The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland
Alexandria, Virginia
Posted: 05-Feb-26
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Preferred Education:
Are you interested in making a world of difference in cancer care?
Cancer strikes more than 10 million people worldwide each year. As the leading medical society representing doctors who care for people with cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is committed to conquering cancer through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality care.
Who we are:
ASCO is a flexible, high-performance membership organization where employees collaborate to support our mission through evidence, care, and impact. Together with Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, we foster a culture that prioritizes customer-centricity, emphasizes teamwork, and commits to quality. Our culture, ASCO Works – Our Way of Working, has long enabled workplace flexibility and embraced technology to help us achieve balance.
ASCO offers competitive salaries, an excellent benefits package, and opportunities to participate in professional development programs. To learn what it’s like to work at ASCO, click here.
Who we are looking for:
ASCO is hiring for a new and exciting role as Director, Patient Community and Professional Relations to provide strategic direction for ASCO’s engagement with the community of people living with cancer and cancer survivors, caregivers and organizations, and serve as a facilitator for mission-based professional relationships.
This position will be key in leading the management of patient engagement programming and acts as the primary liaison to coordinate collaborations with professional oncology organizations. The Director harmonizes cross-functional efforts to ensure meaningful engagement with external partners and maximize collective impact across ASCO’s strategic pillars: research, education, and quality.
This position is hybrid with a primary location in Alexandria, VA. We anticipate the hire to be onsite approximately 2-3 days per week.
Responsibilities
- Develop the engagement strategy for external oncology professional organizations and serve as the central operational liaison to execute Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and facilitate cross-departmental collaborations that support ASCO’s mission.
- Lead the strategic direction, design, and execution of ASCO’s Patient Advocacy Engagement, including the implementation of the 2025 ASCO Framework for Engagement with the Patient Community and the oversight of annual meeting programming, networking events, and international initiatives.
- Ensure the systematic infusion of the patient voice across the organization by directing representation of patient perspectives on ASCO panels, advisory groups, editorial boards, and volunteer committees to advance research and care quality.
- Cultivate and maintain high-impact relationships within the cancer patient community serving as the primary liaison to patient organizations to strengthen partnerships and align goals.
- Collaborate with internal departments to create and manage content focused on the cancer patient community across ASCO’s research, policy, quality, and education pillars.
- Manage the cross-departmental budget and sponsorship lifecycle for patient community engagement and non-profit partnerships, including tracking requests, establishing approval criteria, and reporting annual data to executive leadership.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelors degree in public health or equivalent years of experience.
- 8+ years of related experience, including working in or with patient advocacy or patient community.
- Experience managing strategic partnerships or coalitions, including the implementation of formal agreements (such as MOUs) with professional organizations or external stakeholders.
- Proven success in engaging diverse stakeholders, including patient advocates and professional medical associations, to establish strategic partnerships that advance key organizational goals. Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership and program management.
- Proven ability to manage budgets.
Preferred Education and Experience
- A master's degree in a relevant field such as public health or related experience in non-profit management; or work within professional medical associations. Familiarity with the landscape of oncology professional organizations and their intersection with patient care delivery.
- Demonstrated ability to liaison across multiple internal departments (e.g., Meetings, Education, Member Services, Policy and Advocacy, Research) to operationalize external partnership goals.
- Direct experience working with patient advocates in a cancer-specific context, including engagement with patient navigators and support organizations.
- Knowledge of cancer-specific research and clinical trials.
- Experience in building and involvement with cancer-focused organizations and initiatives.
Competencies
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly convey information in different communication methods for external and internal audiences.
- Strong leadership and managerial/supervisory skills with the ability to delegate, motivate, and develop staff.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skill.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines, prioritize, and multi-task.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- The ability to collect and analyze information, problem-solve, and make decisions with sound judgment.
- The ability to determine goals and priorities and to assess the actions, time and resources needed to achieve those goals.
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
- Business Acumen within a corporate, professional association or non-profit organization.
ADA/Physical Requirements
Must lift up to 10 lbs
Extended periods seated or standing at a desk.??
High use of computer and other office technology equipment.?
Travel
6-10 days/year
Generous Benefits Package:
- Hybrid Work Environment
- Open Leave Policy
- Paid Family Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays per Calendar Year
- Staff Appreciation Days
- 401(k): 7.5% Employer Contribution
- Medical/Dental/Vision
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fertility and Family Forming
- Healthcare Concierge
- Flexible Spending Account(s)
- Healthcare Savings Account
- Disability and Life Insurance
Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The job posting will remain active throughout the candidate application evaluation process.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, and religion.
