Description

The Associate Director plays a key role in the year-round global participant engagement work of the association, as well as the program development and volunteer management for NAFSA’s Annual Conference & Expo. Reporting to the Deputy Executive Director (DED) of Knowledge Development, the Associate Director is instrumental in supporting a global engagement strategy and new initiatives with colleagues across the organization. In coordination with the Senior Director, Conference Program, the Associate Director works with colleagues and international higher education professionals to deliver rich learning and networking experiences for conference participants.

GLOBAL PROGRAMS AND NEW VENTURES (50%): 

• Contributes to innovative programs and training designed for unique audiences, including global programs and new ventures in support of the strategic plan.
• Collaborates with colleagues across the organization to provide robust, continuous engagement with international audiences,   leveraging the conference content into new offerings and expanding global voices.
• Together with the DED of Knowledge Development and other colleagues, executes global initiatives and related strategic efforts. 
• Coordinates the planning and delivery of special global programming at the annual conference and throughout the year.
• Monitors participation from international audiences in NAFSA products and programs to understand global reach and   membership, inform new ventures, and cultivate diverse leaders.
• Oversees the involvement of international delegations for the conference, working closely with many stakeholders.
• Researches global trends in international higher education and regional developments to support the work of NAFSA.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM PLANNING AND EXECUTION (30%): 

• Advances the conference content priorities each year for sessions, workshops, and posters via the call for proposals, by working closely with the conference program team and Annual Conference Committee (ACC).
• Leads the management of the online submission process and ensures clarity, effectiveness, and regular improvements for proposal submitters and peer reviewers working with many stakeholders. 
• Collaborates with the Senior Director to develop the conference program schedule and speaker coordination. 
• Designs and manages online and in-person information sessions and support for first-time conference attendees and global participants, ensuring satisfaction of a range of audiences. 
• Leads the development and review of information for the online program and printed materials in consultation with the Senior Director and colleagues across the organization.
• Maps and manages the planning for the room sets and special needs for the session rooms for the conference with the support of the Program Manager, Conference Program. 
• Leads the on-site program support and resolves issues during conference sessions, meetings, and workshops, in coordination with the conference program team.
• Analyzes conference and session evaluation and attendance data to support the SD, understand audiences, and inform conference program strategy and association decision-making.

COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT (10%): 

• Develops engagement and networking activities with the volunteer Local Arrangements Team (LAT), supporting a rich conference experience. 
• Collaborates with colleagues to highlight local community engagement and demonstrate social impact at each conference destination.
• Prepares materials for the ACC meetings, supporting the Senior Director.
• Works with the LAT to manage and train volunteers onsite for conference special programs and sessions.

PRESENTER MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS (5%): 

• Provides significant staff support for all conference presenters, from logistics to program delivery, as primary point of contact, in collaboration with conference program colleagues.
• Creates communications strategy and new tools and resources for presenter preparation, tailored to specific audiences.
• Supports presenters pre- and post-conference for continuous engagement and new programming and resource development.  

Other duties as assigned to support the strategic goals and objectives of the association. (5%)

Total Compensation, Benefits

The target salary for this full-time, 35-hour per week Associate Director, Global and Conference Engagement position is $65,000. Total compensation for employment at NAFSA entails a competitive employee benefits package including: 

• Competitively priced medical and dental insurance plans with CareFirst
• 403(b) retirement plan with eligibility for a 7% employer contribution
• Generous paid vacation, sick, personal, and parental leave plans
• Seventeen paid days around federal holidays
• Fully paid group life and disability insurance coverage
• Health and dependent care flexible spending account plans
• Pre-tax parking and transportation plans
• Opportunities for professional development and $5,250 in tuition reimbursement
• Free onsite fitness center and secure bicycle parking

Employees may request to telework on Mondays and Fridays. The workday is generally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The week after Memorial Day to Labor Day, it is 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday.

Travel is required occasionally related to job responsibilities, especially for the annual conference or other leadership meetings. Participation in the NAFSA annual conference the week of Memorial Day, including the holiday itself, is a job requirement. The annual conference is held in varying cities. 

Tasks are performed in a typical office environment, involving sitting for extended periods of time. Sitting, standing, bending, and lifting 10lbs or less will occur intermittently throughout the workday. Position involves constant use of computer keyboard and monitor, with intermittent use of headset and microphone.  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education & experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of relevant professional experience with at least three (3) years of experience or direct exposure to program management, development, or event planning for a global audience.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, take initiative, set priorities, and exercise sound judgement in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment. 
• Ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish goals.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to anticipate and forecast timelines, balancing competing deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to master various technology, web, and data management systems, including web-based applications and platforms such as Zoom.
• Excellent communication skills—both oral and written—including capacity for presentation delivery, demonstrating a high degree of cultural competence.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite products, especially Excel.
• Foundational business acumen and capacity for financial literacy. 
• Familiarity with Cadmium or other abstract management software.
• Prior international travel, education, or work experience a plus.
• Familiarity with additional language(s) desirable.

Qualifications (Preferred)

· Experience with volunteer engagement and/or customer relations.

· Work experience with higher education, international education, or international development.

· Demonstrated problem-solving skills.

· Experience managing content and speakers for conferences, large meetings, and events.

· Experience contributing content for mobile applications, social media, and web sites. 

· Excellent intercultural skills and experience.

· Experience managing complex data with high accuracy.

Salary Description

Salary range minimum/target: $65,000