Senior Director, Client Services (Science, Health, and Healthcare)

General Information

• Job Code: SHR-AM-06X
• Location: Ripple Effect Headquarters – Rockville, MD  
• Employee Type: Exempt, Full-Time Regular
• Telework: Partial (must be able to attend Industry Events in Washington, DC area)
• Clearance: Must be able to qualify for federal clearance at any level specified in current or future contract portfolio
• Salary Range: $141,803 - $177,253 per year/hour (how we pay and promote)  
• Manager: Yes 

Position Overview 

Are you passionate about bridging science, health and strategy to drive progress forward?

As a Sr. Division Director with Ripple Effect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our success! Your work role will be to provide strategic direction for several divisions, own delivery and growth across multiple client accounts, and partner with executive leadership to expand Ripple Effect's footprint in civilian and defense agencies.

While not an exhaustive list, the key duties for the position include: 

• Lead a Portfolio of Science & Health Programs: Provide strategic oversight and expansion of a high-impact portfolio of federal science, health, and healthcare agency programs focused in the areas of policy, program management, organizational development, and communications, ensuring alignment with overall organizational goals.
• Financial & Operational Leadership: Own division-level P&L and budgets, overseeing resource planning and staffing (in partnership with Finance, HR, and Operations) to drive efficient, on-budget program delivery.
• Senior Client Engagement: Serve as the senior client-facing leader for major contracts, cultivating trusted relationships with agency leadership and ensuring delivery excellence and full contract compliance.
• Business Growth & Strategy: Leverage industry relationships and experience to drive growth, leading strategic proposal initiatives and re-competes that expand existing accounts and secure new program opportunities.
• Strategic Technical Direction: Set the division’s technical direction, ensuring all initiatives leverage cutting-edge, evidence-based practices and innovative approaches in relevant health and science domains in .
• Data-Driven Performance: Leverage data analytics and performance dashboards to guide decision-making, keep complex projects on schedule, and continuously improve program outcomes.
• People Leadership & Development: Lead and mentor high-performing teams, guiding senior managers and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• External Representation: Represent the organization as a thought leader at industry events, scientific conferences, and client forums, enhancing the company’s profile and strategic partnerships.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications  

• Education: Master's degree in science, health, public health, or related field
• Experience: 15+ years relevant experience leading policy, program management, organizational development, and communications projects
• 8+ years of federal government experience with Ripple Effect's existing client base (includes CMS, NIH, HHS, DoD/DoW)
• 6+ years of project management experience for large multi-year contracts
• 4+ years of supervisory experience of other mid-level leaders and project directors
• 3+ years leading a federal contract portfolio in excess of $6 million across science, health, and healthcare mission areas

Basic Requirements  

• Ability to meet job requirements for telework and clearance as described above.
• Expert in project management in areas including project planning, timelines, resourcing, risk management, and task management.
• Advanced experience with project management software such as Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, Asana and Smartsheet.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office productivity software and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Basic experience with AI tools, including their limitations and risks, and how they can be applied to support portfolio of relevant projects. 
• Able to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Adaptability: Manages team adaptability by making decisions with imperfect information, seeking best practices, anticipating change, and displays a calm demeanor. 
• Communication: Delivers proactive and effective communications even in complex or high-risk situations and mentors others on communications best practices. 
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively prevents quality problems, implements improvement projects, develops policies to enhance team outcomes, manages after-action reviews, and engages in industry associations to promote best practices. 
• Entrepreneurship: Coordinates and leads business development by evaluating competitiveness, making bid recommendations, managing proposals, presenting Ripple Effect's capabilities, and building customer trust.
• Learning & Development: Conducts reviews to implement lessons learned, mentors others, shares knowledge, fosters team collaboration, encourages professional growth, and recommends strategies for effective customer outcomes. 
• Project Management: Manages project activities, ensures timely and accurate task completion and approves project deliverables. 
• Quality & Attention to Detail: Enforces quality standards, identifies quality issues and solutions, reviews key deliverables, organizes information, and ensures accuracy. 

Skills That Set You Apart 

• Certificate in project management such as CAPM, PMP, PgMP or PfMP.

• Expert in technical writing in areas including process documentation, briefing decks, status reports, memos and other business writing. 
• Intermediate experience with AI tools, including their limitations and risks, and how they can be applied to support portfolio of projects.

About Ripple Effect 

Ripple Effect is a woman-owned, 200-person company of communicators, scientists, researchers, and analysts. Established in 2003, and named as one of the “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” in 2024 and 2025 by the NABR, Ripple Effect has earned acclaim for delivering unparalleled consulting services and top-tier talent across federal, private, and non-profit sectors. 

At Ripple Effect, we reward our employees for their contributions to our mission. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes competitive pay, exceptional benefits, and a range of programs that support your work/life balance and personalized preferences.  

Learn more about our benefits and culture here.