HIV Project Director

About the Position

Treatment Action Group (TAG) seeks a knowledgeable, experienced, creative HIV research, prevention, and treatment advocate as our next HIV Project Director. The Director will lead the HIV team in developing and implementing the strategy for TAG’s HIV research, prevention, treatment, and policy advocacy with a primarily domestic focus currently and some international work.

Strong candidates will have: a track record of developing and implementing research and/or policy advocacy; experience working with the diverse constituencies affected by HIV, including people living with and at risk for HIV; and a successful history of working with researchers, community-based organizations, pharmaceutical, foundation, and government officials, and the press. TAG encourages applications from candidates who are disproportionally HIV-impacted, from historically underserved populations, and values lived experience as a fundamental factor in this role. Should a successful candidate be chosen, TAG is committed to the leadership development, growth, and sustainability of the prospective HIV Project Director.

This position reports directly to the Executive Director, and works closely with TAG’s Deputy ED, and finance, development, and communications teams. TAG’s HIV Project Director will directly supervise three expert HIV Project staff.

About TAG

Treatment Action Group (TAG) is an independent, activist, and community-based research and policy think tank committed to racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equity; social justice; and liberation, fighting to end HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). At TAG, we strive to reflect in our organizational composition and operations the values, principles, and rights for which we advocate externally. This includes a commitment to equity and justice, as well valuing diversity of experience, in our employment practices. We encourage people living with HIV and other conditions; Black, indigenous, and people of color; women; transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people; and people with disabilities to apply. 

Major Portfolio Areas:

HIV Project Administration, Strategy, and Finance

• Lead , develop and manage HIV Project workplan including goals, objectives, and major streams of work.
• Oversee HIV Project budget and related grants, coordinate grant prospecting and spend down, and ensure programmatic deliverables.
• Coordinate HIV Project activities/needs/strategies with other TAG Project areas (Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, and Policy), Communications and the Administrative team.

HIV Research Advocacy

• Direct and oversee all major HIV research advocacy, including coordination of activities related to grant deliverables among project staff.
• Build and maintain awareness of major HIV research priorities in the field via peer-reviewed and community literature, relevant news outlets, conferences, and webinars, in order to inform short- and long-term Project priorities.
• Support coordination between HIV Project staff and Communications in the drafting, copy editing, and layout of four sections in TAG’s flagship annual Pipeline Report.

HIV and Related-Syndemics Policy Advocacy

• Collaborate with TAG’s Policy Team on the development and advancement of the organization’s HIV policy priorities on ending HIV as an epidemic in all U.S. communities and expanding publicly-funded HIV research.
• In partnership with Housing Works, co-supervise the Coordinator for the ACT NOW: END AIDS coalition, focused on advocating for coalition and broader community partnership in the implementation of the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic
• In partnership with the National Coalition of STD Directors, deepen TAG’s growing involvement in advocacy for increased biomedical research for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis; supervise development of an upcoming report on research priorities and conduct NIH resource tracking for STI research.
• Collaborate with Project teams on emerging policy areas as needed.

Desired Experience, Competencies, and Skillsets  

• Creative, collaborative mindset with the ability to think outside to box in managing a diverse team.
• 5-10 years’ experience in community and HIV/health advocacy. Understanding of how to develop and implement advocacy strategies from start to finish. Lived experience working with or on behalf of the most disproportionally HIV-impacted and historically underserved populations is highly valued and factored in experience.
• Strong prioritization and project management skills, and follow-through.
• Excellent communication skills including media communications, writing, editing, public speaking, and presentation skills. Directors are responsible for ensuring that reports reflect TAG’s high standards for evidence-based writing and analysis.
• Experience directing a team and directly supervising staff.
• Demonstrated track record of meaningfully collaborating with community partners and coalitions.
• Enthusiasm for and experience with partnering with, questioning, and challenging powerful stakeholders– including government and industry partners.
• Prior knowledge of HIV science highly welcomed; curiosity about and ability to learn scientific concepts is a must.
• Familiarity with nonprofit finances and development is a plus.
• Strong commitment to racial equity, social justice and human rights, particularly the rights of those most affected by the HIV epidemic and related syndemics.

Salary & Benefits

The salary will be $80,000 — $90,000 per annum, commensurate with experience, skills, and location. TAG offers a competitive benefits package that includes fully-employer paid health insurance for the staff member and dependents, and generous paid vacation (starting at four weeks, plus additional paid sick leave and holidays). TAG also provides professional development opportunities and a flexible work environment.

Location and Hours

TAG does not require employees to work from our New York City headquarters office for at least the remainder of 2021, and is open to candidates based anywhere in the U.S. who are able to work during TAG’s office hours (10am-6pm ET). Candidates outside the New York City area should have a demonstrated history of working successfully and long-term in a remote position. This is a full-time, exempt position; work on evenings and weekends may be required. TAG does not have capacity to provide visa support. Only candidates with existing authorization to work in the U.S. will be eligible.

How to Apply

Please send a one-page cover letter, current CV/résumé, two (2) writing samples that demonstrate your research, policy, advocacy writing and analysis skills, and three (3) professional references and their contact information to jobs@treatmentactiongroup.org, with “HIV Project Director” as the subject line. We will review applications on a rolling basis. Please, no recruiters or phone calls.

Treatment Action Group is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, personal appearance, family responsibility, political affiliation or any other status protected by applicable law. People of color; women; transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people; veterans; and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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