Managing Director, Public Health Services Helpline

Health Resources in Action, Inc. (HRiA) is a non-profit organization working to improve and reimagine public health. We connect, consult, and collaborate to solve complex challenges of access and equity in our health and social systems. Together with our partners, clients, and collaborators, we create actionable solutions so that all people can thrive.

In 1957, The Medical Foundation (TMF) was created to primarily fund biomedical research in Massachusetts. Since then, we’ve been on a journey of evolution. We changed our name to Health Resources in Action (HRiA) to reflect our impact in the field of public health. Today, HRiA works with individuals, organizations, and communities to drive a policy and systems change approach to advance health and racial equity.

HRiA seeks sustainable solutions for complex problems using an anti-racist approach. We aim to be adaptable and flexible in meeting clients and partners where they are, offering our decades of knowledge and resources to collectively realize our dream of equitable, sustainable health for all. The foundation of this work is centered on our values:

• Health and racial equity by identifying and addressing the root causes of health inequities, intentionally working to shift narratives and power imbalances and disrupt all systems of oppression.
• Leading with heart by demonstrating our passionate commitment to our work, continuously challenging ourselves with humility and vulnerability while pursuing and holding ourselves accountable to our mission.
• Collaboration by intentionally and respectfully leading, partnering, and following to strengthen relationships, uplift different voices and build trust.
• Innovation by driving toward new strategies, questioning norms, and continuously learning and evolving to support the needs of our clients and communities.  

HRiA offers exciting, engaging, and challenging employment opportunities for facilitators, trainers, researchers, analysts, policy specialists, grant managers, and more. People come to HRiA because of our commitment to advancing health equity and inspiring work; they stay for our wonderful clients, partners, and dedicated and dynamic staff. With our growing portfolio of high-impact work, person-centered policies, and generous benefits, our team continually invests in making HRiA a great place to work. Our diverse staff of over 270 people hail from 30+ states, with a homebase in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood.

HRiA’s core services include: (1) public health services (PHS), (2) capacity building assistance (CBA), (3) research and evaluation, (4) health and racial equity, and (5) grantmaking for biomedical research and community health initiatives. As part of the PHS cluster, HRiA manages a statewide substance use helpline in Vermont and statewide substance use and problem gambling helplines in Massachusetts and Illinois. The helplines comprise state-specific websites and online portals, as well as a single, centralized contact center that manages calls and chats from residents of all three states, as well as live SMS texting for Illinois. The helplines operate 24/7/365 and connect consumers with comprehensive, accurate, and current information about and referrals to treatment, harm reduction, prevention, and recovery services available in their states. Learn more about HRiA and our helplines below: 

• HRiA: hria.org
• IL Helpline: HelplineIL.org
• IL Problem Gambling Helpline: AreYouReallyWinning.com
• MA Substance Use Helpline: HelplineMA.org
• MA Problem Gambling Helpline: GamblingHelplineMA.org 
• VT Helplink: www.VTHelplink.org

Position Description: 

We are seeking a seasoned, experienced professional to serve as Managing Director, PHS Helplines leading HRiA’s PHS cluster. This portfolio includes a team of over 50 staff and a $10M+ project portfolio including substance use helplines and problem gambling helplines in Massachusetts and Illinois, and a statewide substance use helpline in Vermont. 

The ideal candidate is a:

• Dynamic, visionary leader who can inspire, guide, and support implementation of creative, cost-effective, and innovative programs and solutions. 
• Seasoned and confident manager, with a proven ability to build, mentor, and sustain a strong and collaborative team of diverse professionals while fostering an inclusive and supportive team culture aligned with HRiA’s values. 
• Committed champion of health and racial equity, with a clear and sophisticated understanding of, commitment to, and vision for advancing this work across our team, organization, partners, and communities. 
• Tenacious entrepreneur, with a zest for creating and/or pursuing opportunities to expand or sustain our impact.
• Clear-eyed, collaborative problem solver who can assess and diagnose challenges and facilitate implementation of thoughtful, creative, and effective solutions with the team, organizational colleagues, and/or partners and clients. 

The Managing Director will establish and operationalize the overall vision and direction for the PHS cluster, in collaboration with senior and executive leadership. Key responsibilities include:

• Setting and advancing strategic goals to grow and sustain the cluster’s portfolio.
• Developing and managing the cluster budget.
• Supervising, mentoring, and supporting senior leaders on the team.
• Fostering a cohesive, high performing team culture, aligned with HRiA’s values.
• Hiring and overseeing staff to ensure effective day-to-day operations

As part of the senior leadership of the PHS cluster, the Managing Director will directly supervise and work closely with two Senior Directors, one of whom leads the MA and IL helpline teams, and the other the VT helpline team and the centralized Contact Center team that provides information and referral services to residents of all three states. They will also collaborate closely with a part-time Managing Director, Behavioral Health, who supports business development and coordinates cross-functional teams providing data, technology, web, outreach, marketing, and communications support.

In partnership with senior staff, the Managing Director will ensure successful project execution by monitoring and implementing project workplans, meeting project milestones, addressing challenges, and delivering high quality products and services on time and within budget. The Managing Director will also engage with clients and funders to advance our shared goals and to ensure services meet or exceed contractual obligations, partner expectations, and professional standards. 

As a member of HRiA’s Senior Leadership Team, the Managing Director will contribute to the organization’s overall strategy, sustainability, and growth. This includes:

• Shaping and advancing strategic vision and impact
• Identifying and securing new business opportunities
• Contributing expertise and thought leadership to strengthen HRiA’s reputation and influence

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), exempt position, and reports to the Vice President that oversees the PHS and CBA clusters at HRiA. The salary range is $135k to $150k depending on qualifications and experience. The Managing Director can work remotely within the United States, or in the Boston office. 

Benefits:

HRiA offers strong benefits to its employees, including:

• Competitive salaries,
• Health, dental, and vision insurance,
• Retirement plan,
• Short-term, long-term, and life insurance,
• Paid Family and Medical Leave,
• Vacation starting at 4 weeks, plus office closure during the last week of December,
• Flexible summer hours,
• 13 paid holidays.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Management & Supervision

• Lead a portfolio of statewide helplines and associated team of staff, and provide leadership and direction on staffing, hiring, budgets, planning, implementation, evaluation, and related activities.
• Establish a vision for the cluster and develop and implement goals and priorities that align with and support HRiA’s mission and vision, including health and racial equity.
• Supervise at least two senior staff and administrative coordinator(s) and provide guidance to ensure effective implementation of projects and meet portfolio goals.
• Work with senior staff to promote and support a cohesive and effective team structure and dynamic that aligns with HRiA’s values, promotes staff satisfaction and work/life balance (while maintaining 24/7/365 operations), and facilitates pursuit of cluster and organizational goals to advance HRiA’s mission.
• Work with staff and teams to recruit, supervise, and manage a diverse team of public health professionals, including those with lived experience of substance use and/or gambling disorders.
• Develop, engage, and maintain strong relationships with key collaborators and leaders, including clients, government agencies, community leaders, and residents.
• Direct, lead, or manage projects, as needed and/or appropriate.
• Provide insight and guidance to help team address challenges and barriers.
• Oversee and ensure continuous quality improvement activities.
• Conduct annual staff performance reviews and develop and support staff in setting and attaining professional development goals.
• Assist with project planning, decision making, implementation, and evaluation.
• Work with HRiA’s Administration & Finance staff, Vice President, and cluster senior leadership to develop and monitor the overall cluster budget and make decisions and take action to ensure alignment between contractual requirements, program activities, and budget parameters.
• Support and enable senior leadership to create and manage individual program budgets and workplans in alignment with overall cluster budget.
• Participate as a member of HRiA’s Senior Leadership Team and take part in or lead other organization-wide activities as needed.

New Business Development

• Establish and pursue a vision for a portfolio of helpline and behavioral health-related projects and implement creative and effective strategies for sustainability and growth.
• Work with the Vice President, marketing and development staff, and other senior leadership to identify, assess, and pursue business development opportunities. 
• Lead and/or contribute to proposals and scopes of work for new business.
• Build capacity of team to take on new business development activities.
• Participate in the Marketing & Business Development Roundtable.

Thought Leadership

• Serve as a trusted, informed subject matter expert for HRiA, our partners, and communities in helpline and information and referral services, including but not limited to behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery.
• Provide guidance and experience-informed insight to promote and support effective processes, decision-making, and innovation within our team and with clients and partners. 
• Build and maintain knowledge of significant trends and developments in behavioral health, substance use, problem gambling, including implications for behavior health helpline services, policy, and/or health and racial equity.
• Provide content to market and promote work online or through other media.
• Develop and deliver webinars, presentations, and practice briefs.
• Participate in organizational events, trainings, or other opportunities.
• Suggest ideas/improvements through participation in teams and committees

Programmatic 

• Contribute technical and/or subject matter expertise to projects and teams in the cluster and across the organization.
• Lead projects or implement project activities or tasks, as needed or appropriate
• Work with and support senior leadership, managers, and other staff to achieve project goals, monitor contract compliance and implementation, and ensure timely completion of deliverables within budget and to client’s satisfaction.
• Build and maintain strong and effective relationships with clients and other partners/collaborators.

Candidate Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications to be considered for this role. 

• At least 10 years of progressive leadership or management of public health programs of similar scope and size, including demonstrated experience and success managing a team of at least 30 people and a program portfolio of $8 to $10M in revenue; experience working with or in helplines or similar contact centers is preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise, experience, and knowledge of the substance use, problem gambling, and/or behavioral health treatment “ecosystem” and a solid understanding of the role and functions of helplines or similar interventions within it.
• Master’s degree in public health or similar field; in lieu of advanced degree, a bachelor’s degree with an additional eight years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience securing and managing significant federal or state contracts.
• Demonstrated experience and success in managing and supervising large, diverse teams of staff and consultants.
• Excellent client and partner engagement skills, with the ability to work simultaneously with multiple funders, partners, vendors, and other collaborators to create smart, impactful, innovative, and cost-effective solutions in an ever-evolving funding and sociopolitical landscape
• Exceptional team management skills, including demonstrated ability to build, lead, motivate, manage, and sustain an effective team of diverse, senior professionals, including those with lived experience of substance use and/or gambling disorders.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to health and racial equity, and addressing racism and white supremacy in our internal and external work, including a sophisticated understanding of HRiA’s equity framework (or similar) and relevant concepts and approaches, with a clear vision for how those can and should guide the helpline team and services.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to HRiA’s values and demonstrated experience of leading teams and implementing public health programs in alignment with those values. 
• Strong project management skills, including demonstrated ability to develop and implement a strategic vision, set goals and priorities, and develop and implement plans and strategies. 
• Ability to build and manage complex, intersecting, and mutually dependent project and portfolio budgets of $8 to $10M or more.
• Highly organized, motivated, and able to work well independently and with a team. 
• Strong attention to detail and highly developed organizational skills.
• A commitment to valuing diversity of thought, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, busy environment.
• Flexibility, humility, and a sense of humor.
• MA, VT, or IL residency preferred but not required. 

Procedure for Candidacy:

HRiA is actively seeking to build a diverse and experienced staff. The organization encourages multiple perspectives and experiences, supports a multicultural environment, and strives to hire and retain a diverse work force that reflects the populations we work with and the communities where we work. Diversity is a core value of HRiA resulting in culturally competent services, materials, resources, and programs. Our hiring and business practices appreciate the strengths offered through different backgrounds.

HRiA is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. 

To apply, submit your cover letter and resume online at hria.org/about/careers 

Applications will be considered until the position is filled, with initial interviews beginning in mid-July 2026. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.