General Information 

• Job Code: SHR-AM-05X
• Location: Rockville, MD
• Employee Type: Exempt, Full-Time Regular 
• Telework: Full-time, but expected to attend meetings in DC metro region
• Clearance: None
• Salary Range: $118,168.87-$135,894.00

Position Overview

Are you passionate about bridging science and strategy to drive progress forward?
Ripple Effect is seeking a Deputy Director, Policy and Organizational Development that will provide divisional leadership across science and health programs by overseeing technical strategy, quality, compliance, budgets, and documentation standards. This position manages managers and staff, aligns operations with enterprise goals, and drives innovation and continuous improvement. Leads stakeholder engagement and external partnerships. Operates independently under senior leadership direction, ensuring consistent, high‑quality delivery and effective people and process management across the division.

Responsibilities

• Technical Execution: Oversees technical strategy across scientific and health programs, validating deliverables and integrating industry trends to ensure alignment with client needs. 

• Communication: Shapes communication strategies across divisions, delivering high-impact messaging to clients and leadership. 

• Schedule and Timelines: Approves and governs timelines for high-impact scientific and health initiatives, ensuring milestone adherence and proactive risk mitigation. 

• Quality Management: Takes accountability for divisional quality and embeds risk-based thinking into operational practices. 

• Data Analysis: Oversees advanced analytics strategies and ensures data-driven decision-making across programs. 

• Financial Management: Leads divisional financial strategy and ensures delivery within budget and scope. 

• Regulatory and Contractual Compliance: Oversees divisional compliance and ensures alignment with enterprise policies and client expectations. 

• Documentation: Governs documentation strategy across the division to support transparency, compliance, and knowledge transfer. 

• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement: Drives innovation and continuous improvement across divisional operations, leveraging insights from scientific and health industry networks and research. 

• Business Relations: Leads external scientific and health engagement and identifies opportunities for growth and collaboration based on industry intelligence. 

• Team Management: Provides divisional leadership and manages people and processes to ensure that projects are delivered on time and produce the desired result. 

• Supervision: Works under senior manager's long-range direction and proceeds independently. Results are technically authoritative and usually accepted without change. 

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in field of study relevant to projects supported or relevant fields, Master's preferred. 

• 9+ years relevant experience, additional education substitutes for experience. 

• 4+ years of project management experience, at least two of which is leading government consulting projects related to the division's portfolio of work

• 2+ years of experience supervising multiple staff and supporting business development activities

Basic Requirements

• Advanced experience with project management in areas including project planning, timelines, resourcing, risk management, and task management.
• Intermediate experience with project management software such as Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, Asana and Smartsheet. 
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office productivity software and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams, including delegating work, coaching staff, and driving accountability and performance outcomes
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively across diverse audiences and situations
• Proven experience managing projects and programs, ensuring timely delivery, quality outcomes, and alignment with organizational objectives
• Strong problem-solving skills, including identifying issues, navigating complex challenges, and implementing effective, data-driven solutions
• Experience driving continuous improvement and innovation by optimizing processes, incorporating feedback, and adapting to evolving priorities

Skills That Set You Apart

• Certificate in project management such as CAPM, PMP, PgMP or PfMP, or multiple years of direct experience with senior leaders at NIH or CMS.
• Advanced experience with technical writing in areas including process documentation, briefing decks, status reports, memos and other business writing. 
• Experience with AI tools, including their limitations and risks, and how they can be applied to support project management tasks. 

Benefits

Ripple Effect rewards our employees for their contributions to our mission in many ways, from competitive pay and exceptional benefits to a range of work/life programs based on your employment classification and personalized preferences. 

Ripple Effect is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, political affiliation, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please let us know by contacting our HR department at HR@rippleeffect.com or your recruiter. Eligibility for employment will be verified using E-verify.