schedules are in place (two days/week in-office, the rest remote).
• May be required to travel occasionally between partner offices in the New York City area;
• Up to 30% of time in domestic travel may be required to attend meetings.