Program Director

Head and Neck Cancer Alliance — Program Director Job Description

Reports To: Executive Director

FLSA Status: Exempt, Full-Time

Location: Remote (U.S.-based; East coast hours); occasional travel required for conferences, partner meetings, and the annual Survivorship Symposium


Direct Reports: No direct reports currently; may include program coordinators, interns, and/or contract staff, as assigned, in the future

About the Alliance

The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance ("the Alliance") is a national nonprofit organization that provides hope and support to individuals affected by head and neck cancer; raises awareness about prevention and early detection; and advocates for improved patient outcomes. Core programs include Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Program, the annual Survivorship Symposium conference, the Ambassador Program, educational webinars, and patient and caregiver support services (including the financial assistance program, peer-to-peer mentoring, and online support communities).

Position Summary

The Program Director is a key member of the Alliance's leadership team, responsible for the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of the Alliance's programs. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Director ensures that the Alliance's programs advance the organization's mission, meet stated goals and outcomes, and reflect current best practices in patient support, awareness, survivorship care, and education. This role also serves as a visible external representative of the Alliance to partners, funders, healthcare professionals, and the broader head and neck cancer community.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management & Strategy


- Develop, implement, and evaluate the Alliance's core programs to ensure they advance the organization's mission and meet defined objectives and outcomes. Partner with a board liaison from the medical community to remain informed about head and neck cancer and emerging research and trends.
- Direct the annual Survivorship Symposium (patient conference) in partnership with clinical and academic collaborators, overseeing content development, speaker recruitment, logistics (in-person and virtual formats), site selection, and post-event evaluation. Oversee scope of work, hiring, and supervision of external event planner.
- Lead the Alliance's educational programming, including leading the Program Committee and scheduling regular meetings, identifying expert speakers and survivors, scheduling and planning webinars with assistance of external AV consultant, collaborating with marketing manager to drive outreach and registration.
- Manage the Ambassador Program, a group of 80+ survivor and caregiver volunteers, including recruitment, training, and connection to opportunities to represent the Alliance at speaking engagements, events, in the media, and in research initiatives. Maintain up-to-date training materials, monitor WhatsApp chat group, and respond to requests for Ambassador involvement by matching Ambassadors with activities.
- Lead planning and execution of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Program, a screening and education initiative; includes new site assistance, coordination of the materials/resources to sites, and development of screening kit resources.
- Oversee patient-facing support services, including the Peer-to-Peer mentor and the external partner (Imerman Angels) relationship, financial assistance program, and the Online Support Community, including training for community moderators.
- Establish and monitor program budgets, timelines, and performance metrics; report regularly on progress and outcomes to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.


Partnership & Funder Engagement


- Serve as a liaison to the Alliance's partner organizations, such as Imerman Angels, Inspire Online Support Community, American Cancer Society’s HPV Roundtable, dental organizations, and other allied patient advocacy organizations that interact with the Alliance’s programs. Serve on advisory boards and committees as needed.
- Represent the Alliance at conferences, advocacy meetings, and community events at the local and national level.


Organizational Leadership


- Serve as an active member of the Alliance's leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, annual goal-setting, and organization-wide decision-making.

- Uphold the key internal values of the Alliance team, including collaboration with trust, commitment to growth, work/life balance, and open communication.

- Supervise and support program staff, interns, and contractors as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Alliance's mission.


Qualifications


- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in public health, nonprofit management, healthcare administration, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in nonprofit program management, healthcare, or patient advocacy, including experience managing multiple concurrent programs.
- Demonstrated experience planning and executing conferences, symposia, or large-scale events, ideally in a healthcare or survivorship context.
- Experience working with volunteers, survivors, and/or patient populations with sensitivity, discretion, and compassion.
- Strong track record of building and managing partnerships with industry supporters, donors, healthcare institutions, clinicians, and nonprofit stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the organization professionally to diverse audiences.
- Strong project management skills, including budget oversight and outcome tracking.
- Proficiency with standard office, database, and virtual meeting technology; experience with CRM or donor/program databases a plus.
- Ability to travel periodically for conferences, partner meetings, and the Survivorship Symposium.
- Passion for the Alliance's mission and a commitment to serving the head and neck cancer community with empathy and integrity.


Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is a remote position requiring reliable home-office infrastructure, a dedicated working space, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with a distributed team. The role requires occasional travel, including multi-day trips for the Survivorship Symposium and other events, some of which may require standing, walking, and assisting with event setup. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. East coast office hours preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience and will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process. In lieu of health care and other benefits, the Alliance offers a competitive leave package and salary. Specific terms will be outlined in an offer of employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. The Alliance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including survivors and caregivers, to apply.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter describing their interest in and qualifications for this role to info@headandneck.org. We appreciate your interest and regret that we are unable to reply to every applicant; if your qualifications are a strong match, we will follow up to schedule an interview.