Senior Lead, Stakeholder Engagement - NIDHC

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Senior Lead, Strategic Engagement to join the National Institute for Defense Health Cooperation (NIDHC) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). The Senior Lead, Stakeholder Engagement advances key external partnerships and spearheads NIDHC's external engagement strategy to align organizational goals across defense, government, academic, and interagency sectors.

Launched in October 2025, NIDHC supports military and civilian health operational readiness in crisis and conflict, both domestically and internationally. Formed by merging the strengths of the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), the Center for Global Health Engagement (CGHE), and the security cooperation education and training functions of the Defense Institute for Medical Operations (DIMO), NIDHC serves as a powerful hub for advancing defense health cooperation. Through its four core capabilities - Program Leadership, Training & Education, Research & Analysis, and Planning & Partnership - the Institute directly supports national priorities by focusing on enhancing military readiness, health security, civil-military cooperation, and international partnerships

This pivotal role bridges NIDHC with key defense and civilian entities, spanning the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands (CCMDs), the Military Services, the Defense Health Agency, other U.S. government interagency partners, academia, and industry leaders. The ideal candidate combines extensive experience navigating complex Department of War (DoW) and interagency environments with exceptional communication skills to lead high-level engagements, foster international relationships, and align multi-domain strategic initiatives with core national health security priorities.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Responsible for the design, roll out, and management of day-to-day execution of NIDHC's external engagement strategy in collaboration with NIDHC personnel and stakeholders.
• Maintain oversight of NIDHC's strategic partnerships with with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, the Office of the Joint Staff Surgeon, CCMDs, the Military Services, the Defense Health Agency, and other United States Government departments and agencies to advance domestic and global health operational readiness.
• Translate strategic guidance from NIDHC's executive leadership into actionable outreach strategies to expand the Institute's network, align partner priorities, and ensure long-term program sustainability.
• Lead or oversee execution of high-profile stakeholder events including Board of Advisors meetings, summits, roundtables, interagency working groups, etc.
• Represent NIDHC on strategic committees, task forces, and working groups, delivering high-level technical guidance and strategic analysis to advance health operational readiness and global health engagement.
• Streamline stakeholder management, coordinate strategic outreach, and integrate external partner priorities across all phases of NIDHC program execution.
• Supervise other Program Managers and junior staff.
• Perform other strategic duties and special projects as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Assigned Lead: May recommend the following: employee hiring, disciplinary action, and starting salaries; provide input on employee performance evaluations.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Minimum of 9-10 years experience driving multi-stakeholder engagement in public health or a related field, paired with subject matter expertise in government affairs, health policy, and/or strategic communications across defense, federal, academic, and interagency sectors.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of DoW, USG, Interagency sectors.
• Demonstrated record of facilitating DoW cooperation and collaboration.
• Ability to form ad hoc partnerships among agencies with diverse interests to find and achieve common goals.
• Interpersonal skills to include the ability to work with senior officials.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to resolve problems independently.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex topics into clear executive summaries.
• Demonstrated track record of interacting with senior decision-makers to build coalitions and resolve high-stakes issues.
• Must already possess and maintain an active T3/Secret Clearance.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in a office setting.

Compensation

• The annual salary range for this position is $105,800-$175,000. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.