Director of Support and Education

MDS Foundation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

401(k) with employer match

Flexible PTO

Generous holiday schedule

Remote-friendly environment

Job summary

The Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation seeks a Director of Support and Education to lead patient and caregiver engagement and worldwide education programs. You will shape strategy, develop resources, and collaborate with clinicians, researchers, and industry partners to translate patient needs into impactful initiatives.

Ideal candidates have clinical insight, program leadership experience, and a deep commitment to patient-centered care, with strong communication and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 7+ years experience in patient care, patient advocacy, healthcare education, or related roles.
• Experience with patient-centered care and education programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee patient and caregiver helpline, ensuring timely, compassionate responses.
• Lead strategy and execution of educational programs for patients, caregivers, and health professionals.
• Oversee content library ensuring accuracy and accessibility.
• Collaborate with medical advisory boards and external experts.
• Design surveys and needs assessments to inform programs.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree in nursing, healthcare, public health, education, or related field

Job description

Lead patient support, caregiver engagement, and educational programming for the MDS community worldwide.

About the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation

The Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation is the global nonprofit leader dedicated to improving the lives of patients and families affected by MDS through patient support, education, research, advocacy, and strategic collaboration. We serve as a trusted resource for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry partners worldwide while working to accelerate better outcomes and, ultimately, cures.

Position Overview

The Director of Support and Education leads the MDS Foundation's patient support, caregiver engagement, and educational programming, ensuring the Foundation delivers innovative, high-quality resources that improve the lives of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals worldwide.

Reporting to the Vice President of Partnerships and Programs, the Director is responsible for the strategy, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Foundation's patient and professional education, support services, and community engagement initiatives. This role ensures programs are evidence-based, responsive to the evolving needs of the MDS community, and aligned with the Foundation's broader mission, partnership strategy, and organizational priorities.

Serving as the Foundation's leader for patient engagement and education, the Director works closely with patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and industry partners to elevate patient voices, identify unmet needs, and translate real-world insights into impactful programs, educational initiatives, partnership opportunities, and research priorities.

The Director will also analyze patient and caregiver feedback, community insights, and program outcomes to identify emerging needs and inform the Foundation's educational strategy, program development, partnership opportunities, and organizational priorities. The ideal candidate combines clinical expertise with strategic program leadership and a deep commitment to patient-centered care. They thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and are equally comfortable engaging directly with patients, developing innovative educational programs, analyzing community insights, and working cross-functionally to expand the Foundation's impact.

Key Responsibilities

Patient and Caregiver Support

• Oversee and manage the Foundation's patient and caregiver helpline, ensuring timely, accurate, and compassionate responses to MDS-related inquiries.
• Serve as a trusted clinical resource for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals seeking information on MDS, treatment pathways, clinical trials, and supportive care.
• Make referrals to Centers of Excellence and connect patients to clinical experts or second opinions when appropriate.
• Establish and maintain high standards for patient communication, education, and support services.
• Monitor and engage with patient and caregiver activity on the MDS Exchange, providing guidance, support, or clinical expertise as needed.

Education Strategy and Program Delivery

• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of patient, caregiver, and HCP educational programs, including webinars, virtual and in-person forums, and conference-based education.
• Oversee program logistics, timelines, budgets, vendors, and faculty to ensure high-quality delivery and strong participant experience.
• Evaluate program performance and impact using attendance, engagement, and feedback metrics, and report outcomes internally and externally as appropriate.

Educational Content and Resources

• Oversee the Foundation's library of educational resources, including print, digital, and multimedia content.
• Ensure all materials are scientifically accurate, current, accessible, and aligned with best practices in MDS care.
• Identify gaps in existing resources and lead the development of new content to address evolving community needs.
• Identify opportunities to expand educational offerings through innovative formats, digital engagement, and emerging technologies.

Clinical and Disease Expertise

• Serve as the Foundation's primary clinical and disease resource on MDS, ensuring scientific and clinical accuracy across patient-facing educational materials and support resources.
• Stay current on MDS research, treatment advances, and standards of care, translating complex information into clear, patient-centered guidance.
• Collaborate with medical advisory boards, Board of Directors, Centers of Excellence, and external clinical experts to inform programs and content.
• Represent the Foundation at patient education programs, professional meetings, conferences, and community events, serving as a trusted clinical and educational resource.

Patient Insights, Surveys and Needs Assessments

• Design, implement, and oversee patient, caregiver, and HCP surveys and needs assessments.
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to identify trends, disparities, unmet needs, and emerging issues within the MDS community.
• Ensure patient-reported insights are systematically captured, synthesized, and shared across the organization to inform strategy and decision-making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Patient Insights

• Partner with internal teams to translate patient insights into program design, education strategy, and support offerings.
• Contribute patient-centered insights to funding proposals, grant applications, reports, and partner communications.
• Support research, educational, and partnership initiatives by providing real-world patient perspectives and needs-based insights.
• Identify opportunities to leverage patient experience and community insights to strengthen educational initiatives, research priorities, strategic partnerships, and organizational planning.

Qualifications & Experience

Required / Preferred

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in nursing, healthcare, public health, education, or a related field strongly preferred
• Clinical background in hematology, oncology, or a related specialty preferred (hematology nurse highly desirable but not required)
• 7+ years of experience in patient care, patient advocacy, healthcare education, or related roles
• Demonstrated experience working directly with patients and caregivers, particularly in complex or rare diseases
• Experience developing educational programs or content for patient and/or HCP audiences
• Experience working with pharmaceutical companies, medical advisory boards, or healthcare professionals preferred
• Deep understanding of patient-centered care and the caregiver experience
• Ability to communicate complex medical and scientific information clearly, accurately, and compassionately
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills, with experience delivering educational programs to diverse patient and professional audiences
• Experience designing and analyzing surveys, needs assessments, or patient-reported outcomes preferred
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate insights into action
• Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
• High level of professionalism, empathy, discretion, and mission alignment
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, remote environment; experience with virtual education platforms preferred

Compensation

We offer a competitive and thoughtfully designed compensation package that reflects the importance of this role and supports our team's well-being, flexibility, and long-term success:

• Competitive annual salary of $90,000–$125,000, commensurate with experience
• 401(k) with employer match to support long-term financial planning
• Flexible paid time off (PTO) policy that encourages rest and recharge
• Generous holiday schedule, including organizational closures around major holidays
• Flexible/remote work environment, with a focus on outcomes and work-life balance

Why Join The MDS Foundation

This is a unique opportunity to help shape how patient experience, education, and community insights drive the future of care for people affected by MDS. As a key member of the Foundation's Partnerships and Programs team, the Director of Support and Education will play a central role in elevating patient voices, expanding innovative education and support programs, and ensuring the real-world experiences of patients and caregivers inform advocacy, partnerships, research priorities, and organizational strategy.