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Job Brief
Regional Deputy Director, Overdose Prevention Program
Vital Strategies is a global public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world's leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies' priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include noncommunicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, and data for health. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.
We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by people with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities (EEO) for those seeking employment.
About the Program:
The Overdose Prevention Program partners with governments and communities to advance evidence-based strategies that reduce overdose deaths. Through grant funding and tailored technical assistance, the program helps government, institutional, and community partners strengthen policies, implement innovative programs, and mobilize local action to address the evolving overdose crisis.
Our work spans the neighborhood, local, regional, and jurisdictional levels, supporting sustainable public health solutions that are responsive to local needs. Program staff are organized into multidisciplinary regional teams, each managing a portfolio of states or Native communities. These teams work closely with colleagues in Operations and with subject matter experts in Communications, Program Evaluation & Knowledge Management, and Legal & Policy to deliver coordinated, high-impact support.
Job Purpose:
The Regional Deputy Director (RDD) leads strategy and program implementation for an assigned portfolio of states. Drawing on extensive experience working in state government working for an elected or senior agency official, the RDD spearheads the strategy and navigates the complexities of leading the government relations pillar of the program strategy. This role adapts overarching program goals, strategies, and directives to local contexts and is accountable for the strategic work plan, budget, and outcomes across the portfolio.
The RDD contributes their lived experience and professional knowledge while learning from the experience and expertise of colleagues as the team plans, monitors, and continually improves the program.
This is anew role for the Overdose Prevention program. It is a full-time positionpreferably based in the New York City metro area; we will consider other locations in the U.S. dependent on the work (North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Nevada, or Washington state). We offer highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $ 135,000 to $ 150,000 USD.
Functional Relationships:
Reporting to a Director, the RDD leads and supervises a multidisciplinary team of experts to integrate diverse perspectives into designing and managing effective programs across all facets of the program strategy. The position also collaborates closely with legal and policy and knowledge management.
The RDD serves as the senior point of contact with and provides expert guidance to state and local government partners in their region and liaises with key program partners. They will represent Vital Strategies at conferences with external stakeholders working on relevant overdose prevention.
To foster continuous learning, the RDD participates in an internal RDD Community of Practice and in key meetings with their peers and the program leadership team. While the Deputy's work will focus primarily on their assigned region this role will also be required to share their expertise with and serve as a resource to other regions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Collective Planning and State Strategy Development -
• Lead a regional multidisciplinary team and contribute unique perspective to develop and monitor implementation of a comprehensive state strategy, annual work plan and budget that integrates the collective expertise of the team, current overdose data and epidemiology, state policy landscapes, community needs, and lessons learned from prior implementation with inclusion of support from Principal and Senior Technical Advisors and OPP Directors.
• Collaborate with the other regions and team members to review all proposed plans and ensure priorities align with programmatic goals.
• Cultivate a culture of curiosity and shared learning that supports a holistic approach to programming: consult regularly with colleagues on needs related to core responsibilities and expertise; and adapt own planning to integrate other professional perspectives.
• Apply an intersectional racial justice framework across all planning processes, program design, and implementation.
Program Management and Leadership -
• Manage regional budget, monitor budget vs. actuals ensuring expenditures are in line with work plans. Lead the ongoing management of approved work plans and associated budgets; with support from Operations, monitor budget-versus-actuals on a regular basis and adjust activities as needed.
• Lead the team to continually monitor progress of each work plan through robust metrics, quality improvement (QI) frameworks, and MERLA (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adaptation) processes.
• Oversee the design, negotiation, and implementation of sub-grants to state and local governments, providers, coalitions, and community organizations, in accordance with established policies and processes by Vital's Grants and Contracts department.
• Support the regional team in developing strategic investment proposals for new partnerships and funding opportunities with community-based and institutional providers and system actors, (including substance use treatment, harm reduction services, criminal justice corrections and supervision, emergency medical services, child and family welfare, healthcare, and housing services) and present to OPP leadership for approval.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities for legal, policy analysis, and litigation strategy in partnership with legal/policy team; oversee implementation within the portfolio.
• Identify and prioritize needs and opportunities within the regional portfolio with the team and develop action plans for implementation as appropriate.
• Partner with the Knowledge Management Lead to design and apply a regional learning strategy that captures and disseminates implementation insights.
Strategic State and Local Government Engagement and Technical Assistance
• Serve as the primary representative and senior point of contact for state and local government partners across the assigned portfolio.
• Using prior work experience in a city or state government to help successfully navigate the structure, build and maintain trusted working relationships with elected officials, policy makers, state agencies, and local government leadership.
• Identify and develop government-embedded positions (via MOUs or similar mechanisms) to advance strategic program priorities within agencies, in collaboration with regional team staff and government partners with approval from OPP Leadership.
• Represent the program at stakeholder meetings and deliver presentations to government, provider, and community audiences.
• Serve as a senior technical resource to government partners on overdose prevention interventions, setting-specific strategies, and financing options, including for naloxone distribution, low-barrier treatment, harm reduction services, and recovery supports.
• Oversee the design, management, and delivery of technical assessments, training, and capacity-building support to state and local partners and sub-grantees.
• Maintain current expertise on scientific, policy, and practice developments in overdose prevention, and routinely assess jurisdictional applicability of emerging interventions.
Team Leadership & Development -
• Lead by modeling Vital Strategies' core values: respect, inclusive collaboration, ability to adapt and continuous learning.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative team culture rooted in accountability, transparency, and inclusive decision-making,
• Supervise, support, and guide a diverse team of technical professionals to develop, implement and monitor strategic work plans.
• Manage staff for technical and programmatic work, mentor staff for career development, and support staff to promote professional growth.
• Ensure regional team members participate in their respective Communities of Practice.
• Foster open communication and a spirit of teamwork across the regional team as well as with other teams and colleagues.
Cross-Cutting Collaboration & Coordination -
• Collaborate with Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative partners on strategic prioritization and joint implementation.
• Support communications needs, as appropriate, and contribute to ad hoc organizational priorities as assigned.
Qualifications:
Education -
• Bachelor's degree in public health, public policy, nursing, social work, healthcare administration, or a related field required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Advanced degree (MPH, MSW, MHA, JD, MD, or equivalent) preferred.
Skills & Abilities -
• Deep commitment to racial equity and public health justice, with experience operationalizing these values through program design and technical assistance delivery.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in harm reduction, overdose prevention, and drug policy, developed through direct service and programmatic leadership at the community, local, or regional level.
• Understanding of legislative and regulatory frameworks relevant to harm reduction and public health interventions, including the ability to advise partners on policy implementation.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytic capabilities, including the ability to assess program performance data, identify implementation gaps, and make evidence-informed recommendations.
• Proven ability to manage complex coordination with senior partners including subgrant oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise teams of professional level staff, communicate clearly and regularly, monitor performance, and inspire, engage, and motivate staff.
• Exceptional communication skills, with experience translating technical content into accessible materials for diverse audiences including policymakers, and frontline practitioners.
• Skilled facilitator of multi-stakeholder meetings, trainings, and technical assistance engagements involving high-level government and community-based leaders.
• Ability to work autonomously while contributing to broader team and program strategy; trusted to lead state technical interventions and manage complex projects.
• Ability to build strong, ongoing, impactful relationships at all organizational levels and across a diverse range of partners and communities from different cultural, generational, ethnic, racial, educational, and social backgrounds.
• Ability and willingness to: integrate new information and adapt with agility; and facilitate collaboration, clarify roles and responsibilities, and build alignment among stakeholders with differing perspectives to support effective implementation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent; familiarity with data collection and visualization tools is a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
Experience:
Required -
• Minimum 10 years of directly relevant professional experience in harm reduction, overdose prevention, substance use, public health, behavioral health, community health, or closely related fields.
• Minimum three to five years in a senior government staff position working for an elected or senior agency official.
• Experience supervising and managing a team with diverse technical expertise to define and achieve common goals.
• Experience providing technical assistance, capacity building, coaching, or programmatic support to external partners, grantees, or public sector entities.
• Experience monitoring program implementation and using data, quality improvement, and/or evaluation findings to strengthen outcomes.
Preferred -
• Experience in the state executive branch of government.
• Combination of government and agency experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with change management initiatives.
Working Conditions:
• May be required to move between partner offices across the region.
• Up to 30% domestic travel may be required to attend meetings and support partners.
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