Chief Programs and Services Officer

The Chief Programs and Services Officer is a newly created position. The Chief provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for Mental Health America's mission-facing work — the programs, services, and functions through which MHA delivers national impact. This role is responsible for the alignment, quality, and effectiveness of MHA's public policy and advocacy efforts, public education campaigns, training and technical assistance programs, affiliate services, and research initiatives.

The Chief Programs and Services Officer is a senior member of MHA's executive team, working in close partnership with the COO and CEO to ensure that MHA's mission delivery is coherent, high-impact, externally relevant and internally aligned. This leader must be capable of operating across a broad portfolio of mission functions — bringing strategic focus and organizational discipline to a complex set of programs — while serving as a credible external representative of MHA's work.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this position is expected to actively contribute to the organization's business development strategy by identifying opportunities to strengthen organizational growth, expand strategic partnerships, and increase organizational sustainability. Business development is a shared leadership responsibility, and all executives are expected to proactively identify opportunities, support cross-functional initiatives, and contribute to achieving the organization's growth and impact goals. 

Each functional area within the Chief’s portfolio is currently led by an experienced subject-matter expert. The Chief does not replace that expertise — they amplify it. The Chief’s role is to ensure that each function is operating with discipline and clarity, that leaders are collaborating across the organization, and that the collective work of the portfolio is driving toward MHA’s strategic goals and organizational vision. The bullets below describe the Chief’s oversight and integration responsibilities.

1. Mission Portfolio Leadership

Led by senior functional area leaders across policy, public education, training, affiliate services, and research. The Chief ensures alignment, accountability, and coordinated execution across all mission-facing functions.

Ensure each mission-facing function is effectively led, aligned with organizational priorities, and operating with clear goals, metrics, and accountability 

Ensure coherence and integration across policy, public education, training, affiliates, and research to seize opportunities for collaboration, maximize impact and avoid fragmentation 

Oversee and monitor portfolio-wide performance, including program quality, impact metrics, and delivery against strategic goals, and hold functional leaders accountable for outcomes 

Identify gaps, redundancies, or misalignments across the portfolio and work with functional leaders to address them

2. Public Policy and Advocacy

Led by the SVP of Policy and Advocacy with expertise in federal and state advocacy. The Chief ensures alignment of policy strategy with organizational priorities and cross-functional integration.

Ensure policy leadership is effectively advancing MHA’s federal and state policy agenda in alignment with organizational strategy and values 

Ensure policy positions are grounded in research, clearly communicated, and integrated with public education, research, and affiliate engagement efforts 

Support policy leadership in external engagement with policymakers, coalitions, and national stakeholders, as appropriate 

Ensure execution of CEO- and Board-directed initiatives, including the exploration of partnership or shared-service models for the policy function

3. Marketing and Communications

Led by SVP of Marketing and Communications. The Chief ensures brand integrity, strategic alignment, and the effectiveness of MHA’s communications and marketing efforts in advancing organizational goals.

Ensure marketing and communications leadership is delivering high-quality, consistent messaging and campaigns aligned with organizational priorities and brand standards 

Ensure coordination across policy, public education, research, affiliate services, and development to strengthen message integration and organizational visibility 

Support the expansion of scalable communications strategies and platforms that increase reach, engagement, and impact with key audiences 

Hold leadership accountable for performance metrics, including audience growth, engagement, brand consistency, and overall communications effectiveness. 

4. Affiliate Services and Network Engagement

Led by the SVP of the Affiliate Network. The Chief ensures strong alignment between national strategy and affiliate support.

Ensure affiliate leadership is delivering consistent, high-quality services, resources, and technical support to the network 

Ensure affiliate engagement strategies are clear, coordinated, and aligned with organizational priorities 

Ensure collaboration between affiliate services and other functional areas (policy, training, research, public education) 

Support national representation at affiliate and coalition convenings, as appropriate

5. Research and Technical Assistance

Led by the SVP of Research with expertise in data and analysis. The Chief ensures research supports organizational credibility and strategy.

Ensure research leadership is advancing MHA’s research agenda, including signature reports and data publications 

Ensure research outputs are aligned with and inform policy, public education, and training efforts 

Ensure research contributes to organizational credibility, thought leadership, and advocacy impact 

Support the development of research partnerships that strengthen MHA’s evidence base

6. External Representation and Partnership

Supported across functional leadership. The Chief ensures external engagement is aligned and strategically coordinated.

Ensure MHA is effectively represented in national behavioral health, public health, and advocacy spaces 

Support relationship-building with peer organizations, federal agencies, funders, and coalitions 

Ensure coordination between external engagement, program strategy, and fundraising priorities 

Support grant development and fundraising efforts by ensuring alignment between programmatic strategy and funding opportunities

7. Fundraising Operations and Development (Partnerships)

Led by the SVP of Fundraising and Development. The Chief ensures operational infrastructure enables fundraising and alliance-building goals.

Ensure development operations — including CRM management, gift processing, and donor reporting — are functioning effectively and supporting the organization’s fundraising goals

Ensure alliance-building infrastructure — including partnership agreements, MOUs, and related tracking systems — is organized, current, and accessible to relevant staff

Coordinate with programs and development leadership to ensure operational support systems are aligned with external partnership and fundraising strategies

Identify and leverage across the portfolio fundraising opportunities

What we need this leader to be exceptional at:

Mission leadership — deep understanding of and commitment to behavioral health, mental health equity, and public health

Cross-functional program management — ability to oversee multiple distinct program areas simultaneously

Strategic clarity — ability to prioritize and focus a broad portfolio on highest-leverage activities

External representation — credibility and effectiveness as a spokesperson and relationship builder

Affiliate engagement — experience building trust and delivering value to external partners

People leadership — ability to develop, align, and hold accountable a team of mission-focused professionals

Policy and advocacy acumen — working knowledge of federal and state policy processes and advocacy strategy

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in public health, social work, public administration, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field strongly preferred

Experience

Minimum 10–15 years of progressively responsible experience in mission-driven program leadership, with at least 5 years in a senior executive or director-level role

Significant experience in behavioral health, public health, mental health advocacy, or related sectors

Demonstrated experience managing multiple mission-facing teams or program areas simultaneously

Experience working with affiliate networks, coalitions, or federated membership organizations

Track record of leading policy, advocacy, education, or research functions at a regional or national level

Experience leading organizations through periods of transformation, growth, or organizational redesign strongly preferred

Knowledge and Skills

Deep knowledge of the behavioral health landscape, including federal and state policy environments

Strong understanding of evidence-based public health and advocacy approaches

Excellent external communication and public representation skills

Strong organizational and program management skills, including ability to build systems and accountability structures

Excellent supervisory skills of senior-level staff

*Please note: "This position is expected to maintain a significant in-person presence at MHA’s Alexandria, Virginia office, generally four days per week, with flexibility for business travel, organizational needs, and other circumstances as appropriate."

*To be considered, applicants should submit a résumé and cover letter explaining their interest in the position and how their experience, skills, and qualifications make them a strong fit for the role and Mental Health America’s mission. Applications submitted without a cover letter may not be considered.