Project Director

Position Summary

The Practice Improvement and Consulting Department (PIC) is central to the National Council's goal of providing timely and meaningful technical assistance and consulting to community mental health and substance use services organizations and others serving the health of our nation.

As directed by the Senior Director, PIC, the Project Director position is responsible for overseeing large-scale projects and ensuring their successful delivery, aligning with strategic business goals. This role focuses on leading the full lifecycle of projects, including planning, execution, risk management, and stakeholder communication. As the ideal candidate, you will be self-motivated, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently, and demonstrate expertise in project management methodologies.

This position assists in the day-to-day operations of the Department within the framework of the National Council's policy goals, priorities, and annual organizational work plan. This position will support a range of initiatives which may include projects focused on behavioral health workforce development, peer support certification pathways, capacity building, integrated care models peers, and/or other related topics.

This position is contingent upon continued project funding. This is an individual contributor role without any direct reports. While this position can be done remotely from anywhere in the U.S., you must primarily adhere to our Washington, D.C. business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Strategy

• Lead strategic design and planning across the project lifecycle, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and stakeholder input.

Project Implementation & Management

• Oversee end-to-end project execution, coordinating resources and departments to meet milestones, budgets, and quality standards.
• Continuously improve project methodologies, manage risks proactively, and adapt to shifting priorities.

Grants & Contracts Management

• Support grant proposal development and ensure compliance with all terms, reporting, and funder requirements.
• Maximize funding utilization and pursue opportunities for sustained project financing.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external stakeholders, managing expectations and facilitating communication.

Quality, Measurement & Evaluation

• Lead project evaluation strategies and apply lessons learned to improve delivery.
• Ensure adherence to internal frameworks and integrate industry best practices.

Financial Management & Reporting

• Monitor budgets, optimize resource use, and collaborate with finance teams to resolve issues.
• Manage performance reporting, procurement, and contract compliance from start to finish.

Leadership

• Inspire and guide project teams and promote a collaborative, high-impact work culture.

Organizational Activities - Participate in other National Council activities

• Attend occasional travel events, internal meetings and trainings as needed.
• Carry out other organizational duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 6+ years of experience with knowledge of behavioral health workforce development, peer support certification pathways, integrated care models, and/or other related topics strongly preferred
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or additional equivalent years of work experience
• At least 3 years of demonstrated project leadership experience, including supporting the growth and development of other staff
• Project and budget management experience
• Organized and results-oriented with a high attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and meet deadlines
• Ability to contribute to a collaborative, team-based environment with matrix supervision and fluid project assignments
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal skills demonstrating a high degree of emotional intelligence
• High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
• Ability to travel up to 30%

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with contracts/grants oversight
• Previous experience in business development with successful results
• Project Management Certification (e.g. PMP)
• Master's degree or additional equivalent years of professional experience in a related field

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $112,552 to $150,832. Salary decisions within the range are based on experience, education and internal equity.

The National Council offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes (but is not limited to):

• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions after 1 year of service
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, personal, floating holiday, bereavement and observed federal holidays
• Parental support benefits, including adoption, fertility and surrogacy reimbursement and two weeks paid parental leave
• Free unlimited Relias professional development courses
• Annual professional development and tuition reimbursement funds
• Calm Premium access

About Us

The vision of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is to make mental wellbeing, including recovery from substance use challenges, a reality for everyone. Despite overwhelming need, nearly 30 million people across the U.S. do not have access to comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment.

Founded in 1969, the National Council is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

The National Council is growing to meet this moment. We've more than doubled our dedicated team to 240+ employees since 2020. Although we have office space in Washington, D.C., we operate as a remote-first organization, with employees working from their various locations across the United States.

The National Council is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives, welcoming people of all races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and ages, as well as veterans, people with disabilities, and those with lived experiences in mental health and substance use challenges to apply. We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment and recruitment process for everyone. If you require accommodation during the application process, please contact us at Recruiter@thenationalcouncil.org.