[Hiring] Associate Director, Nutrition & Wellness @American Diabetes Association

Role Description

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is seeking an Associate Director, Nutrition & Wellness to join our Science and Health Care team. Reporting to the Senior Director of Nutrition & Wellness, the Associate Director supports the advancement of the American Diabetes Association's nutrition and wellness priorities through partnership management, program implementation, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional collaboration. This role is responsible for managing key components of the Better Choices for Life® program and related Nutrition & Wellness funded initiatives.

The Associate Director manages partnerships, funded projects, compliance activities, research translation efforts, and program operations that position the Association as a trusted authority in food, nutrition, and diabetes care. This individual collaborates closely with Corporate Relations, Marketing, Community Engagement, and external partners to execute strategic priorities, support revenue-generating opportunities, and deliver measurable impact. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, results-oriented professional with experience managing partnerships, implementing complex initiatives, translating evidence into practice, and engaging diverse stakeholders across healthcare, food, wellness, and nonprofit sectors.

Responsibilities

• Partnership Management & Program Growth
  • Manage day-to-day operations, client relationships, and implementation activities for the Better Choices for Life® program and related nutrition and wellness initiatives.
  • Support the identification, cultivation, and management of partnerships that align with the Association's mission, scientific standards, and revenue objectives.
  • Collaborate with Corporate Relations and internal stakeholders to support sponsorship, funding, and engagement opportunities.
  • Serve as a nutrition subject matter expert during partner/sponsor evaluations and program implementation.
  • Coordinate development and execution of sponsored nutrition and wellness content, campaigns, and engagement activities across multiple platforms.
• Nutrition Standards, Scientific Integrity & Compliance
  • Review products, services, and partnership opportunities against established nutrition and wellness criteria to support compliance with Association standards.
  • Monitor ongoing partner, product, and program compliance with ADA nutrition standards, sponsorship requirements, contractual obligations, and approved use of ADA intellectual property; proactively identify risks, address compliance concerns, and coordinate corrective actions with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Maintain evidence-based eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures supporting nutrition-related partnership programs.
  • Develop educational resources, stakeholder communications, and internal guidance related to nutrition standards and compliance requirements.
  • Monitor emerging nutrition science, food & retail industry trends, and regulatory developments and provide recommendations to leadership.
• Measurement & Reporting
  • Track and report program outcomes, partnership performance, and impact measures.
  • Analyze data and develop reports, presentations, and recommendations for leadership and external stakeholders.
  • Support development and maintenance of dashboards and performance measurement tools.
  • Assist with consumer insights, outcomes measurement, and evaluation activities to better understand the needs of people living with diabetes.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Health Sciences, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in nutrition, wellness, healthcare, nonprofit programs, partnership management, or project leadership.
• Experience working with food and wellness industry partners.
• Expertise in diabetes prevention, management, research translation, and nutrition science.
• Knowledge of sponsorship compliance, scientific substantiation, and health-related claims review.
• Experience managing partnerships, sponsorship activities, grants, or funded programs.
• Experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the food, health, wellness, and healthcare landscape.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentations, reports, and stakeholder communications.
• Experience tracking outcomes, performance metrics, and program evaluation activities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to leverage emerging technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with consumer insights or outcomes evaluation.
• Experience supervising consultants, vendors, interns, or project teams.
• Experience working in a cross-functional remote environment.

Benefits

• Industry competitive base pay. Base offers are determined by several factors including but not limited to your relevant work experience, education, certifications, location, internal pay equity, etc.
• 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 full 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.