Senior Program Officer, Policy

American Society for Microbiology•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Senior Program Officer, Policy advances high-impact public health initiatives that strengthen national partnerships and improve responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. This role will lead complex programs, convene scientific and public health experts, shape communications on priority issues, and collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASM members, and partner organizations. The Senior Program Officer provides programmatic leadership while ensuring that initiatives achieve high-quality outcomes and continuously improve in effectiveness and efficiency. This is a grant-funded position with an initial duration of one year and the potential to continue for up to five years, contingent upon continued funding.

Requirements

Organizational Knowledge – Understands ASM’s mission, internal and external stakeholders, member and volunteer leadership structures, and cross-functional processes relevant to externally funded public health programs.
Domain Knowledge – Demonstrates knowledge of public health, infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of grant- or contract-funded programs.
Enterprise Processes and Technologies – Understands and effectively uses standard office equipment such as personal computers/laptops, and office automation software. Uses new, specialized or organization-specific equipment, technologies, software, databases, and systems, as required, in accordance with the organization's policies. Up to date on social media and use it appropriately on behalf of ASM.
Project Management Skills – Plans, initiates, executes, controls, and closes projects. Tracks and manages resources, timeliness, costs, deliverables, and performance, and implements contingency plans, if necessary, to ensure projects are successfully completed.
Presentation & Written Communication Skills – Communicates effectively in one-on-one, group, virtual, and in-person settings. Prepare clear written materials, presentations, reports, and stakeholder communications for a variety of audiences.
Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
Collaborates – Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Values Differences – Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
Build Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Microbiology, or a related field required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish overall goals, objectives, and activities of assigned portfolio in collaboration with CDC and stakeholders, and lead management of programs/projects through the application of program and project management principles, practices, and techniques, coordinating multiple projects and oversight of their interdependencies.
Facilitate expert working group (EWG) convenings, both online and in-person.
Lead recruitment and management of EWGs towards planned outputs and deliverables.
Lead development and execution of a portfolio-based Communications strategy on behalf of CDC, including coordinating with CDC to identify priority topics to include in ASM webinars and blogs.
Develop and communicate program and project plans and schedules; estimate resource requirements; define milestones, targets, and deliverables; monitor activities against requirements, quality standards, and timelines; adapt programs as necessary; and evaluate and report on accomplishments, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
Assure and provide effective program budget reporting in collaboration with funders, Budget and Grants team, and program team.
Document and track program/project risks and issues, establish/identify mitigation plans, and take corrective action, as necessary.
Ensure program/deliverables are of high quality and completed/submitted according to schedule.
Conduct regular/as needed program field visits/virtual meetings with partners/stakeholders to discuss progress, provide technical/programmatic support, identify appropriate actions to resolve issues, and/or refer to relevant officials for resolutions.
Lead, mentor, and/or advise other ASM team members and supporting contractors to develop their skills (e.g., complex program design, procurement), technical competencies, and experience.
Work with ASM team to create and implement efficient and effective business processes in support of externally funded work.
Perform other related duties as assigned.