Transplant Initiatives Director

Job Title: Transplant Initiatives Director
Location: Remote
Reports to: Vice President, Transplant Strategy & Programs
WHO WE ARE
Fueled by passion and urgency, National Kidney Foundation is a lifeline for all people affected by kidney disease. As pioneers of scientific research and innovation, NKF focuses on the whole patient through the lens of kidney health. Relentless in our work, we enhance lives through action, education, and accelerating change.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
NKF’s Mission is what we do, our Values are how we do it:
Accountability – Earn and Keep Trust
Collaboration – Work as a team
Communication – Empower with information
Community – Build stronger community
Compassion – Lead with care and respect
Impact – Focus on the mission
Your Voice Matters: https://www.kidney.org/about/diversity-equity-inclusion
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Reporting to the Vice President, Transplant Strategy & Programs, the Transplant Initiatives Director is responsible for the execution, accountability, measurement, and funder-readiness infrastructure supporting NKF's Transplants for All (T4A) initiative. This is a high-ownership individual contributor role for an experienced program/project management professional who can bring order, rigor, and follow-through to a cross-functional initiative across the national and local levels. The Director will also help generate the content that lets NKF tell the story of its impact, both internally and externally, requiring existing knowledge of the transplant and donation landscape to bring contextual expertise to the work.
The Director will work closely with Programs, Corporate Relations, Government Relations, NKF field offices, and other internal teams to ensure clear coordination on cross-functional projects and will be a key partner to the Vice President in preparing materials that support funder engagement, internal reporting, and external partnerships.
Execution & Accountability
Provide superior project management for major T4A projects, including meeting coordination and logistics, data analysis, and project management execution across multiple teams, including both state-level and national projects
Develop and maintain timelines for relevant projects, programs, and initiatives, ensuring deadlines and deliverables are met or exceeded
Own project and program communications across the initiative, including recurring operational cadences (internal leadership meetings, status check-ins, etc.), in partnership with the VP of Transplant Programs & Strategy
Founded in experience and knowledge of the transplant and donation space, provide input into NKF’s Transplants for All strategic planning process and contribute ideas for continually improving T4A efforts
Partnerships & Advisory Governance
Support the monitoring and coordination of ongoing transplant partnerships, programs, and projects, working with internal departments and external partners
Partner with NKF field offices and HQ teams to deploy the collective impact model locally and regionally, strengthening cross-sector collaboration and improving transplant access, navigation, and outcomes through core T4A projects and programs
Organize and manage logistics for NKF’s Transplant Advisory Committee, an external advisory board of leading kidney transplant and donation experts, including meeting and teleconference coordination, member support, and clear, continuous communication to maintain excellent relationships
Manage grant and research projects as identified, including assembling and submitting grant applications and providing logistical and project management support
Support budget tracking and reporting, as needed
Measurement & Impact System
Design and implement a measurement and impact framework for the T4A initiative, including defining core metrics, building tracking systems, and establishing reporting cadences that connect program activity to strategic outcomes
Continuously refine measurement approaches as the initiative evolves, ensuring data remains credible and useful across internal and external audiences, as well as aligned with organizational practices
Use data to identify emerging risks, gaps, and opportunities, proactively flagging these to the Vice President and relevant partners
Reporting & Impact Communications
Produce regular internal reports on transplant efforts, collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative program data from multiple sources and translating findings into clear, actionable insight for leadership
Generate the underlying content (project updates, metrics, outcomes narratives, and data) for external-facing impact reporting, funder updates, and donor materials, ensuring NKF’s transplant work is compellingly and accurately represented outside the organization
Develop materials to communicate initiative progress and key results to stakeholders, including PowerPoint decks, written reports, and other formats as needed, supporting external funder, partner, and leadership-facing conversations
Perform additional duties as required
WHAT YOU’LL POSSESS
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; Master’s in a health-related or social services field preferred
Minimum 5-7 years of related work experience managing complex projects or programs within a healthcare or nonprofit setting, with strong preference for previous experience in a transplant-related organization
Demonstrated experience building or running program performance/measurement systems and translating data into actionable reporting for leadership and external audiences
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience preparing materials for senior leadership, funders, or boards
Experience in executing research or grant-funded projects preferred
Excellent interpersonal, time-management, and organizational skills; able to manage multiple concurrent workstreams with minimal oversight
Fluent in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel analysis; open to and able to learn additional software tools, including experience with or interest in thoughtfully incorporating AI tools
Flexible for less than 10% overnight business travel, including occasional evening and weekend availability
Competencies:
Accountability: Takes ownership of actions, decisions, and results, ensuring high standards of performance and transparency
Collaboration: Collaborates effectively with peers and stakeholders, contributing to shared goals. Demonstrates openness to feedback and works across teams to achieve NKF’s mission
Cultural Humility: Demonstrates self-awareness and openness to learning from others, recognizing and valuing diverse perspectives, experiences, and cultures
Data-Driven Decision Making & Results Orientation: Utilizes accurate data to inform decisions, ensuring actions align with NKF’s strategic goals. Focuses on achieving results that drive NKF’s mission forward, setting ambitious goals and delivering outcomes
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion For All (DEI 4A): Actively contributes to creating an inclusive environment by respecting diversity and supporting equitable access to resources, care, and opportunities
Financial Acumen: Demonstrates financial literacy and effective resource management in support of NKF’s financial goals; supports budget tracking and reporting
Operational Excellence: Focuses on improving processes and operational efficiency to drive NKF’s strategic goals
Patient and Community-Centered Focus: Supports initiatives that prioritize the well-being of patients, living donors, care partners, and healthcare professionals, ensuring daily work reflects the needs of these groups
Resource Stewardship: Manages resources responsibly, balancing cost, quality, and sustainability to maximize impact
Stakeholder Engagement: Supports NKF’s mission by coordinating the efforts of volunteers, partners, and stakeholders; engages in project management activities to ensure smooth execution of initiatives and builds relationships that strengthen NKF’s impact
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
At the National Kidney Foundation, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity apply to both our workforce and the communities we serve as they relate to kidney health and kidney disease prevention. It is the policy of NKF to provide equality of employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, qualified handicap or disability, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender, political affiliation or veteran status, or any other factor or reason prohibited by relevant local, state, and federal fair employment laws.
The Equal Employment Opportunity policy will apply to all employment practices of NKF, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, layoffs, transfers, and discipline. Implementation of the Equal Employment Opportun

Work arrangement
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