Director of Education Operations

Job Title

Director of Education Operations

Reports to

Vice President of Education

Location

Remote

Job Overview

In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, provides strategic direction for continuing education and professional development projects within NRPA’s education team, which includes sourcing and producing educational content for an annual conference for 7,000+ attendees and hundreds of online offerings by improving operational management systems and processes, develops and achieves strategic operational objectives and leads forecasting and budgeting processes. Oversees and coordinates the resources needed for the learning team with a defined scope, start and completion date, formulating strategy and guiding processes and procedures in collaboration with team members. Serves as a champion for educational content and programming produced by NRPA and the learning team, implement best practices across all level of membership support thru improved delivery and customer service.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategic Leadership and Operations

• Collaborates across teams to ensure integration, amplification and support of programs and products
• Develops, maintains, and assesses outcomes of the strategic direction of learning and credentialing consistent with the mission, goals, and tactics of the association.
• Maintains an active understanding of adult education and learning best practices and how they impact association education.
• Human resource management and team leadership responsible for effectively recruiting, hiring, training, coach and developing individual employees and their team, establishing, monitoring and support employees’ efforts to achieve individual, team and association goals.
• Collaborates with Membership and Research and IT team in assessing and gathering data related to overall effectiveness, including understanding trends in park and recreation academic programs and research that should inform NRPA learning focus, opportunities, direction and innovation
• Collaborates with external stakeholders to identify and develop learning opportunities in support of membership needs and innovation within the field

Project Management

• Leads administrative processes connecting all programming for the above-named teams – Includes registration logistics, invoicing/payments
• Coordinate and support internal team operations across conference and learning teams; working with Special Events Manager on professional school logistics and Senior Director of Conferences on conference logistics and budget
• Lead and coordinate external stakeholders relationships and ensure delivery of learning products including partners for Partner Schools and member volunteer committees
• Collaborates across departments to ensure delivery of learning products, works closely within education team to:
  1. Create and manage multi-year product development cycle for Test Prep and other Certification-related products
  2. Build a roster of trusted and accountable consultants as needed (e.g. curriculum development, ed tech services); manage all aspects of contract administration

Finance

• Build, administer and track budgets and forecast for departmental programs -professional development, online learning and partner schools- in collaboration with VP of Education
• Partners with Senior Director of Conferences to manage conference education budget
• Tracks personnel time to ensure alignment with grant support and funding

• Works with VP of Education and Chief Operations and Financial Officer to:
  1. identify and diversify revenue opportunities generated by professional development and online learning
  2. rationalize accounting for all accounts payable and receivable and develop a revenue tracking system to understand financial history of different products (certificates, schools. etc).
• Works with a cross-disciplinary team to support education fundraising goals, contributing to the development of new concepts for funding in collaboration with the development team. Specific responsibilities may include idea creation, writing, data sharing and participating in calls with funders.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in leadership, business administration, adult education or other related field required; Masters and/or industry certification or a combination of education/experience equivalent a plus
• Association, trade or membership organization experience
• 5 - 8 years of successful management and evaluation of continuing education and/or professional development programs, accreditation and credentialing, and online learning; association, trade or membership organization experience preferred.
• Project management training and experience (Agile, Kanban, etc.) and proven ability to build and steward project management plans for one-time initiatives and annual reboots
• Experience and/or understanding of dialogue-based education a plus
• Experience with Microsoft Office products, association and learning management systems, and other software as required.
• Superior presentation, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including tact, persuasiveness and diplomacy to influence key decision makers
• Minimum of two or more years of supervisory experience
• Demonstrates an advanced understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) concepts, champions DEI practices in internal and external relationships, and ensures that they are integral to the programs and activities they are responsible for.
• Holds reporting staff accountable for learning and development goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Strong relationship building skills, emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and ability to work with diverse people, communities, and cultures
• The ideal candidate will also possess an understanding and passion for parks and recreation, urban planning, climate change, health equity, environmental justice, and/or social justice
• Committed to NRPA’s vision, mission, and values
• Willing to travel 25 to 35 days per year

Candidate Work Style

• Self-directed with a collaborative and professional team spirit to contribute to a collegial, team-oriented environment
• Excels in a dynamic, changing, fast-paced work environment
• Committed to working collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external colleagues and inspired to be a contributing member of an inclusive work culture
• Excellent listener and thoughtful communicator who contributes to building culture of continuous learning and trust
• Professional, confident, and approachable demeanor