Director, Innovation Pipeline

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Today, we are an alliance of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and a national office that work in communities across the United States to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. NAMI advocates for all who are affected by mental illness, both the individuals and the people in their lives. We work to address disparities and injustices and to promote dignity and inclusion for all people with mental illness and their families. In addition to being advocates, we educate, we listen, and we lead as evidenced by our public awareness campaigns, the range of programs we provide, and our strong public policy.

We currently have an open position for a Director, Innovation Pipeline. The Director, Innovation Pipeline will lead the organization’s efforts to create a new “Innovation Pipeline” to source, test, and scale programmatic and initiative solutions that address challenges in the mental health space. This role focuses on the 1) criteria setting 2) sourcing, and 3) strategic design, execution, and assessment of pilot programs that align with the organization’s goals and strategic priorities. The successful candidate will bring expertise in innovative methodologies, such as rapid-cycle piloting and lean impact frameworks, to ensure evidence-based decision-making and scaling of effective solutions.

This position is based in Arlington, VA (hybrid).

Salary Range: $100,000 - $115,000

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Idea Sourcing and Vetting

• Develop mechanisms to source ideas for new programs and innovations from the NAMI National Office, NAMI Alliance, and strategic partners.
• Create and evaluate incoming ideas using criteria such as:
  • Financial sustainability
  • Alignment with strategic goals priorities
  • Potential for measurable impact

Pilot Design and Execution

• Lead the development of targeted pilot programs to test high-risk assumptions quickly and cost-effectively
• Collaborate with stakeholders to design pilot experiments that:
  • Define clear objectives and evaluation plans
  • Include diverse representation
  • Incorporate DEI checkpoints throughout the process

Evaluation and Measurement

• Collaborate with NAMI data team to implement robust data collection and analysis to assess pilot performance, including:
  • Surveys and interviews to capture participant feedback
  • Quantitative and qualitative impact assessments
  • Effectiveness across different demographic and stakeholder groups

Scaling Successful Solutions

• Establish processes to transition proven pilot programs into scalable solutions, ensuring:
  • Clear understanding of resource and funding requirements
  • Alignment with organizational capacity and NAMI Alliance needs
  • Demand for solutions across the network
• Monitor the impact of scaled solutions to ensure continuous improvement

Evaluation and Measurement

• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including:
  • Cross-functional teams and leadership within NAMI National
  • The NAMI Alliance, funders, and strategic partners
• Regularly share progress, results, and learnings with stakeholders to foster alignment and transparency

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in innovation management, business, social impact, or a related field
• 8 – 10 years’ experience in program development, piloting, and scaling within a national or networked organization
• Exceptional data analysis, communication, and project management skills
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive decisions in fast-paced environments
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and collaborate with diverse stakeholders
• Effective communication skills in working with diverse stakeholders
• Experience working within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization preferred
• Must pass background check

NAMI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. NAMI prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information or any other legally protected group status. We also provide reasonable accommodation for candidates with disability.