Associate Director, Regional Affairs

Description

About NAFSA: Association of International Educators

NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest and most comprehensive association of professionals committed to advancing international higher education. Based in the United States, we provide programs, products, services, and a physical and virtual meeting space for the worldwide community of international educators. The association provides leadership to its varied constituencies through establishing principles of good practice and providing professional development opportunities. NAFSA encourages networking among professionals, convenes conferences and collaborative dialogues, and promotes research and knowledge creation to strengthen and serve the field. We lead the way in advocating for a better world through international education. NAFSA believes that international education advances learning and scholarship, fosters understanding and respect among people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, is essential for developing globally competent individuals, and builds leadership for the global community. We believe that international education lies at the core of an interconnected world characterized by peace, security, and well-being for all.

Position Summary: The Associate Director is responsible for implementing a comprehensive structure of support in partnership with the Director, for 11 regional teams. This includes communication, event and activity planning, and logistics and technical support for all regional activities – most notably the annual conferences led by the regional teams.

The Regional Affairs team is responsible for the facilitation of regional leader training at critical junctures throughout the year. The Associate Director will support the Director to this end. This position engages daily with the regional teams to ensure high-level support and guidance to NAFSA volunteer leaders.

This position provides technical support and leads project management for regions throughout the year, in close consultation and collaboration with NAFSA’s technology team. In coordination with the Director, this position also provides innovative ideas to drive engagement of NAFSA’s regions beyond their conferences. The Associate Director serves as a staff partner to regional cohorts and their respective

Essential Functions:

Manage, organize, and administer high-touch support for regional activities. (35%)

• Lead the implementation of conference technology, with support from technology team. Oversee the development, testing, and maintenance of conference technologies.
• Work in partnership with event technology team to create and maintain robust documentation of business practices, procedures, and programmatic needs.
• Design and deliver training for regional volunteer users on event management system and registration system (e.g., Cadmium and Cvent).
• Resolve challenges, including technical issues, and implement process improvements to ensure successful program delivery with high-quality user experience.
• Work collaboratively with Director on vision and strategy for key periods throughout the year in the regional volunteer cycle and event cycle, including onboarding, site visits, annual conference, regional conferences, end of year recognition and celebration(s).
• Work with Program Manager to ensure cross-training and consistency across the team on these critical components. 

Serve as staff liaison for regional executive teams, cohorts, and other regional volunteer leaders: (30%)

• Collaborate with relevant leaders and internal staff to coach regional executive teams on key annual planning activities, including guidance on deadlines, deliverables, and work plans. (Regional executive team consists of chair, chair-elect, past chair, treasurers, and conference planners.)
• Collaborate with Director and other relevant internal staff to ensure Regional Affairs’ training and skills development is focused and strategic.
• Schedule and facilitate remote meetings for regional executive teams, with strong reliance and support from regional cohort coaches.
• Maintain close working relationships with key internal NAFSA colleagues to ensure NAFSA-wide deadlines and priorities are shared with regional leaders and their teams.
• Oversee weekly communication with regional executive teams to support them in staying on task and within the designated annual conference planning period.

Work collaboratively with Director on strategic planning of engaging NAFSA regions annually: (20%)

• Manages and creates practical tools to support and inform the work of volunteer leaders.
• Oversee yearly planning calendar of deliverables for regional leaders and ensure frequent updates via the Program Manager.
• Collaborate with Director to create training and engagement opportunities that provide leadership development and inspiration.
• Drive strategic engagement of NAFSA regions in areas beyond their annual conferences.
• Explore innovative methods of correlation for regional activity to support membership and strategic partnerships. Collaborate internally with colleagues across departments to meet program needs, including technology implementation.

Ensure and report on regional compliance regarding association policies and initiatives: (10%)

• In consultation with relevant colleagues, oversee education and training of NAFSA’S policies and compliance protocols for meeting data privacy, ADA, and other compliance requirements and liability considerations.
• Support the maintenance of 11 regional standard operating procedures, providing guidance and maintaining documentation.

Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Director and Deputy Executive Director: (5%)

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of three years of professional experience in a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and direct experience within the international education sector or association sector.
• Proven track record of planning, coordinating, and executing programs and/or events from concept through successful delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage projects with complex timelines, competing priorities, and multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience with coordinating and supporting volunteer groups or volunteer-driven program components.
• Strong problem-solving skills and proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to plan, take initiative, set priorities, and exercise sound judgment in a complex, fast-moving environment
• A track record of excellent customer relations support using a variety of communication mediums and platforms
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite products
• Ability to master various technology, web, and data management systems, including databases
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, including web-based applications and presentation delivery

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Previous experience with NAFSA or other association membership or nonprofit organization
• Experience with association chapters or similar structures
• Exposure to or experience in volunteer engagement and activities
• Experience with Cadmium and Cvent, or similar event technology systems

Salary range minimum/target: $66,000 

Scope Of Supervision

The position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Office Environment

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, regional meetings, and 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.