Program Director

Role Description

Lead the implementation, and evaluation of patient and professional health programs that align with NKF’s mission and strategic goals, ensuring staffing assignments, budgeting, and technical needs are met in partnership with the Executive Director:

• 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 patient and professional education program plans, delivery and training materials, resources, and communication tools to support effective program execution.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, faith-based groups, senior centers, NGOs, universities, governments, and corporate sponsors, including pharmaceutical partners, across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
• 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.
• Identify potential pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical funding opportunities, including new and innovative funding models.
• Write grant proposals and secure funding through new and existing grants.
• Keep the Executive Director and Development team informed on program priorities, progress, and funding needs.
• 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.

Qualifications

• 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; Master’s degree preferred.
• 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.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including managing budgets and deadlines, handling multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing effectively, and maintaining attention to detail, both independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with volunteer recruitment and engagement, preferably with healthcare or community-based professionals to ensure focus on the groups at highest risk for kidney disease.
• Strong analytical skills; experience tracking and interpreting program outcomes and community impact data to inform decision-making and demonstrate results.
• Strong 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.
• Experience developing strategic communications, advocacy, or thought leadership initiatives within the healthcare or community health sector.

Requirements

• Accountability: Takes ownership of actions, decisions and results, ensuring high standards of performance and transparency.
• Collaboration: Collaborates effectively with peers and stakeholders, contributing to shared team goals. Demonstrates openness to feedback and is willing to work across teams to achieve NKF’s mission.
• Cultural Humility: Fosters a team environment that values humility, continuous learning, and respect for diverse cultures. Ensures team members are equipped to interact with individuals from varied backgrounds with sensitivity.
• Data-Driven Decision Making & Results Orientation: Analyzes team and project data to drive performance and improve outcomes. Drives team performance, ensuring alignment with NKF’s strategic objectives.
• Financial Acumen: Oversees budgets and identifies funding opportunities to align with revenue goals.
• Operational Excellence: Implements process improvements across teams, driving productivity gains.
• Patient and Community-Centered Focus: Leads teams and executes on implementation of programs and initiatives that address the needs of underserved populations. Ensures that patient, donor, and caregiver needs are central to all decision-making processes, while fostering team accountability for community-focused outcomes.
• Resource Stewardship: Manages resources responsibly, balancing cost, quality, and sustainability to maximize impact.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Supports NKF’s mission by coordinating the efforts of volunteers, partners, and stakeholders. Engages in project management activities to ensure smooth execution of initiatives and builds relationships that strengthen NKF’s impact in the community.

Working Conditions

• 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.
• Ability to lift and transport equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Flexible to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Available for overnight regional business travel.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At the National Kidney Foundation, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity apply to both our workforce and the communities we serve as they relate to kidney health and kidney disease prevention. It is the policy of NKF to provide equality of employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, qualified handicap or disability, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender, political affiliation or veteran status, or any other factor or reason prohibited by relevant local, state, and federal fair employment laws.

Disclaimer

The salary band listed reflects the range for this position. Actual compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors.