Program Implementation SME

Gritter Francona is looking for a Program Implementation SME that will provide senior-level implementation expertise to support the design, launch, management, evaluation, and scaling of an Elevated Risk Care Management (ERCM) Pilot focused on improving the coordination and effectiveness of suicide prevention-related care for Veterans at elevated risk.

The Program Implementation SME will support the implementation of new projects and programs identified by senior leadership and will provide expertise across the full pilot lifecycle, including Concept, Explore, Design, Implement, Evaluate, and Spread phases. Projects may be VHA-wide or localized to one or multiple VHA program offices.

The SME will provide strategic and operational support for implementation management, performance improvement, strategic performance measurement, programmatic outcomes, resource planning, and evaluation. The position will help establish linkages between VA-wide strategic goals and program-level outcomes and will ensure that implementation activities are aligned with organizational priorities, performance targets, programming, budgeting, and evaluation requirements.

The Program Implementation SME will work closely with Government program leads, senior leadership, clinical and operational stakeholders, pilot sites, and contractor personnel to translate strategic objectives into executable implementation plans and measurable outcomes.

• Provide senior-level subject matter expertise in implementing complex healthcare programs and initiatives.
• Support implementation of new projects and programs identified by VHA senior leadership.
• Develop and execute comprehensive implementation strategies, plans, schedules, milestones, and performance targets.
• Coordinate implementation activities across national, regional, and local stakeholders, as applicable.
• Support implementation of the ERCM Pilot across three selected sites and prepare the program for phased national expansion.
• Ensure implementation activities are aligned with approved program objectives, strategic priorities, and operational requirements.
• Identify implementation barriers, dependencies, resource constraints, and risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Support transition from planning and design activities to operational implementation and sustainment.
• Promote consistent implementation while accounting for differences in local operating environments.

• Lead or support release management and implementation activities associated with new programs, processes, workflows, tools, and capabilities.
• Develop implementation readiness criteria, launch plans, deployment schedules, and transition strategies.
• Coordinate implementation dependencies across program offices, clinical teams, operational stakeholders, and supporting organizations.
• Track implementation readiness, launch activities, stabilization, and post-implementation performance.
• Identify and resolve implementation issues that may affect program performance, schedule, scope, or outcomes.
• Support development of implementation toolkits, standard operating procedures, workflow guidance, training resources, and other operational materials.
• Establish repeatable implementation processes that can be leveraged during phased national expansion.

• Support implementation of the ERCM operating model designed to improve coordination of suicide prevention-related care for Veterans at elevated risk.
• Coordinate implementation activities related to Veterans identified through multiple pathways, including REACH VET, Risk , PDE, SPED, post-event outreach, and Veterans Crisis Line-related requests.
• Support efforts to minimize redundant outreach and improve coordination among Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams, Mental Health Treatment Coordinators (MHTCs), suicide prevention personnel, and other clinical teams.
• Assess implementation readiness and operational requirements at participating sites.
• Support development and refinement of current-state and future-state workflows.
• Identify opportunities to improve program integration, accountability, care coordination, and follow-up.
• Document implementation lessons learned and incorporate findings into program refinement and scale-up strategies.

• Support development and implementation of strategic performance measures that demonstrate progress toward program objectives.
• Establish linkages between VA-wide strategic goals, VHA priorities, programmatic activities, and measurable outcomes.
• Develop performance targets, indicators, milestones, and outcome measures in collaboration with Government leadership.
• Monitor performance against established targets and identify areas requiring corrective action or additional support.
• Develop performance dashboards, reports, scorecards, and executive-level briefings.
• Analyze performance trends and provide recommendations to…