ABOUT THE HEALTH INITIATIVE:

It is well-established that 80% of a person’s health is determined by factors outside the doctor’s office — healthy food, safe housing and a livable income. Yet our healthcare system is built backwards, with more than 99% of US healthcare dollars spent on medical care alone. The amount of money going toward healthcare is huge — the US government and private health insurance companies spend $10.7B on healthcare every day. This is projected to grow 6% annually through the next decade, despite recent safety net cuts. But what exactly do we get for all this healthcare spending? Right now, the US has some of the worst health outcomes across all high-income countries, including preventable heart disease and obesity, which cost the system nearly $500B each year.  This is inefficient and leaves people behind, especially low-income children and families. 

But what if our healthcare system was built to pay for health, not just healthcare? What if it moved dollars upstream to pay for the basics people need to get and stay healthy, like safe housing and nutritious food? The result would be a win-win-win: Children and adults would have better access to healthy food and safe housing and, as a result, have better health outcomes. When healthier patients use less care, the government saves money – and insurance companies’ revenues increase – incentivizing both to pay for these basics.  

The Health Initiative (THI) is a national organization that crosses political divides, taps market forces and activates stakeholders to shift dollars toward health. By providing strategic guidance and technical assistance, we activate healthcare institutions to move dollars into the hands of patients and communities to pay for food and housing— improving health outcomes for those most at risk and reducing overall healthcare costs. 

Since 2018, THI has used our playbook to spur healthcare institutions to spend nearly $1B in healthcare dollars on food, housing and other basics. For example, we supported North Carolina to use Medicaid dollars to provide patients with groceries, rental assistance and other basics, keeping them out of the hospital and saving the state a net $1,020 per person per year. THI also advised a Fortune 25 insurance company on how to provide food and housing benefits for 22K high-risk patients (87% living on less than $20K a year) and to design an evaluation which found that those receiving higher benefits have lower healthcare costs.   

THI maintains a diversified revenue base which enables staff stability, long-term planning, and meaningful impact. 

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Health Initiative (THI) seeks a highly organized, detail-oriented, and responsive Senior Project Manager who thrives in the fast-paced context of issue-based campaigns and/or start-up environments, has an excellent track record of managing work to deliver results, and is enthusiastic about THI’s goals.

Project Managers serve a critical function, supporting the development and execution of content that helps THI deliver on its ambitious aim. Project Managers need strong relational skills with an ability to get things done through others while managing projects to completion. They will have excellent attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to operate in an evolving organization while managing competing and time sensitive priorities.

This is an internal facing role, reports to the Chief of Staff, and has critical relationships with members of the program and development teams. The role does not have direct reports, though this could change in the future. In a flexible and growing organization, reporting structures and responsibilities may shift over time to align with organizational needs.

The role will require occasional evening and weekend work.

Key Responsibilities of a Senior Project Manager:

• Develop, maintain, and iterate workplans for successful execution to meet goals.

• Track project progress, provide clear updates, and surface risks proactively for very fast-moving priorities.

• Prepare agendas and lead internal planning meetings, providing real time updates on priorities and status of items. 

• Support continuous improvement of project management tools and systems by helping to measure effectiveness, suggesting improvements, and supporting evolving processes.

• Establish and continuously refine project management standards, systems, and tools. 

• Guide the adoption of new tools and practices (e.g.: responsible for Asana adoption, quality, and improvement, evaluating internal meeting purpose and value) etc.

Example Responsibilities:

Develop and execute plans, iterating as needed

• THI’s aim remains consistent, but our path to goal changes rapidly. Project Managers must develop a deep partnership with leadership and the various opportunities so they can rapidly reprioritize work and workplans to meet current opportunities and needs. 

• Create workplans for an often complex and interdependent series of communications, meetings, and deliverables for and across programs and developments. 

• Map all steps of the process, assignees, deadlines and prioritization to ensure materials such as backgrounds, agenda, talking points, slide decks, reports, proposals etc. are prioritized and presented to stakeholders on time.

• Meticulously track progress and engage the team with clear feedback on progress and action items; update and improve workplans as goals, timelines, or owners change.

• Escalate and proactively surface suggestions if plans are not on track to deliver high-quality work product consistent with timeliness goals. Flexibility and adaptability are essential as priorities routinely change.

Set processes to achieve reliable project management results

• Develop clear project management best practices to ensure tracking, prioritization, assignment, and execution of a complex network of meeting preparation, communications, and deliverables.

• Introduce, refine, and champion project management platforms and tools, developing best practices through all interactions including feedback mechanisms & integrations.

• Identify, track, and leverage key data points to inform improvements in systems and processes, allocate team capacity, and prioritize projects and tasks.

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to THI. Successful candidates will have many of the following skills:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. 5+ years of explicit project management experience in a high-stakes, faced-paced professional environment along with an extensive track record of improving practices required. Asana (or similar project management tool) experience expected.

• Demonstrated experience applying agile project management frameworks (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, Lean) to plan, execute, and adapt project work in a detail-heavy, fastmoving, and often ambiguous environment with aggressive timelines. 

• Continuous improvement mindset and demonstrated track record of using project management tools to achieve goals and of adapting the structures and tools based on data and results.

• Ability to think strategically - understand the big picture and proactively identify next steps, ability to optimize system and resources to achieve deliverables.

• Willingness to undertake tasks at all levels when necessary. As an issue-based campaign, THI’s work is dynamic and moves quickly.

• Effective decision-making skills.

• Ability to manage up and adapt approaches to meet project goals.

• Ability to work independently and manage self towards goals, while being a genuine "team player."

• Excellent communication skills (both interpersonal and written).

• Ability to work in a fast paced, sometimes ambiguous, environment.

• Ability to learn and use new systems and technology.

• Enthusiasm for the mission, vision, and values of THI.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

THI offers a comprehensive benefits package. The salary for this position is $105,000-$115,000 (commensurate with experience). In addition to a competitive salary, THI also offers:

• Full coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous 401K matching and parental leave.

• Unlimited sustainable vacation and sick time.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

THI is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage all qualified applicants to apply.