About The Policy And Innovation Center

The Policy and Innovation Center (PIC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose founding partners include the San Diego Foundation, the County of San Diego, and The Brookings Institution. PIC conducts research and policy analysis to help solve the region's most pressing challenges. Its mission is to unlock the region's potential by cultivating and building cross-sector partnerships that address intractable issues — climate resilience, critical infrastructure, community wealth disparities, and housing affordability.

Learn more at thinkpic.org.

Position Overview

PIC is seeking an experienced Project Manager and Evaluation Specialist to monitor and support implementation and continuous improvement of initiatives under the Behavioral Health (BH) Team / Community Health & Wellbeing Department. Two flagship initiatives include the ELEVATE Behavioral Health Workforce Fund and the Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative (SBHI).

Working closely with senior leadership, this role will oversee program coordination, performance tracking, contract and grant compliance, and cross-partner collaboration to ensure initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with strategic goals. The position will also lead and support evaluation efforts by developing frameworks, monitoring key metrics, and translating data into actionable insights to inform decision-making.

This is an ideal opportunity for a highly organized, analytically driven professional passionate about advancing behavioral health systems and workforce development through data-informed, cross-sector work.

Key Responsibilities

Program Support, Coordination & Monitoring

Collaborate with ELEVATE partners to support programmatic activities, ensuring accountability with contractual agreements, timelines, and quality standards
Monitor and track key program milestones, ensuring alignment with goals and timelines
Coordinate and support Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative (SBHI) special projects as needed

Contract Administration, Tracking & Reporting

Work with the ELEVATE operations team to ensure all programmatic deliverables and outcomes are met and documentation is provided to support reimbursement processes
Receive and track ELEVATE Upskilling subcontractor invoices and associated financial reports, including monthly, summary, and annual reports
Work closely with the Senior Director, BH Team, subcontractors, and external stakeholders to ensure grant implementation aligns with funder requirements and guidelines
Monitor ELEVATE contract goals and progress; track associated indicators and ensure deadlines are met
Coordinate regular check-in meetings with PIC program staff; foster a culture of collaboration and trust between internal departments and external partners

Program Evaluation

Advise on development of outcomes, metrics, and monitoring tools to track progress across all ELEVATE and SBHI programs
Coordinate and lead regular meetings with the ELEVATE/UCSD Evaluation Team, facilitating information sharing and partner insights
Guide the design, development, and ongoing refinement of evaluation frameworks in partnership with research and program teams
Serve as primary liaison between program staff and the research/evaluation team; ensure alignment and translate findings into actionable recommendations that inform senior leadership decision-making
Advance a comprehensive evaluation plan for ELEVATE in collaboration with the PIC Research team

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree required in public health, public policy, social sciences, health administration, business administration, or a related field; Master's degree preferred
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in program management, evaluation, or a related role; experience in behavioral health, workforce development, or policy settings strongly preferred

Core Competencies

Genuine passion for PIC's mission and demonstrated commitment to equity-focused, cross-sector work
Strong project management and organizational skills — ability to oversee multiple workstreams, manage timelines and deliverables, and maintain alignment across complex, multi-partner initiatives
Strategic evaluation and analytical skills, including the ability to design evaluation frameworks, interpret complex data, and translate findings into actionable program and policy recommendations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information clearly and meet varied reporting requirements
Strong stakeholder engagement skills — comfortable communicating and coordinating across internal staff, subcontractors, government partners, and community organizations
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Experience with database management and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, REDCap, or similar) preferred
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Adaptable, self-directed, and effective in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
Knowledge of the behavioral health or workforce development sector is a plus
Quality improvement mindset and a team-oriented, solutions-focused approach

Language

Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English required

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Professional hybrid work environment based in San Diego, CA
Fast-paced work setting with multi-level priorities and stakeholders
Ability to sit for extended periods at a desk, computer, or in meetings; ability to drive as needed
Ability to view a computer screen and use a keyboard for extended periods
Ability to communicate verbally in person and by phone

Compensation

Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000 annually (Salaried, Exempt)

The Policy and Innovation Center is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will reflect qualifications, skills, experience, internal equity, and alignment with market data, among other relevant factors.

Benefits

Supportive, inclusive organizational culture committed to mission-driven work
Hybrid work environment with support for home office setup
100% employer-paid premiums for medical, vision, dental, life, AD&D, and long-term disability; 75% employer-paid premiums for all dependents
403(b) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match plus annual discretionary contribution
Earned Incentive Program
3 weeks paid time off annually, plus 1 additional paid week off in July for all staff
4-week paid sabbatical for every 5 years of service
13 paid holidays + 2 paid volunteer days per year
Extended Health Care Time accruing at 2.77 hours per pay period (up to 480-hour cap) — usable for sick leave, family care, and parental leave/baby bonding
$100/month cell phone and internet reimbursement
$75/quarter gym reimbursement
Annual service award: $100 donation to a nonprofit of your choice

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

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