Program Director

A Week Away Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Respite Weeks for families battling life-threatening illnesses, aiming to offer them hope and strength to continue their fight.

How A Week Away Foundation Started

The inspiration for the foundation traces back to a pivotal weekend trip to Ocean City, New Jersey. Our founder, Caleb Walker, was diagnosed with Stage III Anaplastic Ependymoma — a rare and aggressive form of cancer affecting the brain and spine. A friend gifted him a weekend getaway, which became one of the few times he felt “normal” since his diagnosis. This experience planted the seed for A Week Away Foundation, with the vision of providing families facing life-threatening illnesses a week of peace amidst their challenging journeys. Caleb underwent multiple brain surgeries, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy regimens over several years and throughout his ongoing battle he was determined to offer others the support he had received. Even though Caleb passed away in 2014, his legacy continues through the foundation which remains committed to its mission of providing respite for affected families.

What the A Week Away Foundation Does

Today, A Week Away Foundation coordinates and finances Respite Weeks for families dealing with life-threatening illnesses, ensuring they have the opportunity to create lasting memories and find renewed strength together. The foundation aims to offer families a chance to step away from the stress and challenges of their medical journeys, giving them time to relax, bond, and create lasting memories together by:

• Allowing families to recharge, connect, and take a break from hospital visits, treatments, and the daily stresses of illness,
• Providing a sense of normalcy and peace for families in difficult times,
• Giving hope, renewing energy, and helping families find strength to continue their fight against illness,
• Helping families create positive, lasting memories during a difficult period.
• Allowing families to reconnect and enjoy each other's company in a relaxing setting.

Overall, the A Week Away Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for families dealing with life-threatening illnesses by offering them much-needed respite and support.

After over ten years of starting and growing the A Week Away Foundation and serving more than 370 families, the Board of Directors is looking at creating continued growth and sustainability for the future. The Board is looking for a Program Director to ensure this growth and sustainability.

Program Director Job Description

A Week Away Foundation is seeking a collaborative and mission-driven Program Director to lead the organization's respite program while supporting key fundraising initiatives that sustain its growth.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this newly created position is responsible for ensuring the consistent delivery of exceptional respite experiences while building the systems, volunteer network, and community partnerships necessary to expand the organization's impact.

Approximately 65% of this role focuses on program leadership and operations, with the remaining 35% dedicated to supporting organizational development through fundraising events and community engagement.

This position is ideal for a servant leader who enjoys building systems, developing people, solving problems, and helping a growing nonprofit organization increase its impact.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Operations & Leadership (Approximately 65%)

Program Leadership

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of A Week Away's respite program.
• Review respite applications to ensure all required documentation has been received.
• Assign approved families to volunteer respite coordinators.
• Provide oversight throughout the respite planning process to ensure every family receives an exceptional experience.
• Identify opportunities to improve program quality, efficiency, and the overall family experience.
• Plan and coordinate individual respites as needed, particularly during periods of high program demand or coordinator availability.

Volunteer Leadership

• Recruit, train, mentor, and support a team of volunteer respite coordinators.
• Develop standardized onboarding, training, and operating procedures.
• Serve as the primary resource for coordinators navigating unique family situations.
• Build and maintain a sustainable pipeline of future respite coordinators.

Healthcare & Community Partnerships

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with healthcare providers and referral partners throughout A Week Away's service area.
• Represent A Week Away at meetings with hospitals, healthcare organizations, and community partners.
• Develop strategic relationships with hospitality partners to increase respite opportunities and reduce program expenses.

Program Administration

• Maintain accurate records within Salesforce and other organizational systems.
• Monitor program data and prepare reports that measure outcomes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure program policies and procedures remain current and effective.

Development & Community Engagement (Approximately 35%)

Working alongside the Executive Director and volunteer leadership, the Director of Program Operations will support the organization's fundraising and community engagement efforts by:

• Partnering with the Executive Director and Event Committee to plan, coordinate, and execute the annual Caleb Walker Memorial Golf Tournament.
• Leading A Week Away's annual participation in the Lancaster County Community Foundation's ExtraGive campaign.
• Providing leadership and logistical support for the organization's Light The Tree holiday campaign.
• Working with the Executive Director to develop, launch, and execute a new fundraising event.
• Representing A Week Away at community events, networking opportunities, and partner meetings.
• Assisting with donor stewardship by helping communicate program impact through stories, testimonials, and family outcomes.

Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with minimal supervision.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills with volunteers, healthcare professionals, donors, and community partners.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and compassion while working with families facing serious illness.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.

Preferred

• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit leadership, healthcare administration, volunteer management, hospitality, community engagement, or a related field.
• Experience supervising volunteers or leading teams.
• Experience coordinating fundraising events or community initiatives.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills with volunteers, healthcare professionals, donors, and community partners.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and compassion while working with families facing serious illness.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.

Equal Opportunity Employer

A Week Away Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where every employee is valued and respected. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: Remote