Program Director

Job Summary

The Program Director plans, leads, directs, and coordinates the programs portfolio of the health center in alignment with the organization’s mission, strategic plan, and the requirements of the federal Health Center Program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC).

About the Role

Serves as a key member of the Management Team and works in close partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, Executive Team, and other senior leaders to achieve organizational goals and advance community health outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic direction for the organization's portfolio of programs in alignment with the FQHC's mission, HRSA-approved scope of project, and the goals of the federal Health Center Program.
• Participates as an active member of the Management Team.
• Partners with senior leadership on organizational strategic planning, setting program-level goals, and identifying opportunities for service expansion.
• Serves as a liaison between operational program teams and executive leadership, translating strategy into executable plans.
• Directly supervises all Project Managers and program-level staff assigned to the Programs department.
• Facilitates regular one-on-one and team meetings to promote communication, assess performance, and resolve operational needs.
• Conducts annual and interim performance evaluations against job description criteria and competency assessments; provides ongoing coaching and guidance for professional development.
• Recommends hiring, promotion, and corrective action.
• Schedules and tracks attendance and paid time off for direct reports.
• Affirms training needs and promotes learning opportunities to build team capacity.
• Leads the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of community health programs and initiatives across the health center’s HRSA-approved scope of project.
• Ensures all program activities align with patient-centered, culturally competent, and evidence-based practices.
• Makes sure to monitor program fidelity and operational effectiveness, identifying gaps and implementing corrective action plans.
• Participates in Quality Improvement committee meetings and contributes to organization-wide risk management activities.
• Integrates patient feedback, community health needs assessment findings, and Health Center Program performance measures into program planning cycles to ensure services remain responsive and impactful.
• Leads the development and implementation of a performance improvement (PI) framework across all programs, establishing clear key performance indicators (KPIs), benchmarks, and outcome measures aligned with HRSA UDS clinical and operational performance metrics.
• Directs the collection, analysis, and reporting of program data to senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and funders.
• Facilitates regular performance review meetings with Project Managers to assess progress against targets, identify root causes of underperformance, and develop data-informed improvement plans.
• Utilizes tools such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, dashboards, and scorecards to drive accountability and measurable improvement.
• Champions a culture of learning and continuous improvement across program teams.
• Promotes the health center’s mission, visibility, and impact within the communities served.
• Supports community health needs assessments and uses findings to inform program priorities.

Supervision & Development of Project Managers

• Directly supervises all Project Managers and program-level staff assigned to the Programs department.
• Facilitates regular one-on-one and team meetings to promote communication, assess performance, and resolve operational needs.
• Conducts annual and interim performance evaluations against job description criteria and competency assessments; provides ongoing coaching and guidance for professional development.
• Recommends hiring, promotion, and corrective action.
• Schedules and tracks attendance and paid time off for direct reports.
• Affirms training needs and promotes learning opportunities to build team capacity.

Program Implementation & Quality Improvement

• Leads the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of community health programs and initiatives across the health center’s HRSA-approved scope of project.
• Ensures all program activities align with patient-centered, culturally competent, and evidence-based practices.
• Makes sure to monitor program fidelity and operational effectiveness, identifying gaps and implementing corrective action plans.
• Participates in Quality Improvement committee meetings and contributes to organization-wide risk management activities.
• Integrates patient feedback, community health needs assessment findings, and Health Center Program performance measures into program planning cycles to ensure services remain responsive and impactful.

Performance Improvement & Monitoring

• Leads the development and implementation of a performance improvement (PI) framework across all programs, establishing clear key performance indicators (KPIs), benchmarks, and outcome measures aligned with HRSA UDS clinical and operational performance metrics.
• Directs the collection, analysis, and reporting of program data to senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and funders.
• Facilitates regular performance review meetings with Project Managers to assess progress against targets, identify root causes of underperformance, and develop data-informed improvement plans.
• Utilizes tools such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, dashboards, and scorecards to drive accountability and measurable improvement.

Community Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Cultivates and maintains partnerships with community-based organizations, public health agencies, local government, hospitals, and other stakeholders to enhance coordination of care and address social determinants of health.
• Represents the health center in community coalitions, advisory groups, and public forums.
• Promotes the health center’s mission, visibility, and impact within the communities served.
• Supports community health needs assessments and uses findings to inform program priorities.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Working knowledge or ability to learn federal Health Center Program requirements, HRSA/BPHC regulations, and UDS reporting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of grant lifecycle management, including budget monitoring, and compliance reporting (2 CFR Part 200).
• Strong understanding of community health, social determinants of health, and public health principles.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously.
• Ability to analyze program data and use findings to drive continuous quality improvement.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to prepare reports for board, executive, and funder audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively with people of all ages, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Proficient in computer applications including Microsoft Office, EHR systems, and grant management platforms.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and analytical skills.
• Ability to convey a sense of confidence and trust to all stakeholders.
• Ability to manage and perform with a high degree of autonomy, organization, and adaptability.
• Ability to maintain patient and employee confidentiality.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participates in agency-wide events, staff meetings, and health fairs.
• Supports onboarding of new program staff and provides temporary coverage as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.

Information Management

• Treats all information and data within the scope of the position with appropriate confidentiality and security.

Risk Management

• Cooperates fully in all risk management activities and investigations.
• Plans and implements policies and procedures to minimize program-related risk within the organization.
• Aids in identifying, analyzing, investigating, and documenting program and grant-related risk management issues and activities.

Physical and Personal Requirements

• Must have reliable transportation.
• Ability to sit for extended periods, with occasional standing, walking, and light lifting (up to 20 lbs).