Description

The Associate Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships is responsible for advancing the American Kidney Fund's (AKF) mission by implementing outreach strategies, managing health disparity initiatives, and supporting strategic partnerships. This role ensures that patients, health care professionals, community partners, and underserved populations, specifically those disproportionately affected by kidney disease, receive accessible, culturally responsive education and engagement opportunities. Reporting to the Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, this position plays a central role in operationalizing AKF's Kidney Health for All® (KHFA) initiatives. KHFA focuses on prevention, community engagement, partnerships, and access to care across the kidney care continuum.

The Associate Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships works collaboratively with AKF's KHFA Coalition to co-develop solutions aligned with community needs and shared priorities. This position ensures coalition-driven strategies are the foundation for KHFA program and resource development, implementation, and continuous improvement. This position also supports the expansion of AKF's strategic partnerships and community engagement to ensure strong visibility and relationship development. This position works closely with colleagues across the Office of Strategic Partnerships, Research and Education, Office of Communications and Marketing, Office of Development, Office of Government Affairs, and Business Operations to ensure alignment, operational excellence, and meaningful results.

Additionally, the role provides strategic, analytical, and programmatic management to help guide decision making and continuous improvement across AKF. As a key contributor within the Office of Strategic Partnerships, Research and Education, the Associate Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships helps strengthen organizational impact through effective collaboration, innovation, and mission driven leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Kidney Health for All (50%)
Manage and support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of AKF's Kidney Health for All initiatives.

• Work with Director to implement AKF's programmatic vision for prevention, community engagement, partnerships, and care access across the kidney care continuum.
• Assist the Director in the governance, engagement, and execution of KHFA Coalition and ad hoc workgroups.
• Facilitate development of solutions with coalition members, leveraging subject matter expertise to information program direction.
• Lead formative research, program plans, content development, implementation, and evaluation for KHFA deliverables ensuring associated deadlines are met.
• Apply insights from community-informed research (e.g., Hispanic/Latino populations) to design and implement culturally responsive strategies.
• Support governance and continuous improvement of the KHFA microsite content and functionality.
• Provide support to Kidney Health Coach program implementation related to KHFA initiatives.
• Edit, review and fact checks educational content, materials and communications developed for AKF websites, social media, newsletters, emails, videos, guides, webinars, blog posts, etc.
• Ensure all KHFA materials and initiatives align with health literacy, plain language, and cultural humility best practices.
• Monitor trends in kidney disease, population health, and public health education to identify opportunities for innovation and program enhancement.

Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement (30%)
Support partnership cultivation and external engagement to build community trust, facilitate education and resource sharing to broaden reach.

• Support relationship building efforts with national, regional and community partners, sponsors, and vendors.
• Assist in identifying and developing partnership opportunities with both traditional and non-traditional organizations.
• Contribute to grassroots outreach and community-based initiatives aligned with KHFA priorities.
• Create and deliver polished, customized presentations to internal staff and external audiences such as leaders of private and public organizations, lay community groups, potential and existing partners, and sponsors.
• Collaborate with vendors to develop content development, design graphics, translate, and review materials in English and Spanish.
• Manage cultural adaptation and translation of content considering language, culture, and context of AKF audiences, specifically Spanish-speaking communities.
• Contribute to the development of abstracts, posters, and exhibit materials for conferences and events.
• Represent AKF at conferences, community events, and outreach activations to expand program reach and engagement.

Teamwork (15%)
Manage team performance and foster collaboration across the organization.

• Supervise work, performance, and evaluation of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Specialists and/or interns.
• Support budget planning and manage program expenses within budgetary parameters.
• Collaborate across departments, including Communication, Development, Government Affairs and Business Operations to ensure initiatives meet the needs of the entire organization.
• Draft, edit and assist with developing related business documents such as proposals, memoranda of understanding, letters of agreement, project summaries, and reports.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Additional responsibilities as determined by the supervisor or OSPRE leadership.

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's degree in public health, health education, community health, behavioral science, or related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in public health, health education, or non-profit sector.
• At least 1-2 years of experience supervising staff, interns, or volunteers.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Skilled in effective partner engagement and development.
• Must be well-organized and detail oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong project and program management skills. Must be able to conceptualize, plan, execute and evaluate programs and initiatives.
• Demonstrated understanding of the impact of health disparities on chronic disease prevalence among communities of color, specifically in relation to diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease.
• Experience developing culturally responsive and health literacy informed programs and materials.
• Strong written and verbal communication across diverse audiences.
• Excellent professional/technical communication skills, both verbal and written; with experience corresponding with various levels of professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt effectively to changing priorities while delivering exceptional customer service.
• Maintains and shares knowledge of current trends and developments in the field through reading professional literature and journals, and by attending related seminars and conferences.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of workplace professionalism and etiquette.
• Ability to lift materials and boxes up to 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends.

Preferred

• Master's degree in public health or applicable discipline.
• CPH, CHES/MCHES, CDCES, or PMP certification.

COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Thinking and Execution
• Program and Project Management
• Health Equity and Cultural Humility
• Community Engagement and Outreach
• Coalition Building and Partner Stewardship
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Analytical Decision-Making and Evaluation
• Collaboration and Team Leadership
• Adaptability and Problem Solving

The salary range displayed is for a successful candidate hired in the DMV area. The salary range may be adjusted to reflect cost of living factors for candidates living outside of this location.

Employee benefits:

In addition to your competitive salary, paid holidays, vacation, sick and personal days; health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance and disability coverages; and a generous matching 403(b) retirement plan, we'll shower you with perks, including:

• Culture: We ensure our team knows how much they are valued, as demonstrated by our Quality Work Environment (QWE) Task Force and employee-led recognition and social events throughout the year.
• Compressed work week: Start the weekend early with shorter workdays on Fridays-closing at 3 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day and 2 p.m. in the summer.
• Flexibility: Employees work from home most of the time with 1-4 days a month in the office.
• Clear expectations: You'll know what you need to do to succeed; annual raises and bonuses for all employees are based on your performance.
• Location: Convenient location and a short walk to the popular Pike and Rose shopping center
• Parking: Arrive and leave work comfortably, thanks to an underground parking garage whose cost is paid for by AKF. Metro subsidies are provided for those who do not drive.
• Dress code: Business casual through the week and casual on Fridays.

AKF offers a hybrid work schedule with employees working in the office 1-4 days per month and telework the rest of the time.