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 looking to hire a passionate Community Program Director, Health Equity.  The Program Director will be responsible for working closely with health centers, community organizations, and community stakeholders to drive health equity with a special focus on hypertension or factors impacting chronic disease such as nutrition, healthcare access and health literacy. Responsible for providing tools, engagement, and leadership to support systemic changes and plan health promotion activities with the objective of improving access to quality care and reducing barriers to health.    

This is a Fixed Term position with funding through December 31, 2026

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 our company culture, our way of life, reflecting our diversity, equity & inclusion, our focus on work-life harmonization and our Guiding Values. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued™ at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and at heart.jobs.

• The Community Program Director will lead operations to establish systematic community-based blood pressure screening, education, and referral interventions. The Director will also ensure coverage and support of self-monitoring blood pressure and introduce and encourage food security screening and referral in health centers and community organizations.

   

  Additional duties include designing and facilitating opportunities and events for community-based organizations and direct service providers to provide wellness tools and training to their constituents. Also, enabling organizations to build health and wellness skills such as culinary skills, health literacy, general health education, as well as focused opportunities to address health issues such as blood pressure self-management, nutrition education, physical activity, and stress management.

  • Engage HRSA funded and other health centers in systems change work and participation in outpatient quality programs focused on improving blood pressure management and addressing other barriers.
  • Facilitate dialogue and listening sessions to better understand the community’s needs. Collaborate to create an action plan addressing racial and ethnic health disparities and driving health equity in the community. Implement assessment plans to evaluate the environment, identify opportunities for action, and engage in sustainable, systemic changes in a community.
  • Identify, recruit and facilitate local cross sector leaders to participate in an engagement council and provide a forum to inform ongoing work.
  • Ensure local opportunities are aligned with the American Heart Association’s broader advocacy, quality, and mission related agenda at the state and region level. Activate support for public policy opportunities.

  Volunteer Responsibilities include:

  • Facilitating the identification, recruitment and selection of appropriate volunteers to lead the board and committee activities required to drive results in achieving the mission and strategic objectives of the association
  • Communicating, building relationships, gaining trust and effectively working with and through volunteers
  • Training and developing volunteers
  • Complete succession planning for key volunteer positions
  • Communicate strategic direction and provide consultation to volunteer committees and Board members
  • Inspire change through volunteers
  • Measuring and increasing engagement and motivation of volunteers at all levels
  • Effectively assessing and leveraging volunteer skill sets and interests by developing and utilizing volunteer roles in meaningful ways
  • Proactively and effectively communicating across diverse audience of volunteers
  • Instilling a spirit and feeling of belonging with volunteers

• 3 years of relevant experience with community/public health issues and/or managing community/public health promotion or related educational programs or equivalent type experience 
  
  
• Proven ability to recruit, mobilize and manage volunteers, including C-suite level executives.
  
  
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills in assessing the local market environment and available resources to successfully implement new and existing programs.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to manage large projects and events ensuring deadline compliance.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently participate in a multi-disciplinary team environment working towards common goals with internal and external clients. Ability to influence team members without supervisory authority.
  
  
• Ability to do daily local travel up to 75%; requires access to reliable transportation at all times.  
  
  
• Ability to lift and/or move large objects (such as boxes) with the expectation that heavier items would be broken down into smaller components or requesting additional assistance may be required before lifting and/or moving
  
  
• Must have at least basic knowledge and skill/proficiency with Microsoft Office

Here are some of the preferred experience and skills we are seeking:

• Experience working with multicultural communities preferred.
  
  
• Knowledge of the social determinants of health (SDOH) as it relates to behavior modification through self-care activities and policy/system-wide changes.
  
  
• Understanding of local health systems, relationships with hospitals, health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers preferred.
  
  
• Bachelor’s or some college plus experience preferred.

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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 by merit increases and incentive programs, 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 AHA 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. We're committed to ensuring our workforce, workplace culture and mission have a shared impact across a diverse set of backgrounds.

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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