Sr. Program Lead, Professional Education, Specialty Conferences

Overview

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 has an opportunity for a Senior Program Lead, Professional Education, Specialty Conferences. This position provides strategic leadership for a portfolio of scientific conferences and educational programs, including Epidemiology and Lifestyle (EPI/Lifestyle), Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS), Vascular Discovery (VasD), Hypertension Scientific Sessions (HTN), and the ReSS Conference.

 

The Senior Program Lead is responsible for driving the growth, profitability, and long-term success of assigned conferences through strategic planning, volunteer engagement, staff leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. This role leads a team of program management professionals and works closely with volunteer leaders, strategic partners, and internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality scientific meetings that advance the Association's mission while meeting financial and operational objectives.

 

Success in this role is measured through conference growth, attendee satisfaction, volunteer engagement, operational excellence, revenue performance, and the development of innovative strategies that strengthen the Association's position as a leader in cardiovascular science and education.

 

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.

Responsibilities

Strategic Conference Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for a portfolio of specialty scientific conferences and educational programs.
• Develop and implement growth strategies to increase attendance, revenue, engagement, and market relevance.
• Establish long-term portfolio plans that align with organizational goals and emerging trends in cardiovascular science and professional education.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, new meeting formats, and enhanced attendee experiences.

Conference Performance and Growth

• Lead efforts to achieve annual attendance, revenue, and net revenue goals.
• Monitor conference performance metrics and implement improvement strategies as needed.
• Drive initiatives that improve attendee satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores (NPS).
• Analyze market trends, attendee feedback, and competitive data to inform business decisions.

Partnership and Stakeholder Development

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that expand conference reach, value, and impact.
• Collaborate with professional societies, academic institutions, and other external organizations to strengthen meeting programs and advance business objectives.
• Support initiatives that increase global engagement and broaden participation across scientific communities.

Volunteer and Committee Leadership

• Serve as a staff partner to volunteer leadership, scientific committees, and planning groups.
• Facilitate effective volunteer engagement and foster productive relationships with key stakeholders.
• Guide volunteers through strategic planning, program development, and decision-making processes.
• Ensure volunteer contributions align with conference objectives and organizational priorities.

Team Leadership and Staff Development

• Directly supervise program management staff members.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, performance management, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Establish priorities and allocate resources to ensure successful execution of conference objectives.

Budget and Financial Management

• Develop and manage conference budgets and financial forecasts.
• Monitor expenses, revenue, and overall conference profitability.
• Collaborate with finance, sponsorship, and meeting oper