Program Assistant

The Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) is a forum for the leaders of America’s largest metropolitan health departments to exchange strategies and jointly address issues to promote and protect the health and safety of the more than 62 million people they serve. Together, these public health officials directly affect the health and wellbeing of one in five Americans. Our vision is thriving urban communities where everyone can live their healthiest lives. Through our work, we aim to collaborate to advance the public’s health in America’s largest cities.

This position is grant-funded, full-time and based in the D.C. metro area. Relocation is not required, but U.S. residency is. Our team is currently fully remote, and we do meet in person several times a year; travel to such meetings is required. We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a collegial work environment. The salary for this position starts at $65,000 and will be commensurate with experience. The Program Assistant will report to the Senior Director of Programs and Operations.

Position Overview – What You’ll Do

The program assistant will join a team of seven staff and support a wide range of project/program activities for BCHC. BCHC has a broad program portfolio including substance use, violence prevention, data infrastructure, life expectancy, climate, and others.

Responsibilities and Opportunities

Program and Project Implementation

• Provide administrative support to various projects and ongoing program work, such as scheduling and coordinating working group meetings, webinars, and workshops with the BCHC team and partners
• Record, compile, and distribute meeting notes and follow up on both internal and external action items
• Assist in producing and editing documents including correspondence, reports, memos, and emails to partners, funders, and other stakeholders
• Plan, in partnership with other team members, convenings and member meetings, providing administrative and logistical support to participants before, during, and after the events, including processing participant expense reimbursements
• Conduct background research as needed
• Support program reporting for strategic plan and grant measures
• Keep program contacts and working group rosters up to date and support other contact management task, as needed/identified

Program Communications

• Contribute to content development for our various channels particularly as it relates to program activities
• More broadly, support program communication efforts, including writing, editing, posting, and updating content in close partnership with the communications team
• Review and support compilation of weekly email to members
• Assist in early draft(s) of BCHC annual report, compiling program highlights for the communications team

Other Responsibilities

• Attend various (mostly virtual) coalition meetings and report out key learnings to the team
• Support other BCHC mission critical work, as needed/requested

Qualifications – Who You Are

You are a pragmatic, results-oriented, hands-on team member. To be successful at BCHC, you also are:

• Mission-driven: You want to make a difference and find meaning in even the most routine day-to-day tasks, and BCHC’s mission resonates with you.
• Creative: You are flexible and willing to adapt along with a dynamic organization in an ever changing field. You are able to work both independently and as a team player who proactively engages with and supports others.
• Detail-oriented: You are organized, have an exceptional attention to detail, possess an ability to multitask and meet deadlines, and can help other team members meet theirs.

The ideal candidate will possess the attributes above and many of the following professional abilities and experiences:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of one year of relevant experience (candidates with significant work experience without a bachelor’s will also be considered)
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications (Microsoft Office); experience with Wordpress, Mailchimp, Monday.com, and/or Adobe Creative Cloud are beneficial but not required
• Ability to meet deadlines, be self-disciplined and self-starting, particularly in a remote work setting
• Be a team player and be willing and able to “manage up” to all members of the team

What We Offer Our Team

We are a small nimble, hardworking staff, but recognize dedication with a generous benefits package, including:

• 10+ paid holidays, including extended year-end winter break
• 3 weeks paid leave in first three years of employment
• 12 days paid sick leave and 6 paid wellness days
• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Employer-matched 401k program