Program Implementation SME

Gritter Francona is looking for a Program Implementation SME that will provide senior-level implementation expertise to support the design, launch, management, evaluation, and scaling of an Elevated Risk Care Management (ERCM) Pilot focused on improving the coordination and effectiveness of suicide prevention-related care for Veterans at elevated risk.

The Program Implementation SME will support the implementation of new projects and programs identified by senior leadership and will provide expertise across the full pilot lifecycle, including Concept, Explore, Design, Implement, Evaluate, and Spread phases. Projects may be VHA-wide or localized to one or multiple VHA program offices.

The SME will provide strategic and operational support for implementation management, performance improvement, strategic performance measurement, programmatic outcomes, resource planning, and evaluation. The position will help establish linkages between VA-wide strategic goals and program-level outcomes and will ensure that implementation activities are aligned with organizational priorities, performance targets, programming, budgeting, and evaluation requirements.

The Program Implementation SME will work closely with Government program leads, senior leadership, clinical and operational stakeholders, pilot sites, and contractor personnel to translate strategic objectives into executable implementation plans and measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Program Implementation and Execution

• Provide senior-level subject matter expertise in implementing complex healthcare programs and initiatives.
• Support implementation of new projects and programs identified by VHA senior leadership.
• Develop and execute comprehensive implementation strategies, plans, schedules, milestones, and performance targets.
• Coordinate implementation activities across national, regional, and local stakeholders, as applicable.
• Support implementation of the ERCM Pilot across three selected sites and prepare the program for phased national expansion.
• Ensure implementation activities are aligned with approved program objectives, strategic priorities, and operational requirements.
• Identify implementation barriers, dependencies, resource constraints, and risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Support transition from planning and design activities to operational implementation and sustainment.
• Promote consistent implementation while accounting for differences in local operating environments.

Release and Implementation Management

• Lead or support release management and implementation activities associated with new programs, processes, workflows, tools, and capabilities.
• Develop implementation readiness criteria, launch plans, deployment schedules, and transition strategies.
• Coordinate implementation dependencies across program offices, clinical teams, operational stakeholders, and supporting organizations.
• Track implementation readiness, launch activities, stabilization, and post-implementation performance.
• Identify and resolve implementation issues that may affect program performance, schedule, scope, or outcomes.
• Support development of implementation toolkits, standard operating procedures, workflow guidance, training resources, and other operational materials.
• Establish repeatable implementation processes that can be leveraged during phased national expansion.

Elevated Risk Care Management Pilot

• Support implementation of the ERCM operating model designed to improve coordination of suicide prevention-related care for Veterans at elevated risk.
• Coordinate implementation activities related to Veterans identified through multiple pathways, including REACH VET, Risk ID, PDE, SPED, post-event outreach, and Veterans Crisis Line-related requests.
• Support efforts to minimize redundant outreach and improve coordination among Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams, Mental Health Treatment Coordinators (MHTCs), suicide prevention personnel, and other clinical teams.
• Assess implementation readiness and operational requirements at participating sites.
• Support development and refinement of current-state and future-state workflows.
• Identify opportunities to improve program integration, accountability, care coordination, and follow-up.
• Document implementation lessons learned and incorporate findings into program refinement and scale-up strategies.

Strategic Performance Management

• Support development and implementation of strategic performance measures that demonstrate progress toward program objectives.
• Establish linkages between VA-wide strategic goals, VHA priorities, programmatic activities, and measurable outcomes.
• Develop performance targets, indicators, milestones, and outcome measures in collaboration with Government leadership.
• Monitor performance against established targets and identify areas requiring corrective action or additional support.
• Develop performance dashboards, reports, scorecards, and executive-level briefings.
• Analyze performance trends and provide recommendations to improve program outcomes.
• Ensure performance measurement is integrated into program implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement activities.

PPBE/MFR and Resource Alignment

• Apply in-depth knowledge of Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) and Management and Financial Reporting (MFR) processes to support program implementation and performance management.
• Support alignment of program objectives, implementation activities, resources, programming, budgeting, and performance outcomes.
• Assist leadership in identifying resource requirements and priorities necessary to achieve program goals.
• Support development of programmatic information and documentation required for budget, resource, and performance decision-making.
• Evaluate relationships among program activities, resource allocation, strategic objectives, and expected outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve the linkage between investments, implementation activities, and measurable program performance.
• Support preparation of executive-level materials related to program performance, resource requirements, and strategic priorities.

Strategic Planning and Program Integration

• Support senior leadership in translating strategic priorities into executable programs and implementation activities.
• Assist in development of program strategies, implementation roadmaps, performance frameworks, and operational plans.
• Identify opportunities to integrate related initiatives and reduce duplication across programs.
• Support coordination among VHA program offices when initiatives span multiple organizational components.
• Ensure implementation activities are aligned with broader VA and VHA strategic goals.
• Facilitate integration of program implementation, performance measurement, evaluation, budgeting, and strategic planning.
• Identify opportunities for improved programmatic outcomes through enhanced coordination and integration.

Implementation Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Support development of evaluation strategies that measure implementation effectiveness, program performance, and outcomes.
• Coordinate with evaluation specialists to ensure implementation data are captured and used for continuous improvement.
• Review implementation performance and identify lessons learned, barriers, and opportunities for refinement.
• Support development of evidence-based recommendations for continuation, modification, or expansion of programs.
• Incorporate evaluation findings into implementation strategies and future deployment plans.
• Establish mechanisms for ongoing performance monitoring following implementation.

National Healthcare Program Implementation

• Provide expertise in implementing healthcare programs within a large-scale integrated healthcare system.
• Support national implementation strategies that account for differences among facilities, regions, program offices, and operational environments.
• Develop scalable implementation approaches that can be adapted for phased deployment.
• Support identification of initial expansion sites based on operational similarity, readiness, resources, and program needs.
• Develop transition strategies that move programs from pilot implementation to broader operational deployment.
• Support sustainment planning and continuous performance monitoring following national implementation.

Stakeholder Coordination and Leadership Support

• Work closely with Government program leads, senior leadership, clinical stakeholders, program offices, and implementation teams.
• Facilitate working sessions, implementation planning meetings, IPT activities, and leadership reviews.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, decision documents, implementation plans, performance reports, and recommendations.
• Communicate complex programmatic, strategic, operational, and financial information clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Identify stakeholder concerns and implementation barriers and develop strategies to address them.
• Provide timely recommendations to leadership regarding implementation priorities, risks, performance, and resource requirements.

Technical Documentation and Deliverables

• Develop high-quality implementation plans, roadmaps, performance reports, dashboards, briefing materials, operating procedures, and transition documentation.
• Prepare materials appropriate for executive review, field implementation, and operational use.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of implementation activities, decisions, risks, performance measures, and lessons learned.
• Develop standardized implementation tools and templates to support consistency across sites.
• Support development of national implementation toolkits and transition materials.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in healthcare administration, public health, business administration, health services, organizational management, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in healthcare program implementation, program management, strategic planning, performance management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five years of experience with PPBE/MFR processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
• Direct experience with VA/VHA PPBE and MFR processes.
• Experience implementing programs across a large integrated healthcare system such as VHA.
• Familiarity with VA suicide prevention programs and processes, including REACH VET, Risk ID, PDE, SPED, post-event outreach, and Veterans Crisis Line-related requests.
• Experience working with BHIP teams, MHTCs, suicide prevention teams, or multidisciplinary clinical organizations.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development