The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland
Reston, VA
Posted: 07-Apr-26
Location: Chicago, IL
Type: Full Time
Salary: Range: $65k to $73k annual
Categories:
Preferred Education:
Additional Information:
The Association Forum has an exciting opportunity on our Learning & Events Team! The newly defined Learning & Events Specialist is a critical contributor to the successful planning and execution of Association Forum learning programs and events. The Learning & Events Specialist exercises acute attention to detail; effectively executes plans and improvises in response to the unexpected; is an inclusive relationship builder; is technically adept managing member and LMS systems and ensuring data integrity; and provides best-in-class service to internal team members and external members and partners.
Success of the Learning & Events Specialist will be measured in the following areas:
Program & Experience Operations - Owns the operational execution of Association Forum’s learning and events portfolio ensuring consistent, high-quality experiences for members, speakers, and partners, including:
- Operational support for all virtual and in?person learning programs, including CAE Study Group, Association 101/201, Emerging Leaders Program, Kitchen Cabinet Programs, CEO Readiness Boot Camp, webinars, and Signature Events (Women’s Executive Forum, Holiday Showcase, Honors Gala, Man In), and other events as needed.
- Coordination of event logistics, materials, speaker support, and onsite execution
- Proactive problem-solving during program delivery to ensure smooth execution and a positive attendee experience
- Willingness to support evening events as required
Systems, Data & Operational Infrastructure – Ensures learning and event systems are accurate, reliable, and continuously improving to support scale, insight, and decision-making.
- Ownership of program setup and maintenance across association and event systems (e.g., netFORUM, eShow, BlueSky, LMS, Asana, SurveyMonkey, Higher Logic)
- Management of registration data integrity and stakeholder communications
- Setup and administration of webinars and digital learning experiences within the LMS
- Maintenance of instructional resources and course administration
- Preparation and distribution of dashboards tracking registration, engagement, and trends
Stakeholder & Volunteer Enablement – Creates a frictionless, trusting experience for speakers, volunteers, and internal partners.
- Speaker coordination and support before, during, and after programs
- Administrative support for volunteer advisory groups, including scheduling, materials, reports, and action tracking
- Relationship management that fosters positive, engaging volunteer and speaker experiences
- Cross-functional collaboration with Marketing to ensure accurate, timely promotion and up-to-date website content and Business Development to ensure seamless experience for partners.
Customer Service & Member Experience – Delivers best-in-class service that reinforces Association Forum’s reputation for professionalism, responsiveness, and care.
- Prompt, professional responses to member, speaker, and partner inquiries
- Anticipation of common questions or friction points and proactive resolution
- Consistent follow?through on commitments to build confidence and credibility
Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence – Continuously improves how learning and events are delivered exercising sound judgement, initiative, and practical implementation.
- Identification of workflow inefficiencies and opportunities to streamline processes
- Documentation and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support consistency and scalability
- Proactive identification of risks, gaps, or improvement opportunities with proposed solutions
- Support for special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned
For consideration, candidates must possess the following:
- 3–5 years of experience in event management, customer service, and/or administrative support.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complexity, improve systems, or scale operations is valued as highly as years of experience.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and priorities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a commitment to delivering high?quality member service.
- Proficiency with association databases, event management systems, and related technology.
- Advanced administrative skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and with diverse stakeholders.
- Commitment to a strengths?based culture, with the ability to leverage personal CliftonStrengths to support team and organizational success.
Association Forum is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We realize the key to creating a company with a world class culture and employee experience comes from who we hire, as well as creating and maintaining a workplace that celebrates everyone.
We proudly consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected category.
