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.

We have an excellent opportunity for an Executive Director in Knoxville, TN. This position will work with the highest-level corporate executives in the territory to become key leadership volunteers, corporate partners, and board members while supervising a team of field campaign development staff and community health staff.

We offer a base salary with the potential to earn an incentive up to 25% of your base pay. The potential incentive is based on achieving certain revenue targets and triggers.

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.

As the Executive Director, you will be responsible for:

• Supervising, developing, and mentoring fundraising implementers.
• Achieving set revenue goals.
• Developing, implementing, integrating, and evaluating strategies and plans to achieve the region’s health impact goals.
• Developing and supporting community-wide strategies for the creation of a culture of health in the market.
• Supporting the achievement of the unrestricted field campaign through health asset sponsorships/activations and other means.
• Serving as the staff lead for the advisory Board of Directors and committees to impact mission engagement, revenue goals, and leadership recruitment for campaigns.
• Achieving mission and revenue initiatives to improve the cardiovascular health of our community.
• Developing and implementing a business plan of market growth through strategic market partnerships, key fundraising campaigns, and individual donors.
• Understanding and utilizing our policies, standard methodologies, technology, and systems.

In this role, you will report to the Senior Vice President and will lead a team within the Greater Knoxville Communities. Daily travel within the market is required.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 3 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, executive volunteer management, or corporate sales with 1 year of managerial experience preferably with fundraising staff in a similar organization.
• Experience working with community/public health issues.
• Ability to build powerful partnerships with corporate leaders and senior-level volunteers.
• Strong leadership skills to coach and mentor to our standard methodologies, timelines, and volunteer engagement practices to ensure revenue targets are reached.
• Track record of exceeding sales/fundraising goals and ensuring staff meet/exceed revenue goals.
• Knowledge and ability to identify, cultivate, recruit, and maintain relationships with top-level volunteers and partners.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and social skills.
• Ability to understand and navigate corporate cultures to achieve goals.
• Willingness to work outside standard hours as needed, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends.
• Ability and willingness to travel within your territory daily as well as occasional travel to other locations for meetings or training.

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.  This position is incentive eligible based on achieving certain targets.
  
• 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.

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