"Project Senior Manager- term limited"

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN) advances person-centered prevention, treatment, and recovery by engaging individuals, communities, and health systems to reduce the harms of substance use.

OPEN seeks an experienced Project Senior Manager to provide strategic leadership and independent oversight of multiple large-scale, complex research and quality-improvement initiatives, including the STEPS and STRIDES NIH R01 projects and associated Collaborative Quality Initiative (CQI) partnerships.

Under general direction, the Project Senior Manager serves as the primary point of accountability for assigned programs, overseeing work from planning and design through implementation, evaluation, and close-out. The role exercises substantial independent judgment in project planning, prioritization, resource allocation, vendor oversight, and problem resolution. Decisions made in this role directly affect sponsored research outcomes, clinical implementation, data strategy, and external partnerships across hospital systems and statewide collaboratives.

Strategic Partnerships & Innovation

• Lead strategic partnership development and innovation planning across OPEN networks to advance the organization's mission and initiatives.
• Identify, develop, and manage innovative partnerships that support OPEN’s research, quality improvement, and clinical objectives.
• Collaborate with CQI Administration and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) leadership to maintain understanding of provider and hospital incentive models and support strategic application of financial levers.
• Design and implement scalable data collection and reporting strategies across CQI partners to support decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
• Coordinate across OPEN teams to deliver vendor-supported initiatives that enable clinician adoption of evidence-based practices.
• Synthesize program performance data and operational insights into concise communications for leadership, funders, and partners.

Program & Project Leadership

• Provide end-to-end operational leadership for the STEPS and STRIDES NIH R01 projects, including scope development, work planning, timelines, risk management, and milestone delivery.
• Serve as the primary liaison and point of accountability for principal investigators, hospital leadership, funders, vendors, and external partners.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans, budgets, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Oversee all operational components, including program start-up, recruitment workflows, training, implementation, monitoring, and close-out.
• Lead hospital onboarding and engagement related to perioperative care pathway implementation.
• Direct development, testing, and deployment of clinical decision-support tools and educational resources.
• Lead structured project meetings, milestone reviews, executive updates, and sponsor communications.
• Identify and resolve complex operational, clinical, and data-related issues, exercising independent judgment to maintain program progress.
• Monitor outcomes and translate findings into actionable recommendations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment of program activities with approved scope, protocols, regulatory requirements, and reporting obligations.

Collaborative Quality Initiatives (CQIs)

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with Collaborative Quality Initiatives and system-level stakeholders.
• Act as a senior liaison between OPEN, CQIs, hospitals, vendors, and data partners to align priorities, timelines, and deliverables.
• Co-lead multi-partner initiatives integrating research, quality improvement, and clinical operations.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency and scalability across collaboratives, including automated data workflows, dashboards, and performance reporting tools.
• Ensure consistency and accountability across CQI partnerships in alignment with sponsor and project requirements.

Staff Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide direct and functional supervision of project staff, including hiring input, performance management, and professional development.
• Set priorities, assign work, and ensure accountability across multidisciplinary teams.
• Promote a collaborative, results-driven, and continuous improvement-oriented work environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in a related field.
• 15+ years of experience managing strategic initiatives and projects
• Experience working within Collaborative Quality Initiatives and managing NIH-funded or other federally sponsored research projects.
• Supervisory experience, including staff oversight and performance management.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with executive-level reporting.
• Familiarity with Epic or healthcare data environments.
• Proficiency with project management tools and software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of substance use disorders and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

This is a 2-year limited term position. At the end of the stated term, your appointment will terminate, and will not be eligible for Reduction-in-Force (RIF) benefits. This term-limited appointment does not create a contract or guarantee of employment for any period of time as you will remain subject to disciplinary or other performance measures, up to and including termination, at the will of the University in accordance with existing University policy and standards for employee performance and conduct.