Zero Suicide Institute Senior Project Associate

EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms.  EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage individuals from communities disproportionately affected by suicide (e.g., American Indians, Alaska Natives, LGBTQ2S, Military, Veterans, rural) to apply for this position.

The Zero Suicide Institute (ZSI) in the U.S. Division has an opening for a ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)], reporting to the ZSI Manager.  The position will be based in Waltham, MA, Washington D.C., or remotely from the employee’s home office.

The EDC U.S. Division includes grants and projects in the areas of suicide, substance use disorders, healthcare, and violence and injury prevention. Through this work, EDC provides state and local officials, grantees, policymakers, interested stakeholders and the general public with assistance in developing, implementing and evaluating programs and strategies to prevent injury, violence and suicide.

The ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)] will deliver trainings and consultation related to the Zero Suicide model and suicide safer care. There may be an opportunity for this person to become an AMSR (Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk) trainer or master trainer (depending on experience). While the reach and application of the Zero Suicide model continues to evolve, ZSI currently supports a wide range of health and behavioral settings – including hospitals and integrated delivery networks, community mental health centers, federally-qualified health centers, primary care - as well as health plans, state and tribal governments, and federal agencies. The ideal candidate, therefore, understands suicide care in health and behavioral health care settings with preferred experience of implementing care to patients in inpatient settings. The person in this position will also contribute to the review of the current Zero Suicide toolkit as well as assist in the creation of new resources and tools. The individual will join a rapidly growing team who have both unique areas of expertise and are flexible and skilled at providing support to a variety of groups.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

The ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)] provides consultation about the Zero Suicide model and comprehensive suicide safer care in health and behavioral health settings; typically assigned to multiple, diverse, complex and high-impact projects, involving:

• Providing consultation about launching, implementing, sustaining, and evaluating Zero Suicide and comprehensive suicide care in health care organizations, states, and other relevant settings; will lead projects and/or coordinate sections of larger projects
• Developing presentations, training, and workshops about health and behavioral health initiatives
• Planning and facilitating multi-day events that include senior health care executives and other senior level participants (e.g., tribal leadership, senior federal officials, state-level leaders)
• Leading virtual live training events, using adult and web-based learning best practices
• Working closely with clients to ensure event/agenda/speakers meet the specific needs of the participants
• Managing complex contracts, including project timeline and budget (e.g., documenting, managing resources, assigning work and engaging other staff and external consultants as needed, tracking project deliverables, administrative tasks as needed, and reporting to clients and Zero Suicide Institute leadership)
• Maintains awareness of current research, evolving trends and best practices in several areas of suicide prevention, crisis care, and/or mental health promotion
• Helping in the development of curriculum for various settings where comprehensive suicide care is applicable such as outpatient, inpatient, hospital systems, states, primary care, and payers
• Preparing recommendation reports
• Writing and developing materials based on new research
• Disseminating information, including website content.  Assisting with the promoting the Zero Suicide framework and specifically, the Zero Suicide Institute at EDC
• Suggesting ideas for improved efficiency or future focus; assisting with the creation of new resources, toolkit content, editing existing content, providing feedback on existing literature and best practices
• Develops rapport with clients, and facilitates connections to additional services when appropriate; consulting with and fostering relationship with experts in suicide prevention and health care
• Suggests new clients and/or types of clients, assisting with the business development of adding new clients
• Contributing to design and implementation of business monitoring systems
• Supporting project procurement
• Identifying & recruiting technical consultants; developing their scope of work
• Managing administrative procedures
• Monitoring contractual compliance
• Maintaining records

The ZSI Senior Project Associate [Project Associate (II)]:

• Coordinates administrative and logistical tasks for events or for the development of new resources
• Facilitates project teamwork and feedback exchanges
• Collaborates on troubleshooting complex problems, proposing initiatives and recommending or negotiating solutions
• Trains and provides guidance or administrative direction to junior staff
• Travel is required across the U.S. regularly and frequently throughout the year
• International travel may be possible but is not required or frequent

This position requires educational achievement; excellent writing and public speaking skills; demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively in groups; and strong interpersonal & organizational skills. Specific requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, with at least 7 years related experience
• Master’s degree, with at least 4 years related experience, preferred
• Some prior project leadership or supervisory experience preferred; demonstrated ability to lead projects independently, including oversight of multiple projects simultaneously and competing deadlines
• Demonstrable organizational and troubleshooting skills; demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships with colleagues, partners, and funders over long distances (virtually)
• Strong analytical skills and aptitude for details
• Understanding of evidence-based suicide care in health and behavioral health care settings, as well as understanding of implementation science, systems management, and organizational culture
• Experience and ability to plan, lead, and manage projects including the ability to take initiative and manage and prioritize time sensitive tasks
• Experience providing consultation at a larger scale (e.g., tribe-wide, regional, state-wide, national)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Outlook, Power Point, Excel)
• Prefer candidates who have clinical experience in health or behavioral health care settings (not individual or private practice) in providing suicide care to patients

The ideal candidate demonstrates the following:

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communications skills. Able to communicate effectively with a variety of internal and external audiences.
• Project Management: Experience and ability to plan and execute projects on deadline, including the ability to take initiative and manage multiple time-sensitive tasks simultaneously and prioritize tasks appropriately in a highly fast-paced environment.  
• Technical Skills: Ability to stay up to date with ever-changing world of social and digital media. Strong understanding of how to optimize content based on multiple platforms.
• Collaboration & Relationship Building: Able to work both independently without close oversight, and as a team player who will productively and proactively engage with others across the team and the larger project. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships and navigate sensitivities with individuals working in various levels of public and private sector organizations.

Applications should be submitted directly via our website (www.edc.org/careers-edc). Applicants are required to submit both a thoughtful cover letter and resume. Applicants are advised to combine their cover letter and resume into a single file for submission. The cover letter should be a succinct (2 pages max) statement of interest that includes highlights of relevant qualifications and experience for the role desired. Resumes are not subject to a page limit. Applications without the requested items will not be considered. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to complete a presentation exercise. 

As an EOE/AA employer, EDC does not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and veteran or disability status. EDC is a smoke-free workplace.