Innovation Project Manager

Ansible Government Solutions•Arlington, VA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Innovation Project Manager guides VHA innovation initiatives from discovery through enterprise adoption, helping teams identify, mature, and scale solutions that improve healthcare delivery, operational performance, and Veteran outcomes. In doing so, the role advances the VHA Innovation Ecosystem's mission to spread healthcare innovation, restore hope, and build trust within the Veteran community. The Innovation Project Manager collaborates with VHA program offices, healthcare facilities, innovation programs, and external partners to move initiatives from discovery and piloting through implementation and enterprise adoption. The role supports employee-driven innovation, the diffusion of promising practices, and strategic partnerships that accelerate healthcare innovation across VHA. This position is a hybrid role with work performed both remotely and in support of VHA Central Office (VACO) operations in Washington, DC.This role requires an agile approach to managing multiple concurrent initiatives aligned with evolving healthcare priorities, emerging technologies, operational challenges, and Veteran-centered solutions. Much of the work is fast-moving, highly collaborative, and focused on delivering measurable impact for Veterans and caregivers across the nation's largest integrated healthcare system.

Requirements

Minimum 6 years of experience in project management, innovation management, healthcare transformation, management consulting, or federal health programs
Bachelor's degree required
Advanced proficiency in Power Bi, Smartsheet, Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Teams, with demonstrated experience organizing, analyzing, and presenting program information.
Demonstrated project management experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives
Strong facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration skills
Experience developing executive briefings, strategic communications, and implementation plans
Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information into actionable recommendations
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Customer-focused mindset and commitment to service excellence
Ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholder groups
Sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist, and reach above shoulders during the work shift
Lift up to 50 lbs from floor to waist
Lift up to 20 lbs
Carry up to 40 lbs a reasonable distance
Push/pull with 30 lbs of force

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, or federal healthcare initiatives
Master's degree preferred in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field
PMP, Agile, Prosci, Lean, Human-Centered Design, or related certifications
Experience supporting innovation programs, incubators, accelerators, or transformation initiatives
Knowledge of healthcare innovation methodologies and innovation lifecycle management
Experience applying human-centered design, design thinking, or customer experience methods to improve healthcare services, operational processes, or technology adoption.
Familiarity with change management and adoption strategies
Experience evaluating pilots, proof-of-concepts, or emerging technologies
Knowledge of healthcare operations, clinical workflows, and healthcare delivery systems
Experience supporting enterprise-scale implementation and diffusion efforts
Ability to engage effectively with executive leadership and senior government officials
Experience working within highly matrixed organizations

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor to innovation leaders, program stakeholders, and healthcare teams supporting innovation initiatives across VHA
Plan, manage, and execute innovation projects from concept development through pilot execution, evaluation, and scaling
Lead and contribute to multiple concurrent innovation initiatives, rapidly establishing project structure, governance, timelines, and success measures
Coordinate across VHA program offices, medical centers, clinicians, operational leaders, researchers, and external partners to align priorities and accelerate outcomes
Apply project management, change management, design thinking, and human-centered design principles to develop Veteran-centric solutions
Develop and maintain dashboards, reporting tools, and program trackers that give leadership clear visibility into project health, schedules, risks, resources, performance, and key metrics.
Use tools such as Power BI, Smartsheet, Excel, Salesforce, or other reporting and visualization platforms to organize, analyze, and communicate program information.
Translate innovation goals into project plans, implementation roadmaps, communication strategies, and performance measurement frameworks that clarify ownership, sequencing, adoption activities, and expected results.
Work with stakeholders to identify meaningful KPIs and reporting requirements and determine how best to visualize and communicate performance.
Support recurring reporting cadences and maintain accurate, audit-ready documentation.
Support the identification, testing, replication, and scaling of innovative healthcare practices and technologies
Develop project plans, implementation roadmaps, communication strategies, and performance measurement frameworks
Facilitate innovation workshops, stakeholder engagements, and collaborative working sessions
Track project risks, dependencies, resource requirements, and implementation barriers
Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate innovation effectiveness and inform decision-making
Produce executive-ready briefings, presentations, reports, and recommendations for senior leadership
Support innovation portfolio management activities, including project prioritization, performance tracking, and strategic planning
Adapt quickly as priorities evolve while maintaining focus on measurable mission outcomes