Senior Program Officer, Policy

ASM; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 94,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

ASM seeks a Senior Program Officer, Policy to lead high-impact public health initiatives, strengthening national partnerships and improving responses to emerging infectious diseases. The role convenes experts, shapes communications, and collaborates with CDC, ASM members, and partner organizations.

It provides programmatic leadership for externally funded initiatives with a grant-funded initial term. This position requires coordinating multiple projects, managing budgets, and mentoring team

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Microbiology, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish goals and oversee portfolio in collaboration with CDC and stakeholders.
• Facilitate EWGs convenings and manage outputs/deliverables.
• Develop and execute a Communications strategy on behalf of CDC with webinar/blog topics.
• Plan, monitor, and report on program milestones, resources, and deliverables.
• Budget reporting with funders and grants team.
• Identify risks and mitigation actions; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure deliverables meet quality and schedule; conduct field visits or virtual meetings.
• Mentor ASM team members and contractors to build skills.
• Improve business processes for externally funded work.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Microbiology, or a related field

Master’s or PhD preferred

Job description

Position Overview

The Senior Program Officer, Policy advances high-impact public health initiatives that strengthen national partnerships and improve responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. This role will lead complex programs, convene scientific and public health experts, shape communications on priority issues, and collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASM members, and partner organizations. The Senior Program Officer provides programmatic leadership while ensuring that initiatives achieve high-quality outcomes and continuously improve in effectiveness and efficiency. This is a grant-funded position with an initial duration of one year and the potential to continue for up to five years, contingent upon continued funding.

• Establish overall goals, objectives, and activities of assigned portfolio in collaboration with CDC and stakeholders, and lead management of programs/projects through the application of program and project management principles, practices, and techniques, coordinating multiple projects and oversight of their interdependencies.
• Facilitate expert working group (EWG) convenings, both online and in-person. Lead recruitment and management of EWGs towards planned outputs and deliverables.
• Lead development and execution of a portfolio-based Communications strategy on behalf of CDC, including coordinating with CDC to identify priority topics to include in ASM webinars and blogs.
• Develop and communicate program and project plans and schedules; estimate resource requirements; define milestones, targets, and deliverables; monitor activities against requirements, quality standards, and timelines; adapt programs as necessary; and evaluate and report on accomplishments, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
• Assure and provide effective program budget reporting in collaboration with funders, Budget and Grants team, and program team.
• Document and track program/project risks and issues, establish/identify mitigation plans, and take corrective action, as necessary.
• Ensure program/deliverables are of high quality and completed/submitted according to schedule. Conduct regular/as needed program field visits/virtual meetings with partners/stakeholders to discuss progress, provide technical/programmatic support, identify appropriate actions to resolve issues, and/or refer to relevant officials for resolutions.
• Lead, mentor, and/or advise other ASM team members and supporting contractors to develop their skills (e.g., complex program design, procurement), technical competencies, and experience.
• Work with ASM team to create and implement efficient and effective business processes in support of externally funded work.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
  
• Organizational Knowledge – Understands ASM’s mission, internal and external stakeholders, member and volunteer leadership structures, and cross-functional processes relevant to externally funded public health programs.
• Domain Knowledge – Demonstrates knowledge of public health, infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of grant- or contract-funded programs.
• Enterprise Processes and Technologies – Understands and effectively uses standard office equipment such as personal computers/laptops, and office automation software. Uses new, specialized or organization-specific equipment, technologies, software, databases, and systems, as required, in accordance with the organization's policies. Up to date on social media and use it appropriately on behalf of ASM.
• Project Management Skills – Plans, initiates, executes, controls, and closes projects. Tracks and manages resources, timeliness, costs, deliverables, and performance, and implements contingency plans, if necessary, to ensure projects are successfully completed.
• Presentation & Written Communication Skills – Communicates effectively in one‑on‑one, group, virtual, and in‑person settings. Prepare clear written materials, presentations, reports, and stakeholder communications for a variety of audiences.
  
• Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates – Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Differences – Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Build Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
  

Position Overview

The Senior Program Officer, Policy advances high-impact public health initiatives that strengthen national partnerships and improve responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. This role will lead complex programs, convene scientific and public health experts, shape communications on priority issues, and collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASM members, and partner organizations. The Senior Program Officer provides programmatic leadership while ensuring that initiatives achieve high-quality outcomes and continuously improve in effectiveness and efficiency. This is a grant-funded position with an initial duration of one year and the potential to continue for up to five years, contingent upon continued funding.

Essential Function

• Establish overall goals, objectives, and activities of assigned portfolio in collaboration with CDC and stakeholders, and lead management of programs/projects through the application of program and project management principles, practices, and techniques, coordinating multiple projects and oversight of their interdependencies.
• Facilitate expert working group (EWG) convenings, both online and in-person. Lead recruitment and management of EWGs towards planned outputs and deliverables.
• Lead development and execution of a portfolio-based Communications strategy on behalf of CDC, including coordinating with CDC to identify priority topics to include in ASM webinars and blogs.
• Develop and communicate program and project plans and schedules; estimate resource requirements; define milestones, targets, and deliverables; monitor activities against requirements, quality standards, and timelines; adapt programs as necessary; and evaluate and report on accomplishments, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
• Assure and provide effective program budget reporting in collaboration with funders, Budget and Grants team, and program team.
• Document and track program/project risks and issues, establish/identify mitigation plans, and take corrective action, as necessary.
• Ensure program/deliverables are of high quality and completed/submitted according to schedule. Conduct regular/as needed program field visits/virtual meetings with partners/stakeholders to discuss progress, provide technical/programmatic support, identify appropriate actions to resolve issues, and/or refer to relevant officials for resolutions.
• Lead, mentor, and/or advise other ASM team members and supporting contractors to develop their skills (e.g., complex program design, procurement), technical competencies, and experience.
• Work with ASM team to create and implement efficient and effective business processes in support of externally funded work.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
  

Technical Competencies

• Organizational Knowledge – Understands ASM’s mission, internal and external stakeholders, member and volunteer leadership structures, and cross-functional processes relevant to externally funded public health programs.
• Domain Knowledge – Demonstrates knowledge of public health, infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of grant- or contract-funded programs.
• Enterprise Processes and Technologies – Understands and effectively uses standard office equipment such as personal computers/laptops, and office automation software. Uses new, specialized or organization-specific equipment, technologies, software, databases, and systems, as required, in accordance with the organization's policies. Up to date on social media and use it appropriately on behalf of ASM.
• Project Management Skills – Plans, initiates, executes, controls, and closes projects. Tracks and manages resources, timeliness, costs, deliverables, and performance, and implements contingency plans, if necessary, to ensure projects are successfully completed.
• Presentation & Written Communication Skills – Communicates effectively in one‑on‑one, group, virtual, and in‑person settings. Prepare clear written materials, presentations, reports, and stakeholder communications for a variety of audiences.
  

Behavioral Competencies

• Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates – Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Differences – Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Build Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
  

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position for extended periods; operate a computer and other office equipment. Communicate verbally and in writing; and participate in virtual and in-person meetings. The employee may occasionally move about the office, attend events, or meetings, and lift or move items typically associated with office or event work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Travel Requirements

Travel requirements will be communicated during the recruitment process based on program needs, including potential attendance at partner meetings, convenings, and other in-person activities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ASM is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and make employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

ASM is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. The essential functions, physical demands, and work environment requirements described in this description are representative of those required for the position and may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. If you require accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] so we can engage in an interactive process to support your participation.

Pay Transparency Statement

This position has a salary range of $94,477 - $122,787. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including relevant experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, geographic considerations, where applicable, and market data. In addition to base compensation, ASM offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement benefits, paid time‑off, and other employee wellness programs.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Microbiology, or a related field required. Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) strongly preferred.