Program Development Manager

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Program Development Manager

Department: Education & Events

Reports To: Senior Director, Education & Events

Direct report(s): N/A

The Program Development Manager plays a key role in advancing the Academy’s mission by working with volunteer committees and Academy staff in the development of high-quality educational programs, events, and webinars. This position works closely with volunteer program committees, subject matter experts, and staff to plan, coordinate, and execute professional development opportunities that engage members and support their ongoing learning needs.

The ideal candidate is a strong project manager with experience in volunteer engagement and adult education programming across multiple modalities within an association or nonprofit environment.

• Working with staff and volunteer groups, guide and nurture the development of relevant, timely, and high-quality educational content for in‑person and virtual events.
• Manage the full lifecycle of educational programs—including quality standards, needs assessment, topic selection, speaker management, coordination with marketing and event planning staff, and post‑event evaluation.
• Coordinate the delivery of webinars, seminars, and symposia, ensuring consistency in quality and alignment with Academy goals.
• Fulfill the Academy’s obligations as a provider of continuing education and be an advocate for innovating and improving development and delivery of member‑responsive programs.

• Serve as education liaison to designated volunteer committees, providing strategic and administrative support in the creation of education products.
• Facilitate and manage event development process, including coordinating meetings and acting as event project manager, often in coordination with other staff liaisons and departments. Guide volunteers in aligning program ideas with the association’s strategic goals and member interests and guiding through development to delivery.
• Foster positive volunteer engagement and recognition through consistent and proactive communication and support.

• Oversee program timelines and deliverable management for assigned educational programs.
• Provide support during live events, including speaker assistance, attendee engagement, and technical troubleshooting for webinars.

• Track and analyze participation data, feedback, and outcomes to assess program success and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Stay informed of trends and best practices in adult learning, event management, and association education.
• Recommend innovations to enhance the learning experience and expand program reach.

• With support from the Event Operations Manager, triage and respond to incoming department emails and phone calls.
• Maintain and update the annual education calendar in coordination with other departments. Act as backup webinar producer.
• Upload materials as required to the Learning Management System.

• Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Experience with creating surveys and analyzing the resulting data and developing follow‑up and action plans.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills. Ability to deftly navigate competing volunteer and staff team demands and priorities and direct working groups toward desirable outcomes.
• Ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.
• Proactive problem‑solver with a focus on delivering exceptional member experiences.
• Comfort with technology and data‑driven decision‑making.

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in communications, business, or education (with an emphasis on adult learning).
• 4–6 years of experience within a membership association or nonprofit setting in program management, learning development, and/or volunteer management required.
• Experience working with volunteer committees or boards required.
• Excellent writing skills and a high level of comfort working with volunteers and internal staff of different levels and interests.
• Familiarity with project management software (i.e. Asana), learning management systems (LMS), webinar platforms (e.g., Zoom, On24), and association management systems (AMS).

FLSA Classification:
Exempt.