Program & Event Coordinator

California Park & Recreation Society; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Pension/401(k)

Paid time off

Professional development

Team-oriented culture

Job summary

California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit serving park and recreation professionals. The Professional Development Coordinator will organize educational programs, workshops, conferences, and leadership development opportunities across California.

You will work with staff, volunteers, and partners to deliver engaging, seamless experiences; handle registrations, materials, and communications; and support evaluation and continuous improvement of CPRS education

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• Two+ years coordinating events, educational programs, or meetings.
• Experience working with volunteers, customers, or members preferred.
• Nonprofit or association experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate logistics and administration of CPRS educational programs and conferences.
• Manage registrations, participant communications, materials, and event logistics.
• Coordinate program timelines and records for continuing education.
• Serve as primary contact for presenters and volunteer leaders.
• Arrange speaker materials, travel, and presentation needs.
• Ensure timely communications and resources for volunteers and presenters.
• Assist in planning the CPRS Conference & Expo components.
• Support post-event evaluations and improvement efforts.
• Maintain program records, databases, budgets, and documentation.
• Assist with CEU tracking, certificates, and reporting.
• Support purchasing, invoices, contracts, and financial tracking.
• Develop organized systems to improve efficiency.
• Collaborate with marketing, membership, and advocacy teams.

Skills

Event coordination

Communication

Project management

Volunteer engagement

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Registration systems

Databases

Association Management Systems

Job description

The California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association advancing the California park and recreation industry.Our small team, based in Sacramento, CA, serves thousands of park and recreation professionals and industry partners offering community, advancement of the profession, resources, and both professional and leadership development opportunities.

Reports to:

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

The Professional Development (or Program & Event) Coordinator helps transform ideas into exceptional learning experiences. By coordinating educational programs, conferences, workshops, and leadership development opportunities, this role ensures parks and recreation professionals across California have seamless, engaging experiences that help them grow personally and professionally.

Working closely with staff, volunteer leaders, presenters, and partners, this position is often the behind-the-scenes force that allows CPRS educational programs to run smoothly while creating welcoming, organized, and memorable experiences for participants.

Every detail matters because every interaction shapes how members experience CPRS.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

The Professional Development Coordinator is successful when...

• Educational programs and events are organized, welcoming, and professionally executed.
• Presenters, volunteers, and participants feel prepared, supported, and valued.
• Program logistics allow learning—not administrative challenges—to be the focus.
• Educational resources, registrations, and communications are accurate and timely.
• Staff and volunteers can confidently rely on strong organization and follow-through.
• Participants leave CPRS learning experiences feeling supported, inspired, and eager to return.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Educational Program Coordination

• Coordinate the logistics and administration of CPRS educational programs, workshops, certificate programs, conferences, and leadership development opportunities.
• Manage registration processes, participant communications, materials, and event logistics.
• Coordinate program timelines to ensure successful delivery of educational experiences.
• Maintain accurate records related to educational programming, participation, and continuing education.

Speaker & Volunteer Support

• Serve as a primary point of contact for presenters, instructors, and volunteer leaders throughout program planning and delivery.
• Coordinate speaker materials, schedules, travel, and presentation needs.
• Ensure volunteers and presenters receive timely communication, resources, and support.
• Help create a welcoming and positive experience for everyone contributing to CPRS educational programs.

Event & Conference Support

• Assist in planning and executing the educational components of the annual CPRS Conference & Expo and other organizational/special events.
• Collaborate with vendors, venues, volunteers, and staff to ensure successful program delivery.
• Support post-event evaluations and continuous improvement efforts.

Administrative Coordination

• Maintain accurate program records, databases, budgets, and educational documentation.
• Assist with CEU tracking, certificates, program evaluations, and reporting.
• Support departmental purchasing, invoices, contracts, and financial tracking.
• Develop and maintain organized systems that improve departmental efficiency.

Team Collaboration

• Partner with colleagues across CPRS to support marketing, membership, advocacy, and organizational initiatives.
• Contribute ideas that improve participant experiences and operational processes.
• Support additional organizational projects and events as needed.

WHAT YOU BRING

Education & Experience

• Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Event Management, Communications, Parks & Recreation, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Two or more years of experience coordinating events, educational programs, meetings, or administrative operations and/or member engagement.
• Experience working with volunteers, customers, or members is preferred.
• Association or nonprofit experience is a plus.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong organizational and project coordination skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and online collaboration tools.
• Experience with registration systems, databases, or Association Management Systems is preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

Who You Are

You are someone who...

• Enjoys creating organized systems that help others succeed.
• Finds satisfaction in making complex events feel effortless.
• Thrives on juggling multiple projects without losing attention to detail.
• Takes pride in anticipating needs before others even recognize them.
• Builds positive relationships with volunteers, presenters, and colleagues.
• Stays calm, flexible, and resourceful when plans inevitably change.
• Believes great experiences are built through thoughtful preparation and genuine hospitality.
• Understands that every interaction contributes to the member experience.

Why You'll Love Working at CPRS

At CPRS, we believe parks and recreation professionals make life better for millions of Californians—and we're proud to support the people who make that happen.

We're a collaborative, mission-driven team that values curiosity, innovation, accountability, and kindness. We believe our best work happens when talented people are trusted, supported, and encouraged to grow.

We offer:

• Annual salary range of $55,000 – 65,000
• Employer-funded pension and 401(k) options
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Generous paid time off (Sick, Vacation, PTO, Floating, and Holidays)
• Professional development opportunities
• A collaborative team that genuinely enjoys working together

How This Position Works

This position is designed as an office-based role due to the need for daily member interaction, collaboration, and operational support. While occasional remote work may be approved based on business needs, regular in-office presence is an essential function of the position, specifically Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm in Sacramento, CA.

This position involves less than 5% of time traveling.All CPRS team members travel to support the annual CONNECTIONS: CPRS Conference & Expo.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CPRS is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and providing a harassment-free work environment.We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply and not discriminate based on any protected status.Employment decisions are based on experience, qualifications, character, and business needs.