Managing Director, Health

AIR’s Health Division is seeking a visionary Managing Director with deep expertise in health policy, health economics, and program evaluation—particularly with prior experience leading and structuring large-scale projects for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). This role requires a strategic thinker who can translate complex initiatives into actionable frameworks, ensuring alignment between project execution and broader organizational goals. The ideal candidate will bring entrepreneurial energy, strong client relationship skills, and a collaborative leadership style to drive growth and impact.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories. 

About Air:

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. Mission-focused and evidence-driven, AIR applies rigorous research and technical expertise to close gaps in opportunity and access, improving lives across communities and systems.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Serve as a thought leader across health policy domains, with a focus on programs administered by CMMI, including alternative payment models, care transformation, and value-based care.
• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of large-scale CMS and CMMI initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment, structured execution, and measurable outcomes.
• Apply subject matter expertise in behavioral health to guide program design, implementation, and evaluation, particularly for populations with complex needs.
• Translate high-level goals into coherent workstreams, frameworks, and staffing plans that support long-term success.
• Provide client-focused leadership with emphasis on proactive management and responsiveness to evolving priorities.

Business Development & Growth

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities with federal, state, and foundation clients, especially in areas related to CMS, CMMI, and behavioral health.
• Collaborate with AIR leadership to develop and execute growth strategies aligned with emerging health policy trends.
• Lead proposal development, including conceptualizing research plans, implementation strategies, and conducting technical reviews.

Project Oversight & Structuring

• Guide project directors in structuring and managing complex research, implementation, and evaluation projects.
• Ensure projects are designed with clear logic models, strategic milestones, and integrated quality assurance and monitoring plans.
• Monitor project health, including budget, staffing, and client satisfaction, with a focus on long-term sustainability and impact.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor staff to think strategically and structure work effectively, beyond task-level execution.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and professional growth.
• Oversee staff assignments to balance capacity and build organizational capabilities.

External Engagement & Visibility

• Represent AIR at major conferences, client meetings, and in publications to enhance visibility and influence in health policy and behavioral health.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with CMS, CMMI, and other key stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Education, Knowledge, And Experience:

• PhD or MA in a substantive area such as health economics, public health, public policy, or a related social science discipline with expertise in evaluation, health care reimbursement, Medicare, Medicaid, or another key health division program.
• Proven experience leading large-scale projects for CMS and CMMI, with a track record of strategic structuring, implementation, and monitoring.
• Demonstrated expertise in behavioral health, including mental health and substance use policy, program design, and evaluation.
• A successful track record of securing funding via federal, state, or foundation contracts or grants.15+ years of leadership/management experience in the field of health policy.
• Demonstrated experience conducting applied research, evaluating policies and programs, and/or conducting evaluations or impact studies including randomized control trials, quasi-experimental studies, and field-based research projects.

Skills:

• Proven ability to manage large-scale research projects, lead teams, write reports, and publish and present findings.
• Demonstrated success leading large scale initiatives with evidence of outcomes, ideally in high need areas.
• Demonstrated track record in conceptualizing and writing proposals that have resulted in funding to build a body of work.
• Demonstrated ability to develop rapport with and lead mission-driven teams with both internal (staff) members and external (subcontractor and consultant) members.
• Collaborative leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills at a senior level.

Disclosures:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at tboone@air.org or call 202.403.5000

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

 AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe@air.org is correct and jdoe@aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out to recruitment@air.org.

If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams.

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AIR’s Total Rewards Program, is designed to reward our staff competitively and motivate them to achieve our critical mission. This position offers the anticipated annual salary as listed. Salary offers are made based on internal equity within the institution and external equity with competitive markets. Please note this is the annual salary range for candidates that are based in the United States.

Anticipated Annual Salary Range$200,000—$235,000 USD