Senior Program Director for Human Performance Optimization

Overview

Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Summary

Battelle is seeking a Senior Program Director for Human Performance Optimization (HPO) within our Health Business to lead the execution of large-scale, globally distributed military support programs focused on enhancing the readiness and resilience of U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). This role drives strategic initiatives that optimize physical, psychological, social, and cognitive performance across high-functioning teams.

The Program Director will oversee the recruitment, deployment, and sustainment of approximately 800 credentialed health professionals—many requiring security clearances—across 37 locations in the United States, Europe, and Asia, ensuring alignment with mission-critical objectives and federal government expectations.

As the lead for capturing and executing contracts exceeding $250M, the Senior Program Director is responsible for end-to-end program delivery, including staffing, field operations, compliance, recruiting pipeline development, and stakeholder coordination. The ideal candidate brings a blend of strategic vision and operational precision, with demonstrated experience managing geographically dispersed, multi-functional teams in high-tempo, zero-fail environments. This position requires exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills to maintain program excellence and drive continuous improvement in support of national security and human performance outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter expert in human performance optimization and military health.
• Deliver executive-level briefings to senior military leadership and Battelle executives, translating program metrics, trends, and challenges into actionable insights.
• Coordinate logistics and surge operations, ensuring rapid response capabilities and continuity of care during high-demand or emergent scenarios.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement, integrating evidence-based practices, emerging technologies, and performance analytics to optimize outcomes.
• Promote a culture of resilience and readiness, ensuring all program activities support the holistic well-being and operational effectiveness of high-performance personnel and their families.
• Facilitate collaboration across commands, installations, and service branches, optimizing service delivery and ensuring alignment with DoD-wide human performance initiatives.
• Model a culture of safety and risk management across all domains, particularly in behavioral health and data privacy.
• Direct resource management and staffing operations, ensuring budget adherence, recruitment timelines, and retention benchmarks are consistently met.

Key Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Benefits : Live an Extraordinary Life

We care about your well-being, not just on the job. Battelle offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to help you live your best life.

A Work Environment Where You Succeed

For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity’s most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world.

You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to :

Vaccinations & Safety Protocols

Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and / or its clients’ requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).

Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle.

The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.

For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org / careers

#J-18808-Ljbffr