Summary: The Director, State Collaboration provides operational infrastructure to support public health collaborations among states. This is a hands-on implementation leadership role. Under the direction and leadership of participating states, the Director will provide essential coordination, synthesis, and practical support that enables states to work together effectively to accomplish shared goals.

This is a remote full-time position that is expected to conduct some travel to participating states.

This is a time-limited, one-year position with a possibility of extension based on funding availability.

Position is contingent on available funding.

Location: Remote

Principal Functions:

Jurisdictional Coordination

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with state health officials, as well as conduct listening sessions to understand priorities, constraints, and implementation needs
• Coordinate state convenings and forums that build relationships, identify shared priorities, and develop action plans
• Coordinate and staff working groups, committees, and initiatives on issues states identify for collaborative work, including supporting peer exchanges, best practice sharing, and exploratory initiatives among participating jurisdictions
• Working with state subject matter experts and SME consultants, synthesize best available science and state input to develop practical options for unified recommendations that support safety, efficacy, transparency, access, and trust
• Synthesize diverse perspectives and develop practical options that strengthen state capabilities to protect community health, recognizing the uniqueness of each state and that collaborative work and implementation strategies will be shaped by each state’s distinct context
• Facilitate sharing of tools and best practices among states and coordination with national professional organizations
• Identify resource needs and potential funding to support ongoing work

Grant Management and Deliverables

• Lead coordination and implementation of grant funded activities by ensuring all deliverables, milestones, and reporting requirements are met
• Track project timelines, prepare progress reports, and coordinate internal and external reporting to funders
• Manage project timelines and ensure delivery of commitments to participating states
• Develop and implement systems for knowledge management, resource sharing, and documentation
• Lead planning and execution of state convenings, including logistics, budget management, and follow-up

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, public policy, health administration, or a related field (MPH or similar preferred)
• At least 5 years of experience working in governmental public health, preferably at the state level, or extensive work closely partnering with state health departments
• Action-oriented leader with strong track record of translating complex ideas into executable plans and delivering results in multi-stakeholder environments
• Skilled at managing projects end-to-end, balancing competing priorities, and maintaining momentum across key initiatives
• Proven ability to work through influence and support rather than formal authority
• Highly effective written and verbal communicator for diverse audiences, producing concise policy and technical materials
• Experience with grant administration, budget management, and compliance with funder requirements

Benefits:

• Vacation leave, Sick leave, Personal days
• 12 Holidays (with some floating options for personalization)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Retirement Plans – 403B and Roth 403B, eligible employees can receive a company contribution up to 11.75%
• Infertility benefits
• Electronic communication stipend
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Additional Benefits include: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Pet Insurance, Legal Resources, Health & Wellness reimbursement, Flexible Spending accounts, Tuition Reimbursement, and Professional Development assistance

About Us: ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia, as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice. ASTHO is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia and was incorporated on March 23, 1942, with the goal of helping health officials navigate a rapidly changing public health landscape and remains a strong voice in governmental public health.