Project Manager & Evaluation Specialist

About the Policy and Innovation Center

The Policy and Innovation Center (PIC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose founding partners include the San Diego Foundation, the County of San Diego, and The Brookings Institution. PIC conducts research and policy analysis to help solve the region's most pressing challenges. Its mission is to unlock the region's potential by cultivating and building cross-sector partnerships that address intractable issues — climate resilience, critical infrastructure, community wealth disparities, and housing affordability.

Learn more at thinkpic.org .

Position Overview

PIC is seeking an experienced Project Manager and Evaluation Specialist to monitor and support implementation and continuous improvement of initiatives under the Behavioral Health (BH) Team / Community Health & Wellbeing Department. Two flagship initiatives include the ELEVATE Behavioral Health Workforce Fund and the Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative (SBHI).

Working closely with senior leadership, this role will oversee program coordination, performance tracking, contract and grant compliance, and cross-partner collaboration to ensure initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with strategic goals. The position will also lead and support evaluation efforts by developing frameworks, monitoring key metrics, and translating data into actionable insights to inform decision-making.

This is an ideal opportunity for a highly organized, analytically driven professional passionate about advancing behavioral health systems and workforce development through data-informed, cross-sector work.

Key Responsibilities

Program Support, Coordination & Monitoring

• Collaborate with ELEVATE partners to support programmatic activities, ensuring accountability with contractual agreements, timelines, and quality standards.
• Monitor and track key program milestones, ensuring alignment with goals and timelines.
• Coordinate and support Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative (SBHI) special projects as needed.

Contract Administration, Tracking & Reporting

• Work with the ELEVATE operations team to ensure all programmatic deliverables and outcomes are met and documentation is provided to support reimbursement processes.
• Receive and track ELEVATE Upskilling subcontractor invoices and associated financial reports, including monthly, summary, and annual reports.
• Work closely with the Senior Director, BH Team, subcontractors, and external stakeholders to ensure grant implementation aligns with funder requirements and guidelines.
• Monitor ELEVATE contract goals and progress; track associated indicators and ensure deadlines are met.
• Coordinate regular check-in meetings with PIC program staff; foster a culture of collaboration and trust between internal departments and external partners.

Program Evaluation

• Advise on development of outcomes, metrics, and monitoring tools to track progress across all ELEVATE and SBHI programs.
• Coordinate and lead regular meetings with the ELEVATE/UCSD Evaluation Team, facilitating information sharing and partner insights.
• Guide the design, development, and ongoing refinement of evaluation frameworks in partnership with research and program teams.
• Serve as primary liaison between program staff and the research/evaluation team; ensure alignment and translate findings into actionable recommendations that inform senior leadership decision-making.
• Advance a comprehensive evaluation plan for ELEVATE in collaboration with the PIC Research team.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required in public health, public policy, social sciences, health administration, business administration, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in program management, evaluation, or a related role; experience in behavioral health, workforce development, or policy settings strongly preferred.

Core Competencies

• Genuine passion for PIC's mission and demonstrated commitment to equity-focused, cross-sector work.
• Strong project management and organizational skills — ability to oversee multiple workstreams, manage timelines and deliverables, and maintain alignment across complex, multi-partner initiatives.
• Strategic evaluation and analytical skills, including the ability to design evaluation frameworks, interpret complex data, and translate findings into actionable program and policy recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information clearly and meet varied reporting requirements.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills — comfortable communicating and coordinating across internal staff, subcontractors, government partners, and community organizations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with database management and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, REDCap, or similar) preferred.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Adaptable, self-directed, and effective in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Knowledge of the behavioral health or workforce development sector is a plus.
• Quality improvement mindset and a team-oriented, solutions-focused approach.

Language

• Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English required.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Professional hybrid work environment based in San Diego, CA.
• Fast-paced work setting with multi-level priorities and stakeholders.
• Ability to sit for extended periods at a desk, computer, or in meetings; ability to drive as needed.
• Ability to view a computer screen and use a keyboard for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate verbally in person and by phone.

Benefits

• Salary Range: $75,000 – $90,000 annually (Salaried, Exempt) The Policy and Innovation Center is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will reflect qualifications, skills, experience, internal equity, and alignment with market data, among other relevant factors.
• Supportive, inclusive organizational culture committed to mission-driven work.
• Hybrid work environment with support for home office setup.
• 100% employer-paid premiums for medical, vision, dental, life, AD&D, and long-term disability; 75% employer-paid premiums for all dependents.
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match plus annual discretionary contribution.
• Earned Incentive Program.
• 3 weeks paid time off annually, plus 1 additional paid week off in July for all staff.
• 4-week paid sabbatical for every 5 years of service.
• 13 paid holidays + 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Extended Health Care Time accruing at 2.77 hours per pay period (up to 480-hour cap) — usable for sick leave, family care, and parental leave/baby bonding.
• $100/month cell phone and internet reimbursement.
• $75/quarter gym reimbursement.
• Annual service award: $100 donation to a nonprofit of your choice.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.