Program Director

About the role

The Program Director leads the implementation and evaluation of patient and professional health programs aligned with the National Kidney Foundation's mission and strategic goals. Key responsibilities include planning and executing professional education programs, managing patient and community-facing initiatives, building strategic partnerships, and securing funding.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute professional education programs such as renal roundtables, including venue sourcing and coordination, budget oversight, provider recruitment, and promotional strategy.
• Develop and manage patient and community-facing programs, including kidney health prevention and awareness campaigns, educational workshops, and community outreach events.
• Utilize program plans, delivery and training materials, resources, and communication tools to support effective program execution.
• Manage the full partner engagement lifecycle, including agreement execution and partner performance management.
• Identify potential community organizations that should be part of NKF’s local network.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Field Programs, Development and National teams to grow and diversify financial resources for the local program portfolio.
• Lead prospecting and proposal development for local implementation of patient and professional programs.
• Write grant proposals and secure funding through new and existing grants.
• Develop and execute internal and external communications plans that highlight local program outcomes and impact, including social media strategy, creative content creation, and promotional materials.
• Collaborate with NKF’s Branding and Communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and visibility.
• Demonstrate strong project management skills, including developing and managing budgets, event planning, logistics oversight, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines.
• Represent NKF as a subject matter expert and thought leader at conferences, community forums, coalitions, and health sector meetings to strengthen visibility and influence.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in community health education, patient advocacy, grassroots program delivery, or nonprofit community engagement, with at least 3 years in a program leadership or ownership capacity.
• Demonstrated grant writing experience, with a proven track record of securing funding through new and existing grants; minimum 3 years of grant development and proposal writing required.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, sponsorship development, or revenue generation, including identifying and cultivating corporate and pharmaceutical funding partners and exploring new and innovative funding models.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing professional education programs, community events, or health screenings, including venue coordination, logistics oversight, and provider or participant recruitment.
• Familiarity with kidney disease, chronic disease, or a related health area, and an understanding of the needs of patients, caregivers, and at-risk communities preferred.
• Experience developing marketing and social media strategy, creative content, and promotional materials to support program visibility and engagement required.
• Proven experience in partnership development and relationship management with healthcare providers, community organizations, faith-based groups, and local stakeholders, with the ability to build trust and sustain engagement across diverse populations.
• Strong analytical skills; experience tracking and interpreting program outcomes and community impact data to inform decision-making and demonstrate results.
• Public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex information to diverse audiences such as stakeholders, patients, donors, and community members.
• Proficiency with multiple software and CRM platforms, including Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Salesforce, and Canva.
• Superior organizational, communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible, resourceful, and able to adapt when challenges arise.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience developing strategic communications, advocacy, or thought leadership initiatives within the healthcare or community health sector.

Skills

• Grant writing.
• Strategic partnership development.
• Professional education program planning and execution.
• Community outreach and engagement.
• Grant proposal writing and securing funding.
• Internal and external communications planning.
• Project management.
• Public speaking and presentation skills.
• Software proficiency (Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Salesforce, Canva).
• Organizational, communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability.

Benefits

NKF offers competitive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and more. Specific details are available upon request.

Pay

The salary band for this position is [insert actual salary range here]. Actual compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors.

Schedule

This is a fully remote, work-from-home role based in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area, covering NKF’s Southeast market across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Regular travel throughout the three-state region is required to support program delivery, partner relationships, and community events.