Overview
The Program Officer (PO) – for the Program and Innovation Office implements output-driven public health projects majority-funded through federal grants. The project/program portfolio can change over time as new grants begin, and established projects conclude. This position will support Maternal Child Health and Perinatal Infant Health related projects implemented in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, donors, and other internal and external stakeholders. With discretion, professionalism, and independent judgment, the PO is responsible for the coordinated management of assigned projects and/or moderately complex programs directed toward the CDC Foundation’s strategic and business objectives. This position is based in Atlanta, GA and relocation expenses are not provided.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Conceptualizes, plans, executes, monitors, and closes primarily federally funded projects that focus on maternal and infant health programs and span organizations, geographic regions, and cultures for the designated division.
2. Fosters and maintains peer-to-peer relationships with subject matter experts, donors, field employees and other partners aimed at efficient and effective project and/or moderately complex program implementation.
3. Prepares, finalizes, and submits narrative and financial project- and/or program-related reports or updates to donors in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
4. Develops data driven briefing documents and project updates with a focus on design and partner engagement.
5. Serves as project liaison for and between internal and external stakeholders.
6. Manages significant matters such as project development, project-related budgeting and procurement, and auditing/evaluating project performance.
7. Formulates project-related goals, objectives, operating policies, guidelines, standards, and priorities to ensure consistency with departmental standard operating procedures.
8. Contributes to resource mobilization efforts for the assigned projects/programs in consultation and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
9. Prepares, negotiates, and monitors project- and/or program-related contracts and agreements.
10. Represents the CDC Foundation at technical, policy, and strategic planning meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
11. Serves as the contact person in the absence of team members, in this capacity, the PO acknowledges receipt of correspondence and follows up on urgent matters with appropriate internal staff.
12. Travels domestically as needed to represent the designated projects and/or programs and other CDC Foundation team members (up to 20 percent annually).
13. Participates in and/or supports special projects and other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Necessary Skills
1. Master’s degree in public health or related field from an accredited college or university required.
2. Minimum of 5 years of public health or related professional experience required with an emphasis on federal grants/contracts management experience strongly preferred.
3. Skills in project management, budget management, cross-cultural awareness, communication, and creative problem solving.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with particular experience preparing, writing, and editing complex documents such as detailed reports to donors; briefing documents for CDC, donors, and other stakeholders/partners; peer-reviewed articles and concise presentation of information using data and science to drive messaging.
5. Creative, innovative and solutions driven, with a focus on design, powerful storytelling, and engaging partners.
6. Strong technical skills including word processing, spreadsheet, and database management.
7. Experience with enterprise resource planning systems and software packages used to manage day-to-day business activities such as program management and budgeting preferred.
8. Knowledge and skills needed to be effective in the federal project management, public-private partnership, project/program, donor, and stakeholder environments in international or domestic contexts.
9. Ability to make decisions that accomplish project/program strategic objectives.
10. Ability to represent the CDC Foundation and its partners during negotiations concerning project planning, implementation, and evaluation.
11. Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills; collegial, energetic, and able to develop productive relationships with colleagues, donors, stakeholders, and partners.
12. Sound judgment and maturity, exemplified by consistent professionalism in dealing with individuals at all levels both internally and externally.
Position Highlights
Location: This position will work a hybrid schedule based in Atlanta, GA. Relocation expenses are not provided.
Salary Range: $71,000-$83,000, plus benefits
Position Type: Grant funded, limited-term opportunity contingent upon funding
Position End Date: September 29, 2026
About the CDC Foundation
The CDC Foundation helps CDC save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. The CDC Foundation manages hundreds of programs each year impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.
