Education and Training, Project Management/Program Development
SUMMARY
The Manager of Education’s primary responsibility is to lead and manage the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of NALP’s educational programming. This includes content for our annual conference and other in-person events, online learning, and other educational resources for NALP members. The Manager of Education serves as the staff liaison for two committees—the LANDSCAPES (annual meeting) Program Committee, and the Safety Committee; and interacts regularly with other volunteer councils and committees. This role requires an understanding of adult learning principles and best practices in learning design and delivery, as well as a willingness to quickly learn about the landscaping and lawn care industry to better understand the educational needs of NALP members and identify opportunities to serve them. This role also includes budget development and management responsibilities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work with the VP, Education and Professional Services to develop a plan to evaluate existing portfolio of educational offerings and identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
Work closely with VP, Education & Professional Services and Director, Programs and Professional Services to support the Professional Development and Standards Advisory Council and implement initiatives identified by Council.
Serve as the staff liaison for the LANDSCAPES and Safety Committees, working closely with the Chairs to develop plans and priorities for the year, schedule meetings, and oversee/guide volunteer work to bring projects to completion.
For LANDSCAPES/NALP annual meeting, develop and manage the call for session proposals, establish the review criteria and oversee the committee review process, finalize session schedule and format for all education. Identify topics and source speakers for sessions beyond those included in the call for proposals.
Speaker management for all events, including:
Establish and maintain relationships with subject matter experts and professional and volunteer speakers.
Negotiate speaker contracts.
Create speaker prep materials, templates, and timelines.
Manage speaker logistics, including scheduling and collecting required information.
Maintain speaker budget and facilitate payments
Work closely with AVP, Events and events team to coordinate on logistics, content and communication for all events with educational components.
Identify opportunities to grow online education content and leverage NALP’s Learning Management System, working closely with the Director, Programs and Professional Services.
Conduct needs assessments/surveys pertaining to educational needs of our members; use data to develop and support recommendations for changes to educational offerings and new initiatives.
Work with the editorial team and other staff to identify opportunities for educational content NOT related to in-person events or online learning (such as toolkits on website).
Work with the marketing team (and other staff, as appropriate) to establish marketing plans for educational offerings.
Provide information to sponsorship sales team to assist with securing sponsorships for educational offerings, as appropriate.
Develop and manage budgets for all educational initiatives.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum of 5 years related experience
Experience working with committees or volunteer groups a plus
Association experience strongly preferred
Experience with survey tools required (Survey Monkey experience a plus)
Experience with proposal/abstract management software required (Open Water experience a plus)
Experience with learning management systems required (BlueSky LMS experience a plus)
Experience with Zoom Webinar, GoToWebinar, and other virtual learning platforms preferred
Understanding of adult learning principles.
Understanding of best practices in learning design and delivery.
Strategic thinker who is also a “doer”
Quick learner who is not afraid of technology
Ability to focus on keeping projects and people organized and moving towards a common goal/deadline while also maintaining standards and best practices
Highly collaborative and team-oriented, but also able to work independently
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Extremely detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
Flexible and adaptable work style in order to respond to multiple requests, shifting priorities, and informational needs
About National Association of Landscape Professionals, Inc.
We are the National Association of Landscape Professionals, an association serving over 100,000 lawn care and landscape contractors across the country. We provide member services in the form of educational resources and events, state and federal advocacy efforts, a national public relations program, a nationally recognized certification program, business mentoring and other member services. Excellent benefits and a creative, cohesive team of association management professionals make NALP a dynamic place to work!
