Manager, Educational Programming

Water Environment Federation; Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) seeks a Manager, Educational Programming to lead the full cycle of educational programs from online courses to in-person events. You will manage budgeting, scheduling, QA, and stakeholder engagement, collaborating with staff, volunteers, and partners to deliver high-quality programs for the water sector.

You will work in a hybrid environment (Alexandria, VA office 2 days every other week) with travel up to 20% for meetings and events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training and experience.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in program management, events or conferences.
• Experience with abstract management systems and association software.
• Experience in education programming, communications or event management.
• Proven volunteer management experience with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Detail-oriented and able to work under deadline pressure.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and stakeholder empathy.
• Customer service mindset and tact in dealing with colleagues and the public.
• Ability to identify and implement creative, innovative solutions.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in procedures and engagement.
• Proactive self-starter with ability to thrive in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle program management: budgeting, scheduling, QA, and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborate to enhance technology, streamline calls for papers, and improve conference structure.
• Guide volunteers, committees, presenter networks, vendors, and other departments.
• Manage program resources, proofreading, website updates, app integrations, and data.
• Serve as main contact to partners, sponsors, and volunteers addressing concerns.
• Analyze industry trends and events to advise leadership on growth opportunities.
• Perform other duties within the scope of the role.

Skills

Project management

Event management

Communications

Stakeholder management

Volunteer management

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Customer service

Diversity & inclusion

Creative solutions

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

PMP or similar certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Abstract management systems

Mobile apps

Job description

How This Position Contributes to the Team

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a global leader in water, with over 30,000 members and 75 affiliated Member Associations. Our mission is bold: a world free of water challenges. Through our Strategic Plan, we’re driving transformation across three pillars – Workforce Development, Community Engagement, and the Circular Water Economy – with cross-cutting priorities in Global Engagement and Artificial Intelligence.

The Manager, Educational Programming (Mgr. EP) plays a pivotal role in delivering diverse and inclusive educational programs supporting WEF’s mission to inspire the water sector – ranging from online courses to in-person events and tailored for the water community. This position is responsible for full-cycle project management, including budgeting support, quality assurance, scheduling, and stakeholder engagement to ensure program success. The Mgr. EP collaborates with staff, volunteers, and key stakeholders to facilitate program development, drive continuous improvement, and implement innovative solutions. The ideal candidate will have experience developing and delivering high quality and impactful programming for annual online and in-person programs addressing technical and educational needs supporting the water sector. This position reports to the Senior Manager, Educational Programming.

The Manager, Educational Programming must thrive on initiative, problem solving, being agile, inclusive, and a team player. The ideal candidate will have experience working in high-performing teams and demonstrate success working across and supporting mission-based organizations. A desire to help WEF serve the Water Community is critical.

NOTE: This role is hybrid and requires working in the office (Alexandria, VA) 2 days every other week. Travel is required (up to 20% of the year) for meetings and events.

• Lead full-cycle program management: budget support, scheduling, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement of assigned programs
• Collaborate with the Sr. Manager, Educational Programming to enhance technology to, streamline the Call for Papers, strengthen conference structure, and implement process improvements
• Guide and communicate with key WEF volunteers and committees, collaborating organizations, member associations, presenters, vendors, and other WEF departments
• Manage program resources updates, ensuring proofreading of materials, timely website and community site updates, smooth app integrations, and data management
• Serve as primary project-related contact to strategic partners, sponsors, and volunteers addressing and resolving concerns based on project urgency
• Analyze industry trends and event results and make recommendations to leadership to identify opportunities for growth and development to improve the overall educational programming experience for the event participant
• Other duties as assigned within scope of the role

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent training and experience
• 5+ years of relevant experience
• Proven experience managing small-to-large scale events or conferences and overseeing program logistics
• Demonstrated knowledge of abstract management systems, association management software, mobile apps, Microsoft office, and other related industry software
• Experience in education programming, communications, and/or event management, and a solid grasp of project management principles
• Proven experience in volunteer management and engagement at all levels of the organization
• Clear and persuasive oral and written communicator, capable of crafting messages for diverse audience
• Demonstrated dedication to detail and ability to work under pressure in a deadline driven environment
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence through sound judgment, discretion, and sensitivity when managing stakeholders experiencing difficulties/concerns
• Positive work ethic and excellent customer services skills; demonstrated ability to exercise tact and discretion in dealing with colleagues, members, and the public
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to problem-solve independently and proactively, and to lead collaborative efforts to define solutions
• Experience with finding creative and innovative solutions
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in procedures, practices, and engagement
• Demonstrates a proactive, self-starter attitude, thriving in fast-paced environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar certification highly desired
• Knowledge of the US water sector or previous experience working with a scientific organization

This person will work primarily in an office environment using standard office equipment. Must be able to lift at least 25 lbs.

WEF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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