AARP Smart Picks Director

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.

The AARP Smart Picks Director will lead and scale AARP Smart Picks, a transformative new program that delivers trusted product and service recommendations that empower adults 50+ to make confident, informed decisions in everyday life.

This role carries full strategic, operational, and financial accountability for the program, including vision, growth strategy, revenue performance, social impact, brand integrity, enterprise integration, and governance. This role will position the program as a flagship capability that advances AARP’s social mission while driving sustainable revenue and member value.

Serving as the business owner of the program, this leader will operate as a highly collaborative and influential enterprise driver, working across teams to bring the program to scale.  The leader will cultivate senior-level external partnerships and align internal cross-functional stakeholders across Digital, Content, Marketing, Legal, Finance, Brand, and Product to deliver measurable impact.

This position reports to the Senior Vice President Digital Operations.

• Establishes and applies measurement and adjustment framework to monitor progress against the goals outlined in the strategic plan. Orchestrates monthly and quarterly updates to assess progress towards goals. Identifies gaps, risks, and potential opportunities. Designs and executes adjustments and/or risk mitigation strategies, as needed.
• Guides and orchestrates the development of an integrated plan comprised of objectives, goals, and strategies.
• Manages collaboration with others to ensure understanding and alignment of strategies and evaluates new initiatives, as agreed upon.
• Owns and applies prioritization frameworks that inform resources (people, time, and money) allocation across teams for business-as-usual requests, as well as new opportunities.
• Oversees execution of strategic and high-level testing roadmaps across teams and facilitates sharing of learnings through in-person meetings and use of collaboration tools. Coordinates with internal and external sources to identify and communicate key market developments and assesses impact and implications to goals and strategies. Performs strategic planning and directs and coordinates development, maintenance, and planning of program systems. Provides strategic and innovative direction related to industry and technology trends and streamlines organizational processes.

• MBA preferred.  Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, a related field, or relevant experience.
• 8+ years of experience leading digital products, content platforms, or consumer-facing digital initiatives, with a track record of launching and scaling programs that deliver measurable impact.
• Experience working within revenue-generating digital environments, such as affiliate commerce, digital media, marketplaces, or performance-based digital products.
• Strong understanding of digital monetization models, including affiliate partnerships, commerce content, and performance-driven marketing.
• Experience using data and analytics to guide strategy and optimize performance.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and collaborate effectively with internal partners to achieve outcomes.
• Strong program leadership and operational management skills, with the ability to drive complex initiatives from concept through execution and continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

Additional Requirements

• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.