Open Date 6/2/2026
Description ABOUT THE CENTER FOR POLICY AND PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES (CPPI) The IPHI Center for Policy and Partnership Initiatives (CPPI) works to convene multi-sector partners to promote health justice with a policy, systems, and environmental change approach. CPPI has long convened a statewide policy and systems change coalition, the Illinois Alliance to Promote Opportunities for Health (IAPOH), focused on nutrition (including breastfeeding), physical activity and chronic disease prevention, which serves as the backbone for most of the Center's work to improve health in schools, early care and education settings, and communities. CPPI promotes the integration of community and healthcare systems to advance health, including improving the continuity of care for lactation support and breastfeeding, improving access to services that support health-related social needs (like food and housing) for people at risk or with chronic conditions, and ensuring a sustainable community-based workforce through healthcare reimbursement strategies.
This position will support a variety of community and healthcare integration projects within the Center at and IPHI.
JOB SUMMARYIPHI is seeking a proactive and systems-oriented Senior Program Manager- Community & Healthcare Integration to lead the day-to-day implementation of IPHI's community-healthcare integration projects. This includes IPHI's breastfeeding/lactation support initiatives, initiatives to address health-related social needs, and initiatives that advance the community-based workforce's role in healthcare systems. This role is responsible for coordinating and executing a portfolio of breastfeeding continuity of care and workforce programs, including for the CDC-funded Illinois State Physical Activity and Nutrition (ISPAN) cooperative agreement and the Illinois Department of Public Health's Enhancing and Expanding Breastfeeding (EEB) program.
The Senior Program Manager will also support implementation of IPHI's broader portfolio of work related to integrated health-related social need services and community-based birth justice providers into the healthcare system in collaboration with internal leadership, the Chief Executive Officer, and a diverse group of state and community partners. This role contributes to advancing institutional policy and process improvements, collaborative systems design, workforce development and sustainability, and partner alignment across initiatives.
The Senior Program Manager will report to the Chief Program & Policy Officer and may share supervision of the Program Manager - Birth Equity role, alongside the CEO. This position translates program goals into actionable plans, ensures high-quality execution of deliverables, and supports continuous improvement across initiatives.
To apply: Complete applications must include a resume, cover letter, a writing sample, and completion of an online questionnaire. Only complete applications will be reviewed. The cover letter should compare your qualifications, experiences, and interests to the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications listed below for the position. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES? General - Manage day-to-day implementation of assigned projects and programs, including breastfeeding continuity of care and lactation support initiatives, workforce development and diversification efforts, integration of community-based providers addressing health-related social needs into health care systems, partner engagement activities, and coalition workgroups
- Lead design and implement project plans across multiple complex initiatives, including tracking priorities, timelines, milestones, and deliverables in alignment with grant requirements and program goals
- Collect, monitor, and analyze program data; support development of dissemination approaches in partnership with supervisor; and present findings to internal and external stakeholders
- Track invoices and partner/contract payments and ensure accuracy and on-time payments
Public Health Knowledge & Skill Application - Provide capacity building support to partners through training, technical assistance, and communities of practice that contribute to policy and systems change
- Support implementation of state-level strategies that advance breastfeeding support, birth equity, access to health-related social needs, and workforce development and sustainability efforts such as Medicaid reimbursement initiatives
- Maintain knowledge of the lactation support/breastfeeding policy and capacity building landscape in Illinois to support alignment across IPHI initiatives and external partnerships
- Maintain knowledge of Medicaid, healthcare, and payor strategies to advance access to community-based providers/services
- Execute project strategies by gathering data, tracking outcomes, and supporting documentation of program impact
- Collaborate with partners and communities to support implementation of policy and system-level improvements
Systems Change - Support identification and engagement of key partners and stakeholders across systems
- Contribute insights and recommendations to program planning and priority setting within the Center
Meeting Planning & Facilitation - Coordinate the Illinois Alliance to Promote Opportunities for Health (IAPOH) Breastfeeding Support and Equity workgroup, including planning quarterly meetings and managing logistics
- Support convenings of healthcare providers, lactation support providers, home visiting organizations, doula organizations, housing providers, food/nutrition providers, community health workers, managed care organizations, state agencies, and other partners to advance systems improvements
- Coordinate development of agendas and materials for meetings with state agency partners
- Facilitate meetings and discussions that are inclusive, goal-oriented, and aligned with program objectives
- Ensure completion of meeting logistics, materials, and follow-up actions
Communication & Writing - Collaborate with team members to ensure consistent messaging and alignment across all communication platforms
- Develop materials for presentations and public engagements, tailored to diverse audiences
- Maintain a statewide listserv of lactation support professionals and support ongoing communication processes developed for the breastfeeding programs
- Draft program reports summarizing progress, challenges, and outcomes
Teamwork & Team Relationships - Set direction and coordinate project assignments with team members and partners to support timely execution of deliverables
- Contribute to development of scopes of work with partners, consultants, and contractors and monitor progress against expectations
- Provide guidance and feedback to Program Associates and Managers to support program implementation
Grant, Resource, & Finance Development - Manage grant reporting requirements, including collecting and synthesizing data, drafting reports, and supporting submission processes.
- Monitor program budgets and track expenditures in alignment with funding requirements
- Support grant compliance and documentation of program outcomes
Planning and Stewardship of Money - Support budget planning for program activities in collaboration with leadership
- Coordinate with leadership on vendor engagement and procurement processes in accordance with organizational policies
?Other duties as assigned.? Position Requirements QUALIFICATIONS - A bachelor's degree required or master's preferred in public health or related area (or equivalent of 4-5 years of public health-related experience)
- A minimum of 6 years of applied/relevant professional experience applying Public Health knowledge / skills or other similar experience outside of Public Health
- Knowledge of and experience with the Illinois healthcare and payor partners and healthcare systems design
- Knowledge of and experience with Illinois breastfeeding and birth equity partners is required
- Experience designing and implementing capacity building opportunities for policy and systems change is strongly preferred
- Experience with state and/or federal grant funding, reporting, and compliance is strongly preferred
- Expert understanding of Microsoft programs including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook
- Expert understanding of Zoom, Asana, and other project management or organizing apps
- Project management experience, demonstrating a strong understanding of task planning, and ensuring project deliverables are met on time
- Prioritizes tasks and meets deadlines; strong attention to detail
- Understands and can clearly convey regulations, guidelines, and programmatic outcomes relevant to program implementation
JOB REQUIREMENTS - The position is full-time, exempt, 37.5 FTE hours per week
- Must be able to sit at and operate a computer and other office equipment for a significant portion of the workday
- Must be able to move about the office to access files and supplies
- This position may entail occasional work in the evenings or on weekends and requires occasional travel for one or more nights from time to time
- This position is located in Chicago and will require adherence to our hybrid schedule
Compensation: This position offers a salary range of $83,400 - $107,291. per year, depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits: IPHI offers competitive benefits, including multiple health plan options, dental, vision, employer-paid disability and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) with employer matching. Employees also receive PTO, paid parental leave, and an Employee Assistance Program, 15 paid holidays, including a week off in December.
Location: This position is located in Chicago. IPHI operates a hybrid office work model where team members work in the office two days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday), and individuals may work in the office or remotely the other three days per week. There is travel for meetings and site visits within Chicago, the suburbs, and Illinois. Occasional overnight travel within Illinois or nationally for conferences and training may be required.
Starting Date: Immediate.??
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time
Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt
Location Main Office
Start Date 
