Assistant Vice President For Learning and Event Engagement
About NASPA
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. We serve the diverse needs of our community, from vice presidents of student affairs to undergraduate student leaders considering a career in the field. Founded in 1919, NASPA includes more than 15,000 members in all 50 states, 29 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories. Guided by the principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry, we are dedicated to empowering our members to realize their full potential and to cultivating student success in collaboration with our institutional members, who represent every sector of higher education. NASPA centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work; read more about our commitment [1] here.
The Assistant Vice President for Learning and Event Engagement is part of NASPA’s Professional Development team which serves all members of the Association by providing learning and ongoing continuing education. The position engages as a part of the organization’s senior leadership team to inform the strategic direction of the Association.
About the PositionÂ
The Assistant Vice President for Learning and Event Engagement (AVPLEE) provides leadership, management, and visionary support for the production, implementation, and success of the Association’s portfolio of events. The AVPLEE is responsible for ensuring that learning, event engagement, and management are systematized across the Association. In collaboration with the Vice President for Professional Development, the AVPLEE provides strategic oversight for the development of learning content and event management/engagement that is consistent with the mission, vision, and strategic goals of NASPA. The AVPLEE also collaborates and serves as a point of contact for all program leads across the Association to ensure content and programmatic consistency in all offerings.
The AVPLEE serves as the primary person responsible for the NASPA Annual Conference Leadership Committee and provides coordination for the Association-wide implementation of the organization’s largest event which hosts over 6,000 attendees each year. In addition, the AVPLEE serves as the primary liaison for the Regional Directors and Advisory Boards, ensuring that the NASPA Regions are supported through their implementation of member-facing professional development and volunteer activities. This role works collaboratively with colleagues across the organization including marketing and communications, membership and engagement, accounting, research and policy initiatives, and sponsorships and exhibits.
Essential Responsibilities
NASPA Annual Conference
- Serve as the primary staff liaison for the NASPA Annual Conference Leadership Committee
- Provide leadership to the internal AC Core Team, managing the staff and volunteers responsible for developing the conference program
- Coordinate all learning content, program management, and schedule planning
- Oversee conference operations, budget, business policies, and accounting reconciliation with the Director of Meetings and Events
- Ensure use of critical event technology tools for conference execution through collaboration with the digital innovation team
- Collaborate with the membership team to ensure registration policies, revenue, reporting, and details are accurate
- Work closely with the marketing and communications team for all aspects of communications to reviewers, presenters, speakers, attendees, and others
- Engage with corporate development to expand for-profit and nonprofit conference engagement and financial impact
- Collaborate with the data analytics team to provide post-event quantitative and qualitative assessment and analysis for future planning
- Travel to conference locations for pre-planning meetings, CLC engagement, and conference execution
Regional Leadership Support
- Lead staff team that supports NASPA’s seven geographic regions
- In partnership with the Vice President for Professional Development, engage with NASPA’s seven regional advisory boards, providing historical and geographic context to discussions and ensuring NASPA policies are upheld to help create success for each region
- Collaborate with Regional Directors and NASPA leadership on strategic development and implementation of regional financial and staff support structure
- Collaborate with the Assistant Director for Regional and Constituent Group Program Management to:
- Guide Regional Conference Committees from ideation to execution of their events, providing overall support to ensure successful, inclusive, and welcoming regional in-person annual conferences
- Assist the support and execution of all in-person and virtual regional programmingÂ
- Travel on-site to regional conferences, as needed
- Collaborate with Assistant Director, Volunteer Management and Engagement to support regional elections, appointments, and training
Learning
- Collaborate with the Vice President for Professional Development to ensure learning and content development is consistent across all events
- Engage with program leads in various departments to coordinate Association-wide reporting on professional competencies, continuing education, and overarching learning objectives connected to the strategic plan
- Assist in Association-wide management for external association certification requirements, review, and implementation
Event Engagement/Management
- Ensure standard operations for Association-wide, regional, and area event engagement/management are implemented throughout the organization coordinated by the meetings and events team
- Maintain and communicate Association-wide calendar of in-person events
- Direct event technology resources to ensure accurate and consistent use
- Collaborate with program leads across the Association to implement learning and engagement consistent with NASPA’s strategic priorities
- Collaborate with membership team to foster engagement and volunteerism at all professional development eventsÂ
Association-wide ResponsibilitiesÂ
- Serve on the senior leadership team
- Assist with all-team projects and participates actively in staff meetings and projects
- Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned to support the AssociationÂ
Reports To
Vice President for Professional Development
Supervises
Director of Meetings and EventsÂ
Assistant Director of Professional DevelopmentÂ
Assistant Director of Event TechnologyÂ
Assistant Director, Region and Constituent Group Program ManagementÂ
The AVPLEE’s team also includes an Assistant Director of Meetings and Events and two Program Development Managers who report to the Director of Meetings and Events.
Qualifications
- Master’s Degree preferred. Bachelor’s degree required. Educational background or certifications in higher education administration, student affairs, and/or association management preferred.Â
- Minimum 5-7 years experience of leadership in a socially responsible organization with progressively increased responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience in event management, volunteer management, and conference planning, preferably in a volunteer association or higher education institution.Â
- Superior organizational skills, with the ability to establish priorities, manage multiple demands and projects, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated commitment to cultivating an inclusive work environment that values the perspectives and lived experiences of a diverse workforce and membership.
- Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process.
- Ability to think strategically, delegate responsibility, listen carefully, build consensus, communicate and advocate effectively in a complex matrix organization.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships inside and outside the organization with stakeholders, customers, and colleagues.
- Expert writing, communication, and presentation skills.
Employment Status:Â
Full-time Exempt: Exempt employees by definition are exempt from overtime compensation requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and are required to work as the job demands on a no time limit basis.Â
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $130,000.
NASPA offers nationwide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with automatic employer contribution, flexible work schedule, and paid time-off including accrued PTO, family leave, community service leave, and holidays.
Office Location/Working Conditions/Physical RequirementsÂ
Office Location
This position may be based anywhere in the contiguous 48 states.Â
It is the employee’s responsibility to provide reliable internet capabilities for any work location outside of the Washington, D.C. office.
Please note, the NASPA Washington, D.C. Office is in mostly-open status at this time. The status of the office is subject to change at any time.
TravelÂ
Frequent overnight travel to represent NASPA at events, on college and university campuses, and in-person meetings is an essential function of this position. Locations vary and can include sites outside of taxi service from major airports. As a result, the position is required to have the ability to travel independently, including air travel, navigating ground transportation, and occasionally driving a rental car.Â
Physical Requirements
This position is primarily office-based with primary work on a computer, including phone, email, and video conferencing.
Responsibilities frequently may require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines and support events and programs.Â
At times, this position will be required to pack and unpack program materials for shipment, which will require pulling, pushing, lifting, and moving boxes weighing up to 50 pounds.Â
This position will be required to coordinate on-site event execution, which may include moving furniture and other items, navigating event spaces, and communicating verbally with venue staff.Â
Additional COVID-19 Information
Vaccination is not a requirement for employment. However, all employees are strongly encouraged to follow the CDC guidance on vaccination [2], including becoming fully-vaccinated and staying up-to-date as eligible. All employees may flex their schedules for time taken to receive and recover from COVID-19 vaccinations.
In certain circumstances, NASPA may require testing for all staff regardless of vaccination status.Â
Masks [3] must be worn per local, state, tribal, and federal guidance, including the CDC, with the most stringent level of guidance followed. Regardless of guidance, all employees must have masks available should masking be requested by other employees, members, or external constituents. In certain settings, NASPA may require or strongly recommend that employees wear masks.Â
Commitment to Non-Discrimination StatementÂ
NASPA provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. NASPA does not discriminate on the basis of race; color, national origin; religion; sex; age; gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status; personal appearance; family responsibilities; genetic information; educational status; political affiliation; unemployment status; place of residence or business; source of income; caste; matriculation; credit information; status as a survivor or family member of a survivor of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking; reproductive health decision making; or any other basis protected by law in any of its policies, employment practices, or in any context in the workplace. When necessary, NASPA also makes reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.Â
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following for consideration:Â
- Letter of Interest/Cover Letter
- Resume
- Three References
A complete set of materials should be submitted through this Asana form [4]. Materials received by December 8th will receive priority consideration, but review will continue until the position is filled.Â
