National Senior Director, Partner Relations
Witt/Kieffer, tampa, fl, United States
National Senior Director, Partner Relations
Description
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and mission-driven development professional to serve as National Senior Director, Partner Relations. The is a senior leadership role responsible for portfolio-level revenue oversight, operational excellence, and scalable growth across the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) multi-million-dollar corporate partnership and grants portfolio, specifically focused on science, pharmaceutical and medical industry based collaborations across diabetes, prediabetes and obesity impact areas in the US and globally.
This role provides strategic and operational leadership across senior revenue-owning roles, including National Director(s) and Director-level Partner Relations staff, ensuring consistency, performance, and sustainability as the portfolio continues to scale beyond $50M+ annually.
Working in close partnership with the Vice President of Partner Relations, the Senior Director serves as the architect and steward of the Partner Relations operating model—driving disciplined portfolio management, strengthening internal systems and processes, and enabling high-performing account leadership across pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and healthcare partners.
While the National Senior Director owns and executes individual high-value partner relationships, theyensurethe portfolio functions as an integrated, high-performing engine, balancing growth, risk, renewal strength, and internal readiness to support ADA’s national and global priorities across diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic health.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Portfolio Leadership & Revenue Governance
- Provide senior oversight across multiple Partner Relations high level portfolios, including those led by National Director(s), ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, revenue targets, and partner priorities.
- Cultivate and expand long-term, high-value relationships with leading pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device partners, generating new and expanded seven-figure opportunities.
- Lead independently and alongside Vice President of Partner Relations to develop and negotiate new multi-year, seven-figure agreements aligned with ADA’s mission, programs, and business priorities.
- Maintain accountability for portfolio-level revenue performance across various type of agreements ($50M+ annually), including forecasting, diversification, renewal strength, and risk mitigation.
- Review, guide, and challenge account strategies, deal structures, renewal pathways, and multi-year growth plans for high-value partnerships prior to executive approval.
- Ensure consistency in partner value propositions, pricing logic, engagement models, and stewardship standards across portfolios.
Revenue Growth Enablement
- Work closely with Subject Matter Experts and Portfolio Leaders across various internal Departments to develop new concepts and develop strategic approaches for new asks.
- Enable and support senior leaders in identifying, structuring, and closing complex, multi-year, seven-figure partnerships.
- Partner with the Vice President of Partner Relations on strategic negotiations, escalations, and enterprise-level partner relationships as needed.
- Drive disciplined portfolio planning to balance near-term revenue delivery with long-term partnership sustainability and growth.
- Support expansion into new funding models, therapeutic areas, and partnership structures aligned with ADA’s strategic pillars.
Operating Model & Process Ownership
- Own and continuously improve the Partner Relations operating model, including proposal intake, prioritization, internal review, approval pathways, contracting readiness, and execution handoffs.
- Develop and implement scalable systems, tools, templates, and playbooks to improve proposal quality, speed-to-contract, and internal coordination.
- Identify operational bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and execution risks; proactively design and implement solutions.
- Ensure readiness for growth as proposal volume, partner complexity, and revenue targets increase.
Leadership, Management & Talent Development
- Provide direct oversight, coaching, and strategic guidance to National Director-level Partner Relations staff.
- Serve as a primary escalation point for complex portfolio decisions, cross-functional dependencies, and resourcing challenges.
- Mentor senior team members on strategic account planning, executive engagement, negotiation readiness, and portfolio thinking.
- Oversee content development and presentation when communicating with partners to ensure content and reporting remains aligned to partnership goals and vision.
- Partner with the Vice President of Partner Relations to assess staffing models, role design, and future capacity needs to support growth.
Cross-Functional Integration & Execution Excellence
- Ensure strong coordination across Science & Health Care, Advocacy, Quality and Access, Marketing, Legal/Finance, PMO, and Operations to deliver high-quality, funder-aligned programs.
- Champion internal clarity on roles, responsibilities, timelines, and decision rights across the partnership lifecycle.
- Support consistent, high-quality stewardship, reporting, and partner engagement across portfolios.
- Represent ADA with credibility and professionalism in senior-level internal and external settings as appropriate.
Market Intelligence & Strategic Positioning
- Maintain a portfolio-level view of the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and healthcare landscape, including market trends, therapeutic pipelines, and competitive dynamics.
- Translate market intelligence into portfolio strategy, growth priorities, and partnership innovation opportunities.
- Support ADA’s positioning as a premier convener, thought leader, and partner of choice for industry leaders committed to diabetes, obesity, and health equity.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, MHA, MS, PhD) or equivalent work experience strongly preferred.
- 10–15 years of progressive experience in corporate partnerships, strategic account management, business development, or revenue leadership within healthcare, life sciences, or healthcare nonprofit sectors.
- Demonstrated success overseeing large, complex partnership portfolios with aggregate revenue of $50M+ annually with strategic withs seven-figures proposals development.
- Proven ability to design and scale operating models, processes, and systems that support revenue growth.
- Strong strategic, financial, and operational acumen with experience guiding senior revenue leaders.
Strongly Preferred
- Deep familiarity with diabetes, obesity, cardiometabolic care, or adjacent therapeutic areas.
- Experience working with pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, or digital health partners.
- Experience and understanding of compliance and legal requirements in the industry.
- Track record of managing and mentoring senior-level partnership or business development leaders.
- Experience with multi-year agreements, complex negotiations, and enterprise-level partnerships.
- Exposure to clinical research, quality improvement, population health, or health equity initiatives.
Core Competencies
- Portfolio-level strategic leadership
- Revenue governance and growth enablement
- Operating model design and optimization
- Senior stakeholder and executive influence
- Cross-functional leadership and decision-making
- Financial and commercial acumen
- Ability to scale systems in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
Other Requirements
- Commitment to ADA’s mission to improve the lives of people with diabetes and obesity and to advance innovation and equity in care.
- Ability to travel as needed (estimated 25–30%) to cultivate partner relationships and support revenue goals.
WHY WORK HERE
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) offers a rewarding career working for one of the premier voluntary health organizations in the world supporting people with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Our employees like working at the ADA because of our mission, the inclusive environment, work-life balance, our benefits and our culture:
- Industry competitive base pay ranging from $140,000 - $150,000 for this role. Base offers are determined by several factors including but not limited to your relevant work experience, education, certifications, location, internal pay equity, etc.
- This position is eligible to participate in the Development Incentive Program.
- A culture of recognition including new hire welcome announcements, service anniversary awards, referral bonuses, monthly All Employee Assembly, appreciation awards.
- Generous Paid Time Off, including holidays, vacation days, personal days and sick days.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), disability & life insurance, pet insurance and retirement savings.
- Guided by our mission, we provide top tier diabetes supply coverage through our medical benefits program.
- A company focus on offering mental health programs and work/life balance with most of our employees working remote.
- Joining our dedicated team affords the gratification of knowing beyond a doubt that you will impact the lives and well-being of millions.
Req Number DEV-
Location Remote, US - Nationwide Posting Location
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time
Category Development
EOE Statement It is the policy of the American Diabetes Association to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
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