Senior Program Lead, Employer Strategy

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 excellent opportunity for a National Senior Program Lead, Employer Strategy for the Health Care by Food Initiative with our National Center.  The location of the selected candidate is flexible and remote.

 

 This is a full-time, benefits eligible, grant-funded opportunity, current funding is through June 2028.

 

The Senior Program Lead, Employer Strategy will lead and coordinate the American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food™ (HCXF) efforts to advance Food Is Medicine (FIM) integration within self-insured employer settings. This role will drive strategy, implementation, and evaluation efforts in partnership with national collaborators, while also leading the creation of a multi-employer learning collaborative to accelerate adoption of evidence-based approaches. The ideal candidate will be skilled at building partnerships, identifying shared priorities, and translating insights into scalable strategies for employers.

 

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 Leadership and Partnership Engagement

• Lead strategic planning and execution of Association’s FIM strategy for self-insured employers.
• Serve as a key liaison to collaborators, ensuring alignment and strategic focus.
• Support business development efforts by identifying new employer partnerships, cultivating relationships, and articulating shared value propositions.
• Coordinate FIM implementation efforts that advance both public health impact and employer benefit design innovation.

Convening and Learning Collaborative Facilitation

• Launch and manage a national learning collaborative of employers and stakeholders focused on evidence sharing, peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Design and facilitate convenings, working sessions, and content strategy to ensure value to participants and alignment with HCXF priorities.
• Promote an environment of shared learning and continuous improvement among participating employers.

Implementation Science and Program Support

• Guide employers in applying implementation science principles to test, evaluate, and improve FIM benefit models.
• Assess program outcomes, including employee engagement, clinical indicators, and cost-effectiveness.
• Identify gaps in data infrastructure and business intelligence to inform future program refinement.
• Support contracting, budgeting, and coordination of operational elements as needed.

Knowledge Development and Dissemination

• Develop tools, case studies, and actionable resources to help employers adopt and sustain FIM programs.
• Represent the Association and HCXF in employer-facing forums and thought leadership platforms.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent; Business, Health Administration, or related field preferred.
• Five (5) years of experience in business development, population health, or healthcare innovation. Seven (7) years preferred.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing learning collaboratives or communities of practice.
• Validated ability to cultivate and manage cross-sector partnerships, especially in corporate or health system settings.
• Strong knowledge of implementation science and real-world application in complex settings.
• Strong leadership skills, ability to execute projects to completion and ability to operate in a matrix work environment.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and project management skills.
• Familiarity with Food Is Medicine or nutrition-related