Director, Healthier Aging

American Hospital Association•Chicago, IL

2d•$126,000 - $190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is seeking a Director, Healthier Aging to provide strategic and operational leadership for its healthier aging portfolio. This role is responsible for advancing innovative, evidence-based approaches to improve the health, well-being, and care experiences of older adults across various settings nationwide. The Director will serve as the organizational lead for AHA's Healthier Aging strategy and ecosystem, overseeing externally funded initiatives, learning collaboratives, recognition programs, strategic partnerships, and implementation efforts focused on age-friendly care, dementia care, caregiver support, and workforce development. This includes overseeing the full lifecycle of complex national initiatives, managing budgets, ensuring compliance, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to secure funding and position AHA as a national leader in healthier aging.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Public health, terminal or clinical degree, administration, gerontology, nursing, population health, health policy, business administration, social work, implementation science or related field
7+ years Proven experience leading national initiatives focused on healthier aging, healthcare quality, care transformation, implementation science, or population health
5+ years Direct experience in age friendly health systems or gerontology
Extensive experience managing grants
Proven experience executing national health care initiatives
High-quality, excellent project management skills, including the ability to develop and execute workplans, communicate effectively with funders and external partners, coordinate the work of experts and consultants, and develop and manage complex budgets
Proven ability to interpret data collected to assess the impact of programs
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proven ability to effectively lead project teams
Direct experience in Age-Friendly Health Systems or Geriatric Care
Intermediate computer and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) skills
Experience learning new technologies and software
Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities and meet deadlines
Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team and independently

Nice To Haves

Strategic philanthropy
National or state learning collaboratives
AI or technology-enabled care transformation

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic direction, design, implementation, and growth of AHA's healthier aging portfolio.
Develop scalable implementation strategies that improve care delivery and outcomes for older adults while aligning with AHA/HRET strategic priorities.
Serve as the lead for the AHA Healthier Aging Ecosystem, convening internal and external stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, identify strategic opportunities, and accelerate adoption of evidence-based practices that improve the lives of older adults.
Build and maintain relationships with health systems, foundations, federal agencies, state hospital associations, industry partners, and national organizations to position the AHA as the trusted national convener on healthier aging.
Lead business development activities for the healthier aging portfolio by identifying new federal, philanthropic, corporate, and foundation funding opportunities, and contributing to proposal development, strategic partnerships, budgeting, and long-term sustainability planning.
Champion implementation science, human-centered design, technology enabled innovation, adult learning, and evidence-based care to develop implementation playbooks, toolkits, learning collaboratives, technical assistance programs, and national dissemination strategies that improve healthier aging across hospitals and health systems.
Oversee monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure effective data collection and utilization for measuring program outcomes and driving continuous improvement across designated initiatives.
Oversee the development of dashboards, impact reports, and funder-required documentation, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and compelling storytelling that highlights impact, successes and lessons learned across programs.
Lead the development and management of complex multi-year budgets for funded programs, ensuring alignment with HRET and AHA financial goals.
Ensure responsible stewardship of funds by maintaining compliance with government regulations, GAAP, AHA policies, and funder-specific requirements, while monitoring expenditures to support program sustainability and fiscal accountability.
Guide development of national thought leadership including educational resources, publications, webinars, conference presentations, executive briefings, implementation guides, and strategic communications that elevate AHA's leadership in healthier aging.
Provide direct oversight and supervision of project staff across multiple funded initiatives, aligning team resources with program goals and strategic priorities.
Support performance management, professional development, and engagement of senior managers, program managers, and other project team members.
Lead regular team planning, coaching, and feedback processes to cultivate a high-performing, accountable, and collaborative culture.
Partner with HR and senior leadership to recruit, onboard, and retain top talent; addresses performance issues proactively and fosters clear pathways for career growth within the organization.
Perform other duties as assigned.