Job Title: Vice President of Community Programs and Education 

Category: Full-time, Exempt 

Reports to: President and CEO 

Location: Remote (HQ in Kansas City, MO) 

About PKD 

The PKD Foundation is the only organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and improving the lives of those it affects. Since 1982, we have proudly funded $50 million in PKD research and leveraged $1.5 billion in government funding while serving our local communities across the country. We are inspired by our mission and driven by our vision. Our vision is to #endPKD.   

Position Summary: 

The Vice President of Community Programs and Education will provide leadership in scientific, clinical, and strategic planning of our patient centric care programs to drive impact on a national scale. They will be responsible for the visioning, development, and implementation of programmatic strategies designed to advance the Foundation’s mission, values and vision. This senior leader will be instrumental in enhancing and expanding our clinical care program offerings, which stand on three pillars: understanding PKD through research, ensuring better care for all individuals with PKD, and educating and empowering the community. They will ensure these programs align with the organization’s mission, work collaboratively with the Growth team to secure funding, and lead with empathy, equity, and innovation to guarantee exceptional long-term patient-centered outcomes. The Vice President will also oversee and mentor a team of at least one direct report, fostering a collaborative environment that promotes professional growth and high performance. The Vice President of Community Programs and Education is a member of the PKD Leadership Team who is committed to the belief that the best way to provide PKD-centered care is through patient-focused, comprehensive care with the coordination and support of an integrated care team guided by patient navigation services. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Lead Centers of Excellence program design and management, including designation, funding, and compliance requirements. 

• Provide strategic guidance and oversight to ensure Centers of Excellence provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care and support services for individuals with PKD. 

• Contribute to efforts to translate and encourage the adoption of care standards established by external partners. 

• Responsible for annual conference planning in partnership with program chairs, advisory groups, and internal collaborators. 

• Develop annual progress report requirements for core mission programs.  

• Support the growth of core mission programs by encouraging applications of new partner clinics and local community engagement research initiatives.  

• Partner with industry stakeholders to drive innovation and improve clinical outcomes for PKD patients. 

• Develop and operationalize comprehensive education strategies tailored for clinicians and patients/families, grounded in regular needs assessments. 

• Translate needs assessment findings into actionable educational programs that address the evolving needs of the PKD community. 

• Engage with professional societies, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to raise awareness of PKD and advocate for the needs of individuals affected by the disease. 

• Identify opportunities for collaboration, joint advocacy efforts, and knowledge-sharing initiatives with societal partners to advance PKD research and patient care. 

• Represent the PKD Foundation in relevant forums, conferences, and stakeholder meetings to promote collaboration and foster partnerships. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Ideal Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in public health, or other health and human services related field required.  

• Seven plus years’ progressive leadership experience in program management, preferably within the nonprofit, health, or scientific research sectors. 

• Demonstrated expertise in medical education, clinician guidelines, equity-driven initiatives, or educational leadership. 

• Experience managing budgets and collaborating with fundraising teams to ensure the sustainability and growth of program initiatives. 

• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and drive strategic goals with a balance of empathy and accountability. 

• A strategic thinker with a track record of driving innovation and solving complex challenges related to program implementation and impact. 

• Demonstrated familiarity with patient-centered research and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines 

• Committed to acquiring in-depth knowledge of the basics of ADPKD and ARPKD. 

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills  

• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, and vendor partners; high degree of professionalism.     

• Strong customer service skills and the ability to problem solve.  

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.  

• Strong organizational and project management skills; proficiency in managing multiple projects simultaneously.  

• Proven ability to work independently in a remote environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines, while also serving as a manager to a multi-person team.  

• Familiarity with remote office settings, including video communications (Zoom) and virtual meetings.  

Physical Demands: 

• Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time. 

• Use hands and arms, read, stoop, crouch, talk, hear, and see objects clearly at 20 inches or less. 

• Lift and move items weighing up to 20 lbs. 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Work Location and Travel Requirements: 

• Position is remote, home-based, available in any U.S. state.  

• Employees must have dedicated workspace free from distractions. 

• The workspace should be large enough to work efficiently and have reliable internet and phone connectivity 

• Employees residing outside of the Kansas City Metro must live within reasonable proximity to a major airport hub for required travel.  

• Travel to several professional conferences annually.  

• Occasional business travel will be required to the PKD Foundation office in Kansas City, Missouri.  

Benefits*: 

 
We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive compensation (commensurate with experience), in addition to a benefits package including:  

• Employer paid medical benefits including healthcare, dental, and vision for individual.  

• Employer funded HSA (for those who elect a HDHP)  

• Life insurance and disability insurance  

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with 12% employer contribution, no match required, after six months of continuous service  

• 11+ paid Holidays and 20 PTO days per year  

• Paid Half-day Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day 

• Remote work environment, with a collaborative business center available to employees local to the Kansas City metro area as needed.   

*Benefits are subject to board review annually and may change.  

As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, PKDF provides a range of minimum compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Multiple   

factors may be used to determine your salary, including: your specific skills and experience, physical location, or other relevant factors. The salary range for this position may be lower or higher in different markets.