Association Manager

Job description

We're hiring!

Are you looking for a remote based role within a fast paced, exciting company who are leaders in the Conference & Association Management industry?

Podium is seeking an experienced not-for-profit professional with a track record and aptitude for creating partnerships, and an affinity for fostering consensus. An excellent listener and superb communicator, he/she has a talent for actualizing the potential of others and understands the dynamic of serving Boards with many views, but a common vision. The Association Manager should be able to work with other organizations with similar and diverse opinions, if necessary.

As an ideal candidate, you are a skilled leader with experience leading societies towards ambitious goals. You understand the decision-making processes, and you have significant experience working with and supporting Boards of Directors, Executive Officers, and Board Committees. You excel when working with a wide variety of stakeholders and are characterized by others as a leader with impeccable integrity, vision, and drive. Most importantly, you resonate with the values, challenges, and future of the Societies you oversee, and connect strongly with their mission.

The Association Manager will support multiple international scientific and academic organizations that have entrusted Podium to act as their Society’s secretariat. Working with dedicated and committed volunteer boards, the Association Manager will ensure our client’s strategic plan aligns opportunities with resources, while building the confidence of committed teams of volunteers, helping them share their society’s aspirations with their scientific community. Working on behalf of each assigned society, the Association Manager will ensure each of these societies works collaboratively to deliver on their mission.

Your time will be spent managing the planning and delivery of national and international scientific conferences and the management of the Societies responsible for these conferences. Suitable candidates must have excellent interpersonal, planning, communication, website, social media, time and priority management skills. A broad knowledge of conference planning and production processes and a strong understanding of conference management techniques are essential assets. Preference will be given to candidates with post-secondary education in conference/event management, project management or industry designations.

This is an exciting fast-paced position offering a great deal of variety and exposure to a diverse group of clients and events on a worldwide basis. You must enjoy working to tight deadlines and on multiple projects with finite completion dates and be willing and able to travel internationally. Your previous professional industry experience combined with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, a values-based, customer-service orientation and a belief that ‘work’ truly can be ‘fun’ will make you a positive addition to our growing team.

If you see yourself as someone who thrives in creating optimal environments for our clients and their members to share their research and make important connections and collaborations that may lead to important scientific breakthroughs, then this will be your ideal position!

Essential Qualifications:

• Previous experience in managing scientific, research and/or academic societies.
• Strong understanding and experience managing basic Association affairs, including board meetings, membership support, annual meetings, officer elections, committees, marketing and communications and other related activities.
• Strong budget development and management skills.
• Focused, strategic approach to pursuing and selling sponsorships, exhibit opportunities and other related revenue generating opportunities.
• Proficiency in basic website maintenance (WordPress), direct marketing & polling tools, social media, communications planning and surveying.
• In-depth knowledge of industry virtual tools including streaming platforms such as Zoom and Teams, and wrap-around solutions such as virtual venues and tools used in delivering virtual meetings.
• Ability and interest in embracing new technologies and self-teach, as well as supporting training needs for other meeting managers.
• Superb verbal, written, interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to re-assess priorities and juggle multiple projects.
• Creative problem solving skills.
• Ability to create and manage project planning systems.
• Collaborative team player with a strong customer service orientation and values-based attitude.
• Ability to work under pressure and on multiple events with separate and finite completion dates.
• Strong computer skills in a Microsoft 365 environment including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Professional presence in all aspects of position requirements.

Preferred Qualifications: (Non-Essential Assets)

• Post-secondary education in conference/event management, project management or business.
• Experience with Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and Asana.
• Experience working with Conference Manager Software, Website platforms (WordPress).
• Fluency in additional languages.
• Comfortable working in a Mac and PC environment.

Salary & Benefits:

Podium offers a competitive salary and employment benefits package including:

Paid time off, Health & Dental plans as well as a $500 taxable health & wellness benefit to be used on anything that makes you happy!

Additional:

Hours of work are Monday-Friday with flexible start/end times. Long days and weekends are a norm with this industry and are to be expected with this position, especially when on-site with conferences or when hosting board/committee meetings in various time zones around the world. Regular travel (domestic & international) is expected with this position (once meetings return to live events). Time off in lieu is provided for approved overtime

.ABOUT PODIUM: Based in Victoria, BC, Canada and in operation since 2003, Podium is an accredited Professional Conference Organizer (PCO) and active member of the International Association of Professional Conference Organizers.

HOW TO APPLY: Please send resume and cover letter to People & Culture Manager Jordan Paterson jordan@dearmondmanagement.com