Communication Evaluation Research Project Director

Fors Marsh’s Civilian and Health Practice is seeking an experienced Project Director to lead a cross-disciplinary team conducting research and strategic planning for multiple, concurrent capture opportunities and health research projects sponsored by government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. These efforts are often fast-paced and high-stakes, addressing myriad, complex public health issues, including tobacco, behavioral health, chronic conditions, and vector-borne diseases.

This position is a contingent hire, meaning it is contingent on Fors Marsh winning an upcoming proposal. The interview process will be the same as our standard process, the offer letter (should we decide to move forward) will serve as a letter of commitment.

Reporting to the Director of Audience Analytics for Healthy Communities, the Project Director will have the following responsibilities:

• Leading pipeline expansion, shaping, capture, and proposal development to secure new business.

• Assessing progress towards and attaining company business goals and related metrics.

• Maintaining an engaged division workforce that has numerous pathways to growth.

• Championing process enhancements and team innovation.

• Tracking evolving trends in a fast-changing public health landscape and communicating about them to the rest of the team.

• Contributing to strategic planning for Civilian & Health in alignment with Fors Marsh’s priorities and operationalizing the strategy at the division level.

• Balancing team utilization with upskilling, professional growth, and morale.

• Engaging with clients to establish and nurture trusting relationships for organic growth.

• Collaborating with business partners as well as account managers, creatives, media planners, outreach specialists, website developers, and other professionals in other Fors Marsh divisions.

• Leading initiatives with project managers and supervisors to assess and build staff competencies.

• Assembling project teams and project manage theory-based formative, process, and summative evaluations that generate qualitative and quantitative findings and translate them into actionable program planning and optimization.

• Ensuring compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and data protection laws and regulations.

• Conduct thought leadership for reputation building.

• Engage in Civilian & Health and Fors Marsh events.

• Master’s degree in health communication, communication, marketing, advertising, public health, economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, or a related social science field

• At least 10 years of work experience leading campaign and/or communication evaluation projects including their design, implementation, analysis, and reporting

• At least 20 years of work experience in conducting applied research and strategic planning projects of various sizes in terms of funding and periods of performance

• At least 5 years of work experience with business development, particularly with conducting competitor analyses, developing strategic positioning, and forming business partnerships

• At least 5 years of work experience with project management

• At least 5 years of work experience with staff supervision and development

• Demonstrated acumen for leading seasoned subject matter or technical experts

• Demonstrated leadership in peer reviewed publications with evaluation results

• Strong competencies related to customer orientation, flexibility, initiative, collaboration, problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, planning and organization, communication, and accountability

• Applicants may be subject to a low-level government security investigation and must meet eligibility criteria for access to sensitive information

• Previous experience serving as a project director leading a complex, multi-component evaluation project for a federal and/or state health organization

• Previous experience supporting multiple, concurrent capture efforts and research projects for different fast-paced, high-stakes initiatives

• Previous experience overseeing multiple subcontractors, mitigating program challenges, navigating complex problem solving

• Previous experience training, coaching, and mentorship that fosters leadership capabilities from staff such as subject matter experts to junior analysts.