What is a Project Manager?

At the CDC Foundation, a Project Manager is not merely an administrator; you are a critical operational link between federal health initiatives and local implementation. In this role, you drive the execution of high-impact public health programs, most notably the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. Your work directly supports the CDC, state, and local authorities by providing "surge staff" to enhance surveillance, prevention, and response activities.

You will step into a dynamic environment where your primary focus is capacity building and implementation. Unlike a standard corporate Project Manager role, this position requires a blend of traditional project management (timelines, budgets, deliverables) and public health strategy. You will likely manage a team of direct reports and oversee a large number of field employees deployed across the nation. Your ability to navigate complex jurisdictional partnerships and manage federal grants ensures that vital resources reach the communities that need them most.

Common Interview Questions

These questions are based on real interview experiences from candidates who interviewed at this company. You can practice answering them interactively on Dataford to better prepare for your interview.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for the CDC Foundation requires a shift in mindset from purely technical project management to mission-driven servant leadership. You need to demonstrate not only that you can manage a schedule, but that you can mobilize teams to solve public health crises under tight deadlines.

Your interviewers will evaluate you based on four primary criteria:

Public Health Operational Acumen – You must demonstrate an understanding of how public health programs operate, specifically regarding federal grants, cooperative agreements, and the nuances of working with government agencies. Familiarity with OD2A (Overdose Data to Action) is a significant advantage.

Remote Team Leadership – Because you may be managing up to 60 field employees and several direct reports remotely, interviewers assess your ability to cultivate a team atmosphere, handle HR-adjacent issues, and supervise performance without being physically present.

Stakeholder Management – You will act as a liaison between the CDC Foundation, the CDC, and state/local health departments. You need to show that you can navigate these diverse relationships with diplomacy, ensuring all parties are aligned on goals and deliverables.

Financial & Grant Management – A key part of the role involves managing federal and non-federal budgets. You will be evaluated on your experience with budget design, invoice reviews, and financial reporting to donors.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process at the CDC Foundation is known for being straightforward, professional, and relatively fast-paced. Unlike the multi-stage, month-long marathons typical of the tech industry, the Foundation focuses on efficiency to get qualified staff into critical public health roles quickly. Candidates often report a streamlined experience that respects their time while rigorously assessing their fit for the specific program needs.

Typically, you will begin with an initial screening, often with a recruiter or HR representative. This call focuses on your background, your interest in public health, and your salary expectations. If you pass this stage, you will move quickly to a formal interview with the Hiring Manager or a panel, which may include the Staffing Team Lead or Senior Portfolio Manager. This round digs deeper into your experience with grant management, team supervision, and situational questions regarding program implementation.

The timeline above illustrates a generally compact process. Be prepared for the possibility of a quick turnaround; some candidates have reported receiving offers shortly after their final interview. However, depending on the urgency of the specific grant or program (such as OD2A), timelines can vary. You should enter the process ready to articulate your value proposition immediately, as you may not have multiple rounds to slowly build your case.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Based on candidate experiences and the specific demands of the OD2A program, your interviews will focus heavily on your ability to manage complex logistics within a public health framework.

Program Implementation & Monitoring

This is the core of the role. Interviewers want to know how you take a high-level grant objective and translate it into daily operations. You need to show you can handle the "nuts and bolts" of project execution.

Be ready to go over:

• Grant lifecycles – Understanding the flow from award to implementation to reporting.
• Deliverable tracking – How you ensure staffing targets and programmatic goals are met on time.
• Logic models – Experience developing or utilizing logic models for program evaluation.
• Tools – Proficiency in Smartsheet, Salesforce, and Excel is frequently tested or discussed.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Describe a time you managed a project with conflicting deadlines and multiple stakeholders."
• "How do you track deliverables for a federal grant to ensure compliance?"

Supervisory Leadership & Surge Staffing

A unique aspect of this role is the heavy emphasis on staffing. You aren't just managing tasks; you are managing a workforce that is deployed to other jurisdictions.

Be ready to go over:

• Remote supervision – Strategies for keeping a dispersed team engaged and accountable.
• Recruitment collaboration – Working with recruiters to identify and hire surge staff quickly.
• Conflict resolution – Handling escalated personnel issues among field employees.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to manage a underperforming employee who was working remotely."
• "How do you cultivate a team culture when your staff is spread across the country?"

Stakeholder & Financial Management

You will be the face of the Foundation to many external partners. You must demonstrate financial literacy and political savvy.

Be ready to go over:

• Budget management – Designing program budgets and reviewing monthly expenditure reports.
• Partnership building – Fostering relationships with subject matter experts and donors.
• Reporting – Writing narrative and financial reports for donors.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How have you handled a situation where a project was at risk of going over budget?"
• "Describe your experience negotiating contracts or agreements with external partners."