National Sr. Program Lead, Strategic Initiatives

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

The American Heart Association is seeking a dynamic Senior Program Lead, Strategic Initiatives, focused on collaborations and special projects to join our Integrated Care Initiatives team at our office located in Dallas, TX, with flexibility for remote candidates.

Reporting to the VP of Integrated Care Initiatives, this role requires a leader skilled in guiding organizations through complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives where strategic alignment, influence, and the ability to foster strong, purpose-driven partnerships are central to achieving shared outcomes. You will contribute to a national effort that helps transform care, influence decision-making across departments, and guide high-impact strategic collaborations.

In this role you will provide strategic leadership for cross-sector partnerships aimed at advancing Integrated Care. This role is responsible for designing the strategic collaboration relationship strategy and cultivating and managing high-impact collaborations across patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, and public health agencies.

This leader will translate strategy into action—aligning stakeholders around shared goals, driving measurable outcomes, and ensuring collaboration efforts advance clinical quality and population health impact.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Strategic Partnership Development

• Develop and execute a comprehensive collaboration strategy aligned with integrated care priorities, including cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health.
• Identify, engage, and formalize partnerships across patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, and public health agencies, etc.
• Establish governance structures, partnership frameworks, and shared accountability models.
• Represent the AHA in external forums, coalitions, and advisory groups as an extension of engaged strategic collaborators.

Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead cross-functional collaboration workstreams from concept through implementation and evaluation.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable work plans with defined milestones, KPIs, and deliverables.
• Align collaboration activities with broader Integrated Care Initiatives goals.

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

• Build trusted relationships with executive leaders, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and community stakeholders to advance the strategic collaborator strategy.
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder convenings to drive alignment, resolve barriers, and accelerate decision-making.
• Develop compelling messaging and briefing materials for senior leadership and external partners.

 Measurement and Impact

• Define metrics to evaluate partnership effectiveness and share related outcomes.
• Monitor progress toward shared goals.
• Prepare executive-level reports and dashboards demonstrating impact and return on strategic collaborator investment.

Operational and Financial Oversight

• Oversee budgets and resource allocation for strategic collaborators strategy.
• Support development of grant proposals, funding strategies, and sustainability models.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree or Equivalent work experience in Health Promotion, Public Health, Human Resources, Marketing, Business, Communications.
• Five (5) years validated experience in business development or account management. Seven (7) years is preferred.
• Experience in program development, planning and management.
• Experience in public health or non-profit services.
• Comprehensive experience building business cases, analyzing market trends and identifying creative business opportunities.
• Ability to influence leadership without direct authority.
• Ability to communicate and present ideas across multiple audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, and public health agencies, along with best practices for engaging them.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Proven ability to simultaneously lead multiple, complex projects and events in varying stages of development under time constraints to ensure deadline compliance.
• Proven critical thinking skills in assessing needs and available resources to efficiently implement new and existing programs.
• Self-motivated, highly effective organizational and analytical skills, communication, negotiation, and social skills.
• Validated ability to efficiently participate in or facilitate meetings with internal and external clients including interacting with external partners/sponsors representing the Association to the public as vital.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive execution in complex environments.

The expected pay range will be $100,000 to $115,000. Pay is commensurate with experience; geographic differentials to the pay range may apply. The American Heart Association reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range.

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package.  Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary.  That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
  
  
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position.  
  
  
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution.  As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
  
  
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program.  HeartU is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
  
  
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.  The number of days will increase based on seniority level.  You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
  
  
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees.  This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2028 Goal: Building on over 100 years of trusted leadership in cardiovascular and brain health, by 2028 the Association will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities. The greatest discoveries in health must reach everyone where they are.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities.

This position not a match with your skills?  Click here to see other opportunities.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

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