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Program Director Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Nku

Program Director, Robotic

Highland Heights, KY · On-site

Program Director, Robotic Position Type: Fixed Term (Fixed Term) About the Role: NKU's Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics (CINSAM) seeks a Robotics Program Director (RBD). The RBD ...

Healogics

Clinical Program Director

Lebanon, KY

The Clinical Program Director is also responsible for maintaining collaborative and consultative client relationships within and outside the hospital organization and for creating effective working ...

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The Program Director - Airports, Cooperative Research Program (CRP) provides senior-level leadership and management for a team of professional staff responsible for delivering a complex and diverse ...

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The Program Director - Transportation Infrastructure, Cooperative Research Program (CRP) provides senior-level leadership and management for a team of professional staff responsible for delivering a ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsProgram Director JobsProgram Director Jobs in Kentucky

Program Director information

See Kentucky salary details

$25.6K

$67.9K

$119K

How much do program director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for program director in Kentucky is $67,915.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46,000.00 and $80,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Program Directors?

Program Directors are professionals responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing specific programs within an organization. They manage budgets, coordinate staff, evaluate program effectiveness, and ensure goals align with the organization’s mission. Program Directors often work in fields such as education, healthcare, nonprofit, and media. Their leadership ensures that programs run smoothly, meet objectives, and deliver value to stakeholders.

What are some common challenges Program Directors face when overseeing multiple projects or initiatives?

Program Directors often encounter the challenge of balancing competing priorities across several projects, while ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic goals. Managing diverse teams, coordinating resources, and addressing unexpected obstacles—such as shifting stakeholder requirements or budget constraints—are common aspects of the role. Effective communication, adaptability, and strong organizational skills are essential for navigating these complexities and ensuring successful program delivery. Collaboration with senior leadership and cross-functional teams is also crucial for resolving issues promptly and maintaining program momentum.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

Program Directors in certain industries, such as healthcare, technology, or large nonprofit organizations, can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced degrees, and leadership responsibilities. High-level executive roles like CEOs or CFOs often surpass this threshold, but they are not specific to the Program Director position. Compensation varies widely based on industry, organization size, and geographic location.

Is a Program Director higher than a program manager?

A Program Director typically holds a higher-level leadership role than a program manager, overseeing multiple projects or programs and setting strategic goals. Program managers focus on managing individual projects within a program, executing plans, and ensuring deliverables. The hierarchy can vary by organization, but generally, Program Directors have broader responsibilities and authority than program managers.

What is the role of a Program Director?

A Program Director oversees the planning, implementation, and management of multiple related projects within an organization to achieve strategic goals. They coordinate teams, allocate resources, monitor progress, and ensure programs meet deadlines and budgets, often requiring strong leadership and communication skills. The role may also involve reporting to stakeholders and ensuring compliance with policies and standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Program Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Program Director, you need strong leadership, project management, and strategic planning skills, usually supported by a relevant degree and several years of management experience. Experience with budgeting software, project management tools like Asana or MS Project, and familiarity with compliance standards are often necessary. Exceptional communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution abilities are critical soft skills that set top Program Directors apart. These skills are crucial for aligning teams, driving program success, and ensuring organizational goals are consistently met.

What Is a Program Director?

A program director is an upper-management position found within organizations across almost all industries. Your primary job duties include coordinating, implementing, and overseeing all details of a company’s operation and programs. You monitor the budget, create community programs, supervise other managers, and develop better business practices. The exact job duties vary widely depending on industry and employer. Some program directors oversee the entire organization while others oversee specific departments. Though almost all industries utilize program directors, the two most commonly seen are business and healthcare.

What is the difference between Program Director vs Project Manager?

AspectProgram DirectorProject Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree; often prefers PMP or similar certificationsRequires a bachelor’s degree; PMP or CAPM certifications are common
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects within a program, strategic focusManages individual projects, tactical focus
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in nonprofits, corporate, government sectors for large initiativesCommon across industries for specific project execution

The Program Director focuses on overseeing multiple related projects to achieve strategic goals, while the Project Manager handles the planning and execution of a single project. Both roles require similar credentials but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What degree do you need to be a Program Director?

A Program Director typically needs at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as business, management, or a specific industry area. Many roles also prefer or require a master's degree or relevant certifications, along with experience in leadership, project management, or the specific program area.
More about Program Director jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Program jobs in Kentucky? The most popular types of Program jobs in Kentucky are:
What are popular job titles related to Program Director jobs in Kentucky? For Program Director jobs in Kentucky, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Program Director jobs in Kentucky look for? The top searched job categories for Program Director jobs in Kentucky are:
What cities in Kentucky are hiring for Program Director jobs? Cities in Kentucky with the most Program Director job openings:
Program Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Program Director job openings in Kentucky as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $67,915 per year, or $32.7 per hour.

Program Director, Robotic

Nku

Highland Heights, KY • On-site

Part-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Position Title:

Program Director, Robotic

Position Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

About the Role:

NKU's Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics (CINSAM) seeks a Robotics Program Director (RBD). The RBD will lead all CINSAM's FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Robotics programming and serve as head liaison for NKU's affiliate partnership with the FIRST Robotics organization. In this capacity, the RBD will serve as lead representative of FLL Robotics for all of Kentucky, bringing the interests of all of Kentucky's FLL Challenge (upper elementary-middle grades) and Explore (primary grades) level teams to the international level and bringing FIRST resources, systems, and regulations to all of Kentucky's FLL teams and tournaments (regional and state). The employee will also oversee the Kentucky state FLL Challenge Championship and Explore Festival with the help of one to two other colleagues, whom this person will supervise. Finally, this employee will seek grants to support CINSAM's robotics programming. This includes writing proposals for and managing grants from NASA-KY, which has been the program's biggest funder for several years.
Candidate review will start immediately and the position will be filled as soon as possible.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Direct planning, implementation, and follow up of Kentucky'sFIRSTLEGOLeague Challenge State Championship andFIRSTLEGOLeague Explore Festival.

  • Lead efforts related to NKU's state affiliate partnership with FIRST's international organization, including visiting their annual week-long conference, undergoing other annualFIRSTtrainings, reporting toFIRST, keeping KY teams and regional tournament leaders abreast of annual updates, and representing KY interests at the international level.Supervise up to two colleagues who, with this employee, comprise CINSAM's Robotics team and will support all robotics team activities.

  • Support annual regional qualifying tournaments from across the state with training, guidance, and team allocations.

  • Identify, Develop, and support tournament partner organizations so tournament and festivals have sufficient capacity for all Kentucky Registered teams.

  • Allocate all registeredFLLteams in Kentucky to events and communicate assignments to coaches and tournament partners.

  • Cultivate and manage a network of volunteers with specializedFLLexpertise.

  • Continue (and grow, if possible) NKU's track record of grant funding forFLL, especially fromNASA-KY, by writing proposals, implementing grant activities, reporting to funders, and maintaining strong relationships with funders

  • Manage and maintain records related toFLLprograms atNKUand across Kentucky, adhering toNKUandFIRSTstandards.

  • Recruit and provide trainings forFLLcoaches across the Commonwealth of Kentucky

  • Lead summer camps related toFLLrobotics throughCINSAM

  • Be a voice for theFLLteams and interests by serving on the KentuckyFIRSTRobotics board of trustees.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree

  • Two years teaching children or adults in a traditional or informal setting.

  • Two years of experience inFIRSTrobotics programming

  • FIRSTrobotics tournament experience

  • Facility with Microsoft Office 365 Apps or ability to learn Microsoft applications, especially Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel (with lookup functions), Forms, and Planner

  • Experience with or ability to learnFIRST-specific platforms

  • Experience with YouTube Studio is preferred

Required Documents

Resume

Cover Letter/Letter of Application

References

Posted Salary:

Work Environment & Physical Demands:


Apply