Projects Director, Transaction Services

American Heart Association; Dallas, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement plan with employer match

Paid time off & holidays

Tuition assistance

Job summary

The American Heart Association in Dallas is seeking a Projects Director, Transaction Services to lead due diligence, planning, and execution across strategic transactions in the Corporate Operations portfolio. This role reports to the Chief Administrative Officer and focuses on delivering complex cross‑company initiatives with rigor and discipline.

The position blends program management, change management, and cost optimization, with hybrid in-office work 1–3 days a week.

Qualifications

• Eight or more years of project planning experience.
• Experience managing strategic transactions and organizational changes.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage due diligence, planning, execution, and integration.
• Assess organizational readiness for transitions and changes.
• Lead transactional activities across planning, finance, and risk management.
• Create program milestones, interdependencies, and communications.
• Lead stakeholder meetings and resolve bottlenecks and risks.
• Provide senior management reporting and guidance on status.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

Asana

Basecamp

Job description

Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

The American Heart Association has an excellent opportunity for a Projects Director, Transaction Services in our National Center office located in Dallas, Texas.

This position will work in a hybrid setting (in-office 1-3 days a week, as needed) in our Dallas office.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Responsibilities

This individual is primarily responsible for managing assigned projects within the scope of the Association's strategic development. Reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Officer, this role provides leadership and support for implementing strategic business transactions, joint ventures, asset acquisitions, and related activities throughout the deal lifecycle, applying industry best practices in program/project management and change management. The Director will function as a key member and overall program manager to ensure diligence is well coordinated and any resulting transaction is successful. In addition, this role is responsible for managing assigned projects within the Corporate Operations organization. These projects include process improvement and optimization opportunities that reduce operational costs and improve efficiency.

• Directly organize and manage due diligence, planning, execution, separation, integration, and organizational restructuring activities.
• Evaluate organizational readiness in advance of transition events.
• Provide leadership in transactional activities across planning and deployment, finance and risk management, operations transformation, systems integration, and program development.
• Create consolidated program milestones, interdependencies, and communication plans.
• Lead meetings with stakeholders to move forward key tasks and elevate significant process bottlenecks, anticipated delays, and critical path analysis.
• Generate accurate senior management reporting and provide guidance to Business Relationship Owners on performance monitoring objectives and project status.
• Manage reporting and resolution of issues, risks, and dependencies, proactively identifying potential planning gaps, suggesting mitigations to risks, actions to close issues, or complete open items.
• Maintain due diligence data room sites for all related documents, including maintaining security and appropriate access.
• Coordinate with appropriate parties to ensure that standard toolkits and methodologies are used for transaction activities; suggest changes and improvements to processes proactively.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field of study or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience developing project plans, including charter, scope, project management approach, management plans, cost estimates, schedule, and work breakdown.
• Integration experience, with demonstrated ability to assess, plan, and execute complex cross-company initiatives.
• Familiarity with the Association organization structure, operations, and leadership team is highly desired.
• Experience in program managing large-scale initiatives, including strategic business transactions, organizational changes, business process redesign, systems implementations/conversions, enterprise risk, and operational excellence.
• Excellent analytical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to summarize abstract ideas clearly and independently manage project objectives.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and abilities (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Advanced Microsoft Project skills or other project planning tools (e.g., Asana, Basecamp, etc.).

Here are some of the preferred skills we are looking for:

• Master's degree.
• PMP Certification preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary minimum to the midpoint of the range is $109,900.00 to $146,600.00. Pay is commensurate with experience; geographic differentials may apply to the pay range. The American Heart Association reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range. The American Heart Association reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range.

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package. Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary. That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position. Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution. As a mark of our commitment to employee wellbeing, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees. The number of days will increase based on seniority level. You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2028 Goal: Building on over 100 years of trusted leadership in cardiovascular and brain health, by 2028 the Association will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities. The greatest discoveries in health must reach everyone where they are.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities