Senior Director for Strategic Relations & Leadership

Note: APA operates on a 37.5-hour work week with one hour lunch breaks each day. APA sets salaries based on several considerations, including years of relevant experience, level of education, and previous staff and/or governance experience at APA.

The Senior Director is responsible for advancing the needs of psychologists through APA's efforts to promote the profession and to improve population health and health equity. They lead efforts to strengthen connections and align strategies between APA, practice communities, and partners. The Senior Director facilitates policy and leadership development and strengthens the operations and impact of the Practice Directorate and governance entities.

Education and Experience Required

• Doctoral degree in psychology. APA- or CPA-accredited doctoral program and internship are strongly preferred.
• Hold a current, active license to practice independently as a psychologist in the U.S., without disciplinary action. Board certification is preferred.
• At least 10-12 years of progressively complex professional experience. Experience acquired as part of education/training will be considered.
• At least 5 years of experience in association management, and/or governance leadership.
• Membership in APA, a state psychological association, ethnic psychological association, state regulatory board, APA Division, or other professional organization. History of leadership roles is strongly preferred.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of psychologists, Association members, boards and committees, external stakeholders (e.g. regulators, consultants, and professionals from varied disciplines), and APA staff across units and with varying levels of job classification.
• A high degree of professionalism, discretion, and diplomacy; excellent judgment; well-developed interpersonal skills; a collaborative working style; the ability to solve complex problems; and the ability to concisely express complex ideas to varied audiences.
• A problem-solving and growth-oriented mindset; the ability to prioritize and re-prioritize work.
• Project management and/or process improvement experience is required.

Computer Skills Required

• Proficiency in Microsoft office, email, and virtual meetings.
• Ability to learn and use digital and virtual tools to accomplish strategic goals.

Responsibilities

The Senior Director will cast the vision and lead the efforts to strengthen connections between APA and practice communities, facilitate alignment of policy and initiatives, and bolster the operations of the Practice Directorate. Consistent with APA's strategic plan goals of (a) preparing the profession for the future and (b) strengthening APA's standing as an authoritative voice for psychology, the Senior Director will lead the Governance & Strategic Relations Team, whose efforts are ultimately expected to assist psychologists in navigating the challenges in today's health, social, and business environments and to improve population health and health equity.

The Senior Director serves as the key liaison between Practice staff and a plethora of practice-focused partners such as governance entities, divisions, and professional associations (e.g. ASPPB, ABPP, National Register). The Senior Director oversees the Board of Professional Affairs (BPA), its committees and partnerships, and will advise Practice staff (especially staff liaisons) about governance procedures, strategies, and initiatives. They establish networks with key individuals and groups and represents APA at internal and external meetings.

The Senior Director facilitates multi-directional communication and develops methods for feedback to be shared and considered. They assist with the advancement and implementation of policies, initiatives, and products from elected/appointed leaders and associated groups. The Senior Director analyzes, interprets, and conveys information to staff and members; this may include policy recommendations, development and implementation of new programs and business plans, and/or determining directorate resource allocation and management. They formulate and recommend methods for evaluating the effectiveness of initiatives and programs, including methods for communicating that information to governance groups, partners, and other stakeholders including the public, when appropriate.

The Senior Director works on inter-departmental and cross-association projects with other members of the staff and governance, such as planning for activities at the Practice Leadership Conference, APA annual convention, governance meetings, and others.

Achieving these goals will require:

• Advanced knowledge about APA governance procedures, including flexibility, patience, and creative problem-solving in a complex association environment.
• Advanced knowledge about traditional and emerging practice models, professional ethics, federal and state advocacy strategies, emerging technologies, guidelines, and reimbursement strategies.
• Ability to build and nurture productive relationships with key APA governance leaders, including boards, committees, divisions, advisory groups, and external partners to align priorities relevant to professional psychology.
• Ability to present concepts and initiatives to a wide range of stakeholders and governance groups.
• Awareness and sensitivity to the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
• Ability to review and apply research on psychology, leadership, team-based work, health, and other topics.
• For the profession of psychology to be most effective, it is important for strategies to be aligned across APA staff, governance, and partners in areas including: healthcare financing, evidence-based practice, ethics, education and training, equity/diversity/inclusion, and advocacy, among others, in order to improve population health and enhance the value and viability of the profession into the future.
• The Senior Director directly reports to the Chief of Professional Practice and participates as a senior staff member on the Practice Management Team. The Senior Director will lead the Governance & Strategic Relations Team and can participate on the HI-Q, EDI, and State Advocacy, Leadership, and Practice Teams. There are opportunities to participate with other teams on issues such as Healthcare financing, State advocacy, Business of practice, or others as preferred or assigned.
• Other duties as assigned - to be determined by supervisor.
• Retains signature authority up to $10,000.
• Matrixed supervision of at least one direct report.
• Matrixed supervision of staff, as needed.
• Supervises contracted employees, steering committees, and APA staff assigned to the Senior Director's projects.

About APA:

The American Psychological Association (APA) represents 122,000 psychologists, students, and affiliates, primarily in the U.S. and Canada but also in other countries around the world. APA is a scientific and professional organization with about 500 employees and is categorized as a 501(c)(3) along with its 501(c)(6) companion organization, APA Services, Inc.

Job Location: Remote: APA jobs may be considered for remote work eligibility as defined in APA's Flexible Work Policy and are subject to approval. Remote work employees may not work from the following states or U.S. territories: Alaska, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, Wyoming.

Application Instructions:

Qualified candidates must apply online through APA's applicant system and attach a resume and cover letter specifying your salary expectations. Applications that are submitted without both documents are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for consideration. Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. Please make sure to check your Spam folder if you do not receive an email from us.

The American Psychological Association is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected categories covered under local law.

APA has a mandatory vaccination policy. All employees must be either fully vaccinated or receive approval from APA for an exemption (disability/medical or sincerely held religious belief) before beginning work at APA. By submitting your application, you agree that as a condition of employment, you must comply with APA's mandatory vaccination policy and other health and safety requirements.

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)