Sr Program Specialist, Healthy Aging - Falls

Join Our Mission. Shape the Future.

At NCOA, we are on a mission to create the conditions for all to age well in America—today and into the future. Every day, we work to improve the lives of millions of older adults through innovative programs, trusted advocacy, and meaningful partnerships that advance health, economic security, and equity.

We are seeking a dynamic and collaborative Senior Program Specialist, Healthy Aging to bring their expertise, vision, and passion to help drive our mission forward. The Senior Program Specialist will play a pivotal role in advancing healthy aging and falls prevention initiatives by managing project activities, strengthening funded partner capacity through technical assistance, and supporting data-informed program improvement and the dissemination of promising practices.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized and resourceful program professional who thrives on managing complex projects, building collaborative relationships, and translating implementation experiences and data into practical resources and solutions that strengthen programs and partner success. They will embrace and exemplify NCOA's core values of Caring for All, Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity, and Respect, fostering a culture of excellence while helping ensure that every older adult has the opportunity to age with dignity, purpose, and security.

If you are ready to make a lasting difference while leading with purpose, we invite you to join our team.

POSITION SUMMARY

The SeniorProgram Specialist, Healthy Aging leads and supports the day-to-day activities, operations, documentation, resource development and logistics of multiple health promotion projects with a focus on fall prevention, clinical-community linkages, and evidence-based programs. With guidance from the project team, the Senior Program Specialist leads a variety of project activities, including funded partner onboarding, individual and group technical assistance, facilitating webinars, hosting office hours, meeting coordination, resource development, relationship building and logistics and making relevant connections across the aging network. The Senior Program Specialist uses well-developed organizational skills, resourcefulness, and an interest in community building and cross-sector collaboration to advance this work. 

This role works closely with NCOA’s Research & Evaluation team to support rapid-cycle evaluation and use of data to strengthen program implementation. The Senior Program Specialist helps coordinate data collection and evaluation activities with funded agencies, supports data collection and evaluation trainings, and assists with preparing funded agencies to meet project and external evaluation requirements. The Senior Program Specialist works with the Research & Evaluation team to help identify and document implementation challenges and trends, support quarterly analyses and performance reporting, coordinate activities related to the external evaluation, and help ensure evaluation findings and funded agency needs inform ongoing technical assistance and continuous quality improvement. 

The Senior Program Specialist also takes a leadership role in project communications, reporting, and dissemination activities and works with project staff and NCOA’s Communications team to support the sharing of project information, findings, resources, and promising practices. This role works collaboratively within the Center for Healthy Aging, with NCOA’s Research & Evaluation team and other cross-functional teams, and with external project partners. The Senior Program Specialist uses strong relationship management, communication, organizational, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills to support successful project implementation and advance falls prevention efforts for older adults.

Positions at this level typically report to a director or senior director and require advanced knowledge and experience as well as strong project management capabilities. Incumbents are required to make independent judgements within their scope of work and require minimal oversight. Incumbents generally have three or more years of experience in their discipline and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience.Graduate level degrees may be considered in lieu of experience. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk. 
• Occasionally required to walk. 
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. 
• Frequently required to talk or listen. 
• Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.
• Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds). 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Primarily office-based in Arlington, VA, with a hybrid schedule.
• Occasional travel is required for partner meetings, conferences, and other partner engagements.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you are a collaborative, mission-driven professional with a passion for healthy aging, falls prevention, and strengthening programs that help older adults live healthier lives, we encourage you to apply.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume through the application link provided. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. Please note that we are unable to accept phone calls regarding this position.

NCOA is committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation. The salary range published in this job posting reflects the market range for positions based in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. Because NCOA employs staff in multiple states, compensation may vary based on an employee's primary work location through our geographic pay structure. Geographic differentials are established using regional labor market data to ensure competitive and equitable pay across locations. Final starting salary will be determined based on the employee's work location, relevant experience, education, qualifications, and internal equity.

NCOA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and respectful workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.