Senior Program Manager, OPP, Native Communities

Vital Strategies is a global public health organization working in more than 80 countries to strengthen public health systems and address leading causes of illness, injury, and death. Our priorities include noncommunicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, and data for health, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries and cities.

About the Program

The Overdose Prevention Program partners with U.S. states, Tribal Nations, and Native 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. Our work spans neighborhood, municipal, county, state, and Tribal levels, supporting sustainable public health solutions responsive to local needs. Program staff are organized into multidisciplinary regional teams, each managing a portfolio of states or Native communities, and collaborate with colleagues in Operations, Communications, Program Evaluation & Knowledge Management, and Legal & Policy.

Purpose

The Senior Program Manager serves as the primary point of contact for subgrantees in their assigned portfolio, guiding them through the full lifecycle of subgrant agreements—from development and implementation to closeout. They provide technical assistance, facilitate subgrant documentation, track milestones, and connect subgrantees to resources to build capacity. This role contributes lived and professional expertise while learning from colleagues to plan, monitor, and improve the program. It is a full-time position preferably based in the New York City metro area; other U.S. locations (North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Nevada, or Washington state) may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop and monitor a comprehensive strategy and annual work plan for the portfolio, integrating overdose data, policy landscapes, community needs, and lessons learned.
• Apply an intersectional racial justice framework across all planning, program design, and implementation processes.
• Serve as a technical expert and primary point of contact for subgrantees, supporting them through all phases of the award lifecycle and escalating complex needs to senior colleagues.
• Draft, finalize, and issue subaward agreements and amendments in partnership with technical leads, ensuring clarity on programmatic and operational responsibilities.
• Assess subgrantee capacity in collaboration with the Grants & Contracts team, develop risk mitigation and capacity-building plans, and monitor implementation.
• Maintain project tracking systems to monitor deliverables, milestones, and accomplishments accurately and timely.
• Liaise between Grants & Contracts, subgrantees, and award owners to communicate requirements, timelines, and expectations.
• Review, synthesize, and analyze subgrantee reports to assess progress, identify challenges, and recommend solutions to the regional team.
• Compile and prepare summary progress reports for internal and external partners, including donors and leadership.
• Identify subgrantee needs for support, training, and resources, with a focus on building capacity for community-based organizations (CBOs).
• Connect subgrantees with relevant capacity-building supports and assess effectiveness through feedback.
• Develop and implement portfolio-specific annual procurement plans aligned with the collective strategy and organizational standards.
• Participate in an internal Community of Practice with peers and attend external conferences on overdose prevention.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, nonprofit management, social work, public policy, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Deep commitment to racial equity and public health justice, with experience operationalizing these values in program design and technical assistance.
• Knowledge of Indigenous Native American tribal health, social supports, systems, governance structures, and institutions.
• Ability to build positive work relationships across diverse cultural, generational, ethnic, racial, educational, and social backgrounds.
• Knowledge of drug use, overdose prevention, harm reduction programs, and policy.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to make informed judgments under competing priorities.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit operations, structures, and business models.
• Ability to integrate new information, analyze and synthesize data, prepare reports, and communicate findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• Aptitude for identifying challenges, analyzing situations, and discussing solution options.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and adhere to timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite or equivalent.
• Demonstrated willingness to adapt, facilitate collaboration, clarify roles, and build alignment among stakeholders with differing perspectives.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Experience

• Minimum six years of professional experience managing programs with small Native community-based implementation partners; experience with overdose prevention or harm reduction programs required.
• Minimum three years’ experience in subaward or subgrant management, including agreement development, compliance monitoring, and partner reporting.
• Minimum three years’ experience in project management with consistent adherence to timelines and deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience liaising with multiple internal and external stakeholders across operational and programmatic functions.
• Preferred: Direct experience working in an operational role at a nonprofit organization.

Benefits

We offer highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $88,000 to $98,000 USD.

Schedule

• Hybrid office schedule (two days/week in-office, the rest remote) for positions based in the New York City area.
• Occasional travel between partner offices in the New York City area.
• Up to 30% domestic travel may be required to attend meetings.