Senior Program Lead, Professional Education, Specialty Conferences 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. The AHA Life 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.
Responsibilities:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Develop and manage conference budgets and financial forecasts.
Monitor expenses, revenue, and overall conference profitability.
Collaborate with finance, sponsorship, and meeting operations teams to maximize financial performance.
Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while maintaining program quality.
Oversee the planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of assigned conferences and educational initiatives.
Ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and according to established quality standards.
Coordinate activities across multiple internal departments and external vendors.
Communicate project status, risks, and outcomes to leadership and stakeholders.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.5 years of relevant experience
- Demonstrated experience managing scientific conferences, association meetings, or professional education programs.
- Experience supervising professional staff and leading high-performing teams.
- Experience developing and managing budgets and financial performance.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
- Experience working effectively with volunteers, committees, and multiple stakeholder groups.
- Excellent communication, relationship management, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience within a medical, scientific, healthcare, or professional association environment.
Experience supporting scientific advisory groups or volunteer leadership structures.
Experience developing strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships.
Demonstrated success achieving conference attendance, revenue, and attendee satisfaction goals.
Compensation & Benefits:
The expected pay range will be $90,000 to $100,000. 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; based on 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. Heart U 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. 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 DisabilitiesLI-Hybrid
