Project Manager (Temporary, Full-time)

The National WIC Association (NWA), the nonprofit education and advocacy voice for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), has received $14.9 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) via a four-year cooperative agreement to modernize WIC’s Management Information System (MIS), maximizing the program’s potential to improve health outcomes for current and future participants.

The MIS is the backbone of WIC’s administrative, assessment, and reporting functions. It is responsible for collecting and managing a wide array of data on WIC families, covering nearly all aspects of the program. MIS components include appointment scheduling, eligibility checks, medical/nutrition assessments, and benefit issuance. Along with partner organization Nava, which brings extensive technical experience in modernizing federal program services and delivery, NWA will develop recommendations for a modernized MIS, enabling WIC agencies to operate more efficiently and better serve participants and staff.

Under the cooperative agreement, NWA and its partners will assess the current WIC MIS landscape, plan and execute transitional improvements, develop a future state MIS strategy, and support USDA.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Research Project Manager is responsible for managing NWA’s activities related to the WIC Management Information System (MIS) project grant. Specifically, the position will assist with activities related to the WIC MIS Modernization Strategy Project, a USDA cooperative agreement with the National WIC Association in partnership with the Nava Public Benefit Corporation. The position is temporary and set to end on September 20, 2028. The responsibilities of the position include:

1. Serve as a subject matter expert, thought leader, and point person engaged in day-to-day work with project partners to provide WIC expertise
2. Develop surveys and analyze survey results in various formats to meet the educational needs of NWA and WIC diverse stakeholders and partners
3. Engage in project management
4. Work in collaboration with the project lead to troubleshoot project-related issues
5. Provide support and expertise during discovery research to assess current WIC MIS, including developing and disseminating surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups
6. Participate in the drafting and finalization of landscape report based on the analysis;
7. Assist in the development of technical assistance plans and materials
8. Coordinate engagement and obtain feedback from State, Local, and Intertribal WIC Agencies, NWA committees and task forces, and other stakeholders
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Possesses a high level of knowledge of the WIC Management Information System (MIS).
• WIC experience at the state level is highly preferred.
• Has experience in a position focused on technology innovation or modernization with similar complexities to the WIC Program.
• Has demonstrated proficiency in at least one of the following: Product management or product ownership (to include owning business and product vision of technology systems, defining and measuring project objectives, and/or communication and collaboration across cross-functional teams); experience with user-centered design, agile development, DevOps, and other modern technologies; experience managing information technology contractors that employ modern practices; extensive IT or acquisition management experience; experience with contract management.
• Experience managing federally funded projects or federal cooperative agreements.
• Demonstrated proficiency in managing agile, technology projects from concept to publication.
• Holds a Master's degree, or other relevant degree, and 5+ years of experience.
• Proven ability to oversee a contracted, technical scrum team on a complex, multi-year technology project.
• Proven ability to review technical deliverables such as APIs and system requirements, user stories, and other related deliverables.
• Must be able to organize and manage work effectively, independently, and with a team.
• Possess strong oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Strong project management skills. Project management certification is preferred.
• Ability to be fluid and flexible and manage multiple tasks and competing priorities.

At NWA, we value equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in all that we do, and encourage those from underrepresented groups to apply for this position.

NWA provides competitive benefits, including hybrid work, tuition reimbursement program, ongoing professional development opportunities in addition to generous health care plans, dental and vision coverage, flex spending account, dependant care flex spending account, basic term life insurance, long term disability insurance, paid time off, free gym access, a company-matched 403b retirement program, employee assistance program, cell phone and internet stipend, and more.