Senior Program Researcher

at  CDC Foundation

The Senior Program Researcher (SPR) for the Program and Innovation Office leads internal/external program-centered research that informs the vision, strategy, and execution of the CDC Foundation strategic imperatives and programmatic portfolio. The SPR serves a strategic function, translating experience and knowledge gained from assessment and analyses of the programmatic portfolio into comprehensive intelligence for CDC Foundation leadership to advance the organizational strategic imperatives. The SPR combines strong partnership skills, management and leadership with an entrepreneurial and mission-driven approach to unleash the power of collaboration between philanthropies, private entities, and governmental public health and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of the public.
This position is based in Atlanta, GA, with an expectation to have a presence in the office several days a week. Relocation expenses are not provided.
Salary: 88k-98k
Contract End Date: June 30, 2026

QUALIFICATIONS AND NECESSARY SKILLS

• Master’s degree in public health or related field from an accredited college or university required.
• Minimum of 10 years of public health and related professional experience required with direct experience in program analyses/research and working alongside senior leadership strongly preferred.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning systems and software packages used to manage day-to-day business activities such as program and partnership management strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and skills needed to be effective in the public-private partnership, organization, program, donor, and partner environments in the public health context.
• Ability to make decisions that accomplish organizational and Program and Innovation Office objectives.
• Advanced skills in program management, research methods and frameworks, cross-cultural awareness, communication, influence, negotiation, conflict resolution and creative problem solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing, writing and editing complex documents such as detailed reports on public health topics; briefing documents for CDC Foundation leadership, donors, and other partners; and peer-reviewed articles.
• Strong technical skills including data visualization, data analyses, word processing, spreadsheet and database management.
• Ability to represent the CDC Foundation and its partners, leading discussions and negotiations concerning program research and strategic imperatives.
• Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills; collegial, energetic and able to develop productive relationships with colleagues, donors, stakeholders and partners.
• Sound judgment and maturity, exemplified by consistent professionalism in working with individuals at all levels both internally and externally.

• Leads the coordinated management of program-centered research such as analyses of the influence and structure of program partnerships, identification of key subject matter experts and senior fellows to support implementation of the strategic imperatives, literature reviews and related briefings, and synthesis of programmatic and related information across diverse internal and external data sources.
• Formulates program research goals, objectives, operating policies, strategic plans, guidelines, governance, standards and priorities to ensure consistency with organizational strategic imperatives and Program and Innovation Office objectives.
• Builds strong partnerships and provides evidence-based expertise that informs development of vision, strategy, and implementation plans for the CDC Foundation strategic imperatives.
• Hires, recruits, supervises, and mentors program researchers and other staff.
• Serves as a technical partner for the CDC Foundation leadership and sponsors for strategic imperatives.
• Serves as a research liaison for and between internal and external stakeholders.
• Manages significant matters such as project design and implementation, reporting, contracting, development of materials and technical content, and relationship development and management.
• Contributes to resource mobilization efforts for the assigned project.
• Represents the CDC Foundation at technical, strategic and/or operational meetings focused on the project.
• Travels as needed to represent the designated project and the CDC Foundation (up to 20 percent annually).
• Participates in and/or leads special projects and other duties as assigned.