Senior Director, Program and Health Equity

Senior Director, Program and Health Equity 

Full-Time 

The Cancer Support Community (CSC), an international nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., is seeking an ambitious and detail-oriented individual who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of people impacted by cancer for our Senior Director, Program and Health Equity position.  

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Director, Program and Health Equity is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and scale of high-impact cancer care programs across the organization’s national office and network of partners. This role serves as a senior program leader, accountable for building a strong, results-driven portfolio of programs that improve access, quality, and outcomes for patients and caregivers.

The Senior Director will drive program innovation, oversee national pilots and system-wide implementations, and ensure programs are executed consistently and effectively across partner sites. Working closely with internal teams, funders, and external partners, this role translates organizational strategy into scalable program models supported by strong operating frameworks, performance metrics, and continuous improvement.

The position also provides leadership for health equity initiatives, ensuring that programs are designed and delivered in ways that support broader access and better outcomes across diverse populations. Reporting to the Vice President, Cancer Care, the Senior Director plays a critical role in advancing CSC’s national program strategy while strengthening operational excellence and impact across the network.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the design, implementation, and scaling of cancer care programs across the national office and network of partner organizations.
• Develop and oversee a portfolio of programs, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, funder expectations, and performance standards, while driving consistency, quality, and impact across network partners.
• Lead the creation and execution of program strategies, implementation plans, and operating models that support national deployment and partner adoption.
• Direct program budgeting, forecasting, staffing, and resource allocation to ensure efficient and effective use of funds and personnel.
• Establish and manage performance measurement systems, including logic models, KPIs, and reporting frameworks, to monitor outcomes, evaluate effectiveness, and support continuous improvement.
• Guide select health equity initiatives by ensuring programs are designed and delivered in ways that expand access and improve outcomes for diverse patient populations.
• Build, lead, and support a high-performing team, providing coaching, performance management, and professional development to ensure strong execution and staff engagement.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with funders, healthcare partners, advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders to support program success and growth.
• Collaborate across departments to integrate program strategy, health equity principles, and operational requirements into digital platforms, educational content, and service delivery.
• Represent the organization in external meetings, conferences, and professional forums, communicating program strategy, outcomes, and impact to key audiences.
• Ensure compliance with funder, regulatory, and organizational requirements related to program delivery, reporting, and financial management.

Performs other duties as requested by management

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Program & Operational Leadership
  Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-site program portfolios, including the design, launch, and scale of national and partner-based initiatives. Strong skills in budgeting, forecasting, staffing, vendor management, and resource allocation to ensure programs are delivered on time, on budget, and at a high level of quality.
• Strategic & Analytical Thinking
  Ability to translate organizational priorities into actionable program strategies, implementation plans, and scalable operating models. Uses data, performance metrics, and stakeholder input to guide decisions, assess risks, and continuously improve program impact and reach.
  
• Program Strategy & Funding Alignment
  Strong capacity to align program strategy with funding priorities through concept development, proposal development, and grant support. Able to position programs for growth and sustainability by integrating funder expectations, organizational goals, and performance data.
  
• Leadership & Team Development
  Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and retain high-performing teams across multiple programs and workstreams. Skilled at setting priorities, establishing accountability, and fostering a collaborative, results-driven culture within a matrixed organization.
  
• Communication & Influence
  Highly effective communicator with the ability to engage and align senior leaders, funders, partners, and internal teams. Able to present program strategy, results, and priorities clearly and persuasively to support decision-making and organizational alignment.
  
• Collaboration & Relationship Building
  Strong ability to collaborate with advocacy partners, patients and caregivers, healthcare experts, and community organizations to inform program design and implementation. Skilled at representing CSC in external forums, stakeholder meetings, and professional conferences to build and sustain strategic partnerships.
• Program Infrastructure & Tools
  Proficient in Microsoft Office and program management platforms (e.g., Smartsheet or similar tools) to support planning, tracking, reporting, and cross-team coordination. Uses systems and standardized processes to drive transparency, efficiency, and scalability across the program portfolio.
  

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, required. Working knowledge of project management software (e.g., Smartsheet, Asana), preferred.

EDUCATION:

Master’s degree in social or behavioral sciences (e.g., Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, other related health services or social science field) 

EXPERIENCE: 

Minimum of five (5) years of program development and health equity experience. Preferable experience in cancer patient and caregiver program development and implementation and/or engaging medically underserved 
communities. 

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES/REGISTRATIONS:

CITI training certificate, or completion of CITI training within 3 months of hire, required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
Dependent on experience. In addition to a competitive base salary, we offer statutory benefits required by law.

WORK LOCATION
CSC has offices located in Washington D.C. and offers in-person, hybrid, or fully remote work for this position.

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit an original cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please tell us why you are interested in this opportunity and include your qualifications and potential start date.

*Applications are accepted and considered on a rolling basis.
*Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

ABOUT CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY
The mission of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) is to uplift and strengthen people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care. Backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes social and emotional support, CSC offers a menu of personalized services and education for patients and families affected by all types of cancer. CSC provides the highest quality emotional and social support through a network of over 200 locations in 50 markets worldwide, including CSC and Gilda's Club centers as well as healthcare partnerships. These locations, along with a toll- free helpline, digital services, and award-winning education materials, provide more than $50 million in free support services to patients and families each year. We believe in equity for all, including in health care, and fight every day to ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect and have the opportunity to live healthy and safe lives — physically, mentally, and emotionally. For more information, visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org

Cancer Support Community is an Equal Opportunity Employer