Senior Director, Program Innovation and Strategy

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the formulation and execution of strategy for education and mentorship, integrating with broader organizational objectives.
• Translate ARVO’s strategic priorities into multi-year roadmaps and coordinated program plans, working across functions to ensure clarity, alignment, and progress.
• Provide senior leadership for ARVO’s education portfolio, balancing strategic direction with hands-on oversight in a small, highly collaborative team environment.
• Direct the lifecycle of a diverse set of programs—including structured education, mentorship, professional development, and emerging translational initiatives—guiding program design, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Establish priorities, oversee portfolio-level planning and coordination, and lead decisions to scale, redesign, or sunset programs to ensure offerings remain relevant, well-integrated, aligned with ARVO’s strategic direction and the needs of a global research community, and financially sustainable.
• Partner with senior leadership and regional advisory councils to balance impact, scale, and responsible use of resources as the portfolio grows.
• Mentorship Network Expansion—Enhance global mentorship programs and build alumni networks to accelerate career trajectories and organizational retention, integrating or aligning mentorship offerings with program initiatives to ensure coherence and value.
• Program Partnerships—In collaboration with the senior leadership team, shape strategic program partnerships that enhance educational impact and reach. Work closely with volunteer subject-matter experts, instructors, and advisory working groups to inform program direction and content priorities.
• Impact Analytics and Reporting—Oversee the development of advanced metrics to assess program participation, satisfaction, and learning outcomes. Review results regularly, calibrate programs accordingly, and communicate insights that support staff decision-making and inform board-level discussions.
• Talent and Team Leadership—Partner with the COFO to build and lead a high-performing team, creating a culture of accountability and high performance within a supportive and collaborative environment. Collaborate closely with cross-functional program leaders and champion an innovative mindset among staff.

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience (typically 15+ years) leading a portfolio of programs with direct responsibility for setting priorities and making portfolio-level decisions, ideally within scientific or medical associations, research-focused nonprofits, or related environments.
• Exposure to academic research environments and translational research pathways is a plus.
• Deep understanding of adult learning strategies, along with knowledge of the professional needs and values of scientific professionals at different career levels.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships or collaborations that enhanced program delivery, reach, or impact.
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with experience working with subject-matter experts, volunteer leaders, and cross-functional teams in mission-driven organizations.

About ARVO

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world. Our members include nearly 12,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. Our mission is to advance research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating, and curing its disorders.