USmax Corporation is seeking a Mental Health Senior Advisor to support the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).
ARPA-H drives ambitious, high-impact biomedical and health research that is difficult to achieve through conventional research pathways or standard commercial efforts.
The position serves as a senior scientific and strategic advisor to Program Managers and Office Leadership within the Proactive Health Office at ARPA-H. This role provides high-level expertise in mental health, suicide prevention, health psychology, and applied quantitative research to shape, execute, and oversee ARPA-H style, high-risk/high-reward R&D programs.
In addition to providing direct program support, this individual leads and coordinates other SETAs within the program, ensuring analytical rigor, strategic alignment, and consistency in technical evaluation and milestone development.
The role requires independent judgment, initiative, and the ability to translate cutting-edge science into actionable program strategy in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
This is a remote position.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Strategy & Technical Advising
- Advise the Program Manager and leadership on program strategy, technical direction, and portfolio execution in mental health and suicide prevention.
- Support program development from concept through execution, including development of technical theses, milestones, and evaluation frameworks.
- Identify emerging scientific opportunities, technology inflection points, implementation barriers, and policy considerations and translate into actionable programmatic strategies.
- Lead development of clear technical problem statements and program constructs suitable for ARPA-H Requests for Solutions (RFS).
- Develop and pressure-test measurable technical milestones, quantitative evaluation frameworks, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Anticipate scientific, operational, and portfolio-level risks and proactively propose mitigation pathways.
- Provide independent recommendations and options to leadership, including trade-off analyses and scenario planning.
Portfolio & Proposal Support
- Oversee intake and technical evaluation of proposals, white papers, and submissions.
- Assess study design, statistical approaches, feasibility, scalability, and real-world impact.
- Develop and monitor performance metrics and data-driven evaluation frameworks.
- Support site visits, technical demonstrations, and performer assessments.
- Prepare executive briefings, decision memos, and portfolio updates.
- Coordinate with business financial managers, public affairs, and contracting.
Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination
- Identify and engage subject matter experts, performers, and strategic partners.
- Support strategic teaming across multidisciplinary performers.
- Participate in technical discussions, working groups, and interagency engagements as needed.
Required Qualifications:
- Strong quantitative and statistical expertise.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to operate independently and manage competing priorities.
- Record of funded research and publications preferred.
Required Experience:
- 8+ years of experience in mental health research, including suicide prevention; 10+ years of experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex research initiatives and multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrated experience with mental health clinical trials design and meta-analysis.
- Experience advising government leadership or supporting federal programs.
- Experience in high-risk R&D environments preferred.
- Experience with federal funding, contracting, or program oversight preferred.
- Experience supervising or leading technical staff preferred.
Required Education:
- PhD in social psychology, clinical psychology, health psychology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or related field.
Security Clearance Requirements:
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust
Work Location / Schedule:
- Remote
About USmax
USmax Corporation is an award-winning SBA Certified Woman-Owned Small Business and leading provider of innovative professional, technical and enterprise IT services. Our client areas span, national security, public safety and healthcare markets.
Our Commitment to quality and continuous process improvement is demonstrated by our ISO 9001:2015, ISO 20000-1:2018, and ISO 27001:2013 registrations. We offer complete program life cycle support through a full range of planning, design, implementation, management, and support services. Our services based on trust, quality, efficiency, and innovation drive the mission of our various federal and commercial customers.
USmax is certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Veterans Services as a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Facility and certified as a V3 Certified Employer. USmax is an avid supporter of the men and women who have served our country. This certification recognizes this achievement and furthers our commitment to veterans and their families.
USmax is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please see our website to learn more about our employment policies or to request accommodation to enable you to apply for employment.
For more information about USmax or to apply for a position, visit www.usmax.com.