Deputy Program Director for Human Performance Optimization

Battelle • Tampa, FL

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Battelle is seeking a Deputy Program Director for Human Performance Optimization (HPO) within its Health Business. The role leads execution of large-scale, globally distributed military support programs focused on enhancing the readiness and resilience of U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF), optimizing physical, psychological, social, and cognitive performance across high-functioning teams.

Working with the Program Director, the Deputy oversees recruitment, deployment, and sustainment of approximately 800 credentialed health professionals across 37 locations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Many professionals require security clearances. The role is responsible for end-to-end program delivery, including staffing, field operations, compliance, recruiting pipeline development, and stakeholder coordination, while ensuring alignment with mission-critical objectives and federal government expectations.

The position calls for strategic vision and operational precision, with experience managing geographically dispersed, multifunctional teams in high-tempo, zero-fail environments. It requires exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills to maintain program excellence and drive continuous improvement in support of national security and human performance outcomes.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in Human Performance, Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, or a related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification.
• 10 or more years of senior program leadership experience overseeing distributed healthcare or human performance programs, including CONUS and OCONUS operations.
• Proven success managing large-scale federal programs valued at $100 million or more, with a track record of delivering exceptional performance ratings.
• Deep understanding of SOCOM or DoD medical support environments, with demonstrated alignment to POTFF objectives and operational tempo.
• Active Secret clearance required.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• Demonstrated ability to stand up, scale, and sustain complex programs under performance-based contracts.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert in human performance optimization and military health.
• Deliver executive-level briefings to senior military leadership and Battelle executives, translating program metrics, trends, and challenges into actionable insights.
• Coordinate logistics and surge operations to ensure rapid response capabilities and continuity of care during high-demand or emergent scenarios.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement by integrating evidence-based practices, emerging technologies, and performance analytics to optimize outcomes.
• Promote a culture of resilience and readiness, ensuring program activities support the holistic well-being and operational effectiveness of high-performance personnel and their families.
• Facilitate collaboration across commands, installations, and service branches, optimizing service delivery and aligning with DoD-wide human performance initiatives.
• Model a culture of safety and risk management across all domains, particularly behavioral health and data privacy.
• Direct resource management and staffing operations, ensuring budget adherence, recruitment timelines, and retention benchmarks are consistently met.
• Oversee recruitment, deployment, and sustainment of approximately 800 credentialed health professionals across 37 locations.
• Manage end-to-end program delivery, including staffing, field operations, compliance, recruiting pipeline development, and stakeholder coordination.

Benefits

• Flexible, compressed work schedule with every other Friday off for most of the team.
• Hybrid work flexibility through a model that allows 60% in-office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in-office days, depending on team and position needs.
• Paid time off.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits, plus optional supplemental benefits.
• Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan; for most employees, Battelle contributes 5% whether or not the employee contributes and matches employee contributions.
• Tuition assistance for higher education.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior