TITLE:  Education and Workforce Growth Associate Director 

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Policy & Industry Advancement 

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Full-time; Exempt 

LOCATION: Remote eligible 

BASE SALARY RANGE: $89,568 - $134,532 

For more information, visit www.irrigation.org, www.irrigationandlighting.org or www.irrigationtoday.org. Please submit a resume, brief letter introducing yourself, and any other relevant credentials by email to krisritter@irrigation.org.

About Us 

The Irrigation Association is the leading trade association for irrigation equipment and system manufacturers, dealers, distributors, designers, consultants, contractors, and end users. We are committed to ensuring the Irrigation Association remains a central point for collectively elevating our interests and a unifying voice on the value that irrigation brings to green spaces and the food, fuel, fiber and feed that our nation and globe need. As the Irrigation Association positions itself to meet the future demands of its stakeholders and capture growth opportunities, we are improving our efforts to listen to and learn from our members so that we can become more agile and responsive and lead with foresight. 

We're driving innovation in sustainable irrigation practices while serving as the unified voice for our industry. As we evolve to meet future challenges and opportunities, we're seeking a tech-savvy, agile professional to join our dynamic team. 

About You 

We’re looking for an Education and Workforce Growth Associate Director to develop and deliver the Irrigation Association’s educational, credentialing, and workforce development programs, from start to finish, including developing and executing strategy and plans aligned with IA strategic priorities.  They will work across the association and with external stakeholders to ensure we meet the needs of our diverse membership and position the IA as a leader in irrigation knowledge and education.  

We operate within a matrixed environment that places a strong emphasis on collaboration and adherence to established norms and business rules. As part of our team, you will manage and execute work across multiple business units and cross-functional teams, requiring you to navigate and contribute within a dynamic organizational structure. Success in this role hinges on your ability to communicate effectively, work cooperatively with diverse teams, and drive projects forward in alignment with our shared goals. We highly value teamwork, the ability to build strong relationships and a commitment to upholding our business principles.?? 

Core responsibilities of the Education and Workforce Growth Associate Director will include: 

 Education, Training & Credentialing  

• Identify and assess new methodologies, technologies and trends in adult learning to develop and implement strategies that will enhance the content, delivery, value and competitive positioning of the IA’s programs, products and services. 

• Collaborate enterprise-wide to develop and deliver education, training and credentialling programs, products and services that are sustainable and scalable, deliver an excellent user experience and ensure increased profitability.  

• Oversee the certification program including program administration, policies, exam development, renewals and audits. 

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to proactively identify relevant trends in the irrigation industry and anticipate important education, training and credentialing implications for IA program development. 

• Analyze data from customers, members and other stakeholders to determine industry advancement strategy and planning.  

• Cultivate and leverage volunteers and volunteer groups to inform and help deliver education and credentialing programs, products and services. 

Workforce Development 

• Develop strategies to better connect our workforce development program with our education and credentialing activities to support growing the pool of qualified candidates for careers in irrigation. 

• Develop strategies to enhance how our education, training and credentialing activities facilitate career pathways and support the career and professional needs of professionals in the industry.  

Our Education and Workforce Growth Associate Director will likely possess many of the following skills and traits, though we will evaluate each candidate on their individual merits in a holistic way: 

• Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, education, or equivalent; Master’s degree preferred.   

• At least 10 years of related experience in designing/developing education programs for adult learners. 

• Experience with education, certification and workforce development programs within a trade association. 

• Experience with a variety of CRM and LMS databases such as iMIS, Webassessor, etc.   

• Experience cultivating and leveraging volunteers and relevant subject matter experts. 

• Exceptional written/verbal communication, interpersonal, and diplomacy skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders and engage in successful negotiation, collaboration, consensus building and conflict resolution. 

• Strategic and innovative thinker with the ability to solve problems and execute initiatives.   

• Skilled in leadership and developing staff, promoting and maintaining a positive and cooperative team-oriented work environment, with a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.  

• Strong technical acumen and analytical skills with proficiency in Microsoft products and the ability to learn and integrate new and emerging technologies to simplify and improve business practices. 

• Strong business and financial acumen with demonstrated knowledge and experience in product development, pricing models, budgeting and expense control. 

• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.  

• Positive outlook, high personal standard of excellence and ethics, ability to build trust and interact with all organization levels. 

• CAE and/or knowledge of agriculture, landscape or green industry a plus.  

This position is eligible for fully remote work, with occasional travel throughout the US.  

For more information, visit www.irrigation.org, www.irrigationandlighting.org or www.irrigationtoday.org. Please submit a resume, brief letter introducing yourself, and any other relevant credentials by email to krisritter@irrigation.org. 

Irrigation Association is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

About Irrigation Association

The Irrigation Association is the leading membership organization for irrigation companies and professionals. Together with our members, we are committed to promoting efficient irrigation and to long-term sustainability of water resources for future generations.

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