Director of Technical Assistance

About the Health and Reentry Project (HARP)

Access to health care is vital for successful second chances, yet many people returning to communities after incarceration do not get care when they need it. The Health and Reentry Project (HARP) is a growing national nonprofit organization that builds safer, healthier communities by improving access to health care for people who are leaving incarceration. HARP advances this mission by providing policy analysis, helping governments implement policies, and convening diverse stakeholders, including people who are directly impacted by the justice system, to drive progress. One of HARP’s central priorities is providing technical assistance to states and local governments, correctional facilities, and community organizations to ensure that health and reentry policies are successfully implemented. From translating complex Medicaid policy for public safety audiences to tackling the operational realities of providing health care in correctional settings, HARP helps partners identify and operationalize the most effective strategies for long-term success.

You can learn more about HARP and our work at our website. 

The Opportunity

The Health and Reentry Project is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director to lead our new Technical Assistance (TA) Center. This key leader will be responsible for establishing the strategic vision and day-to-day operations of the center, which aims to provide crucial support and guidance to initiatives at the intersection of health and criminal justice as states implement their Medicaid 1115 reentry demonstration waivers. These waivers, which are groundbreaking, allow state Medicaid programs to improve continuity of care as people return to communities by covering a targeted set of health care services for individuals starting in the period before they are released from incarceration and continuing as they return to communities. These services have the potential to improve a range of health and public safety outcomes, including reducing mortality, rates of reincarceration, and unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations. They also hold promise to reduce spending in the health care and correctional systems. Over half of all states have advanced 1115 reentry waivers with 19 states approved and 8 states plus Washington, DC with proposed waivers awaiting approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). For more information visit https://healthandreentryproject.org/medicaid-waivers/. 

HARP is a growth-oriented, high impact organization that has played a pivotal role in strengthening Medicaid reentry policies and worked extensively with federal, state and local leaders to translate those policies into a ground level reality that improves peoples’ lives. Reflecting the importance of the state role in leading implementation of these policies, HARP is substantially expanding its state technical assistance efforts by establishing the only state technical assistance center dedicated specifically to expanding access to health care at reentry. The TA Center will: offer topical expertise to assist with state implementation; provide substantive resources, such as toolkits, templates, use cases, etc., to assist states with implementation; provide tailored, state specific technical assistance; and facilitate cross-state learning and cross-sector collaboration. 

HARP is seeking a Director to design, execute, and lead the operations of the TA center, building on HARP’s initial TA efforts, which have operated for two years. This will include acting as a strategic leader, adapting the Center’s approach, expertise and resources, to states’ needs and the evolving needs of this field. HARP has secured the resources necessary for the launch of the TA Center, providing a stable foundation for the Director to design and execute its initial operations, building on two years’ of HARP’s initial TA work.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader with a proven track record in program management, technical assistance delivery, and team leadership. They will possess deep expertise in Medicaid and/or criminal justice systems, coupled with extensive experience managing multi-state technical assistance projects. The Director of Technical Assistance will report to the HARP Executive Director.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: In partnership with the HARP Executive Director, develop and execute the strategic plan for the TA Center, aligning its activities with the overall mission and goals of HARP.
• Program Oversight: Provide comprehensive operational oversight for all TA Center activities, ensuring high-quality and impactful delivery of technical assistance to diverse stakeholders across multiple states. This includes coordinating and delivering technical assistance resources and projects from conceptualization to implementation.
• Team Development and Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of technical assistance providers, project staff, and consultants. Foster a collaborative and results-oriented work environment.
• Expertise and Guidance: Leverage deep subject matter expertise in Medicaid and/or criminal justice to inform TA strategies, develop effective resources, and provide expert guidance to the team and external partners.
• Partnership Development: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including state and local health and criminal justice agencies, community-based organizations, and national partners. Proactively identify and engage agencies that would benefit from TA support.
• Fundraising and Sustainability: In partnership with the HARP Executive Director, lead fundraising efforts for the TA Center, including identifying funding needs and opportunities, writing grant proposals, and cultivating and maintaining donor relationships to ensure the center's long-term sustainability.
• Evaluation and Learning: Utilize evaluation frameworks to measure the effectiveness and impact of TA initiatives, using data to inform continuous improvement and innovation.
• Thought Leadership: Represent HARP and the TA Center at conferences, convenings, and other public forums, sharing insights and best practices.

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree in public health, public policy, social work, criminal justice, law, or a related field strongly preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in program policy development, operations and management, with 3-5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Extensive experience managing and leading multi-state technical assistance or experience working across multiple states is essential.
• Demonstrated expertise in Medicaid program development and/or the criminal justice system, with a strong understanding of their intersection, particularly concerning reentry and health outcomes. Experience in cross-sector initiatives is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in building a team or department - recruiting talent, establishing workflows, and cultivating a collaborative and results-oriented team culture. Experience managing consultants and leading teams within a remote work environment is preferred.
• Exceptional strategic thinking capabilities with a ‘builder’ mindset; a proven ability to translate vision into concrete, scalable operational plans while spotting opportunities for replicability and increased impact.
• Proven capacity to solve problems, think analytically, identify key insights, lead the development of persuasive and compelling materials (e.g., memos, presentations, policy briefs, blog posts).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to cultivate and sustain high-level external partnerships across diverse sectors, with a talent for aligning stakeholders - representing varied roles and perspectives - around shared goals.
• A collaborative leader and team player willing to “roll-up their sleeves.”
• A foundational learning orientation characterized by intellectual humility and curiosity; a leader who actively seeks diverse perspectives, values feedback, and thrives in a dynamic ‘learning while doing’ environment.
• Strong interest and/or expertise, including lived or professional experience, regarding the critical role health care plays for communities who are returning from incarceration.
• Ability to travel frequently; travel requirements will shift over time.

HARP is a small, but growing, team that values team members who:

• Are organized, detail oriented, results-focused and thrive in a work culture that prioritizes growth and learning. 
• Can think strategically and creatively and adjust to changing circumstances in a rapidly growing nonprofit.
• Can maintain good humor and a positive attitude while juggling multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Can express ideas clearly and concisely both in writing and orally.
• Are self-motivated and able to work independently on a small team in a remote or hybrid work environment.
• Are committed to creating an inclusive environment that values sharing and learning from diverse perspectives and experiences. 

HARP does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factors.

Location:

Remote within the continental United States. This role requires full-time availability and participation in meetings via Zoom during standard EST business hours.

Compensation & Benefits:

$175,000-200,000 commensurate with experience. HARP offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401K, and more. 

To Apply: 

Submit your application via our Workable site here: https://apply.workable.com/health-and-reentry-project/j/03A813FE5D/apply/ 

Application will close on January 30, 2026