NAIOP Position Description
Sr. Director, NATIONAL FORUMS PROGRAM

Reports to:    Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Created/revised:    January 2025

Position Overview:
NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association, seeks a Sr. Director of National Forums. This position is responsible for cultivating and enhancing the National Forums program through identifying new Forum opportunities and managing the program experience. This individual will collaborate with the entire NAIOP team and our volunteer leaders to develop and execute strategies that will allow us to continue to grow this premiere program.

Overview of NAIOP’s National Forums Program:
NAIOP’s National Forums program offers an unparalleled opportunity for commercial real estate professionals from across North America to share best industry practices and develop long-lasting relationships in a confidential small-group environment. Forum members address the challenges they face in their work, explore new business opportunities and hone their professional development. In the process, members become a trusted group of advisors and friends. 

Members of NAIOP’s National Forums program are both highly vested in their careers and highly committed members of our association. They meet in-person twice a year – once in the fall and once in the spring. 

The National Forums program was launched in 1995 and has grown to over 60 groups with more than 1,100 members. 

Primary Responsibilities of the position:
o    Evaluate and improve program efficiency, structure, and customer service using appropriate technologies.
o    Work with the Marketing team to develop a recruitment plan for continuous program growth.
o    Serve as the primary advocate for the National Forums program.
o    Regularly review and adjust member benefits to enhance program value.
o    Ensure communication flow and policy adherence with forum leaders.
o    Identify, develop and launch new Forum concepts and enhancements to meet member needs.
o    Oversee the application process to achieve the best applicant fit and meet recruitment goals; properly curate groups, balancing group needs with incoming applicant preferences.
o    Actively participate in the development of new Forums in advance of meetings (planning calls, volunteer solicitation, speaker selection, and agenda development).
o    Ensure that each group has effective leadership and a succession plan in place.
o    Maintain, revise, and annually distribute National Forums policies, guidelines and best practices.
o    Work with the team to manage the Forums annual dues renewal process 
o    Contact Chapter leadership to promote the program and recruit members
o    Manage the National Forums budget. Work with NAIOP’s finance and executive teams to track income and regularly monitor expenses to ensure proper budget oversight.  Prepare proposed budget for the following year. 
o    Serve as the liaison to the Vice-Chair, National Forums program and prepare a National Forums Program Board report for Board meetings (3x/year).
o    Network with Forum members to foster goodwill and assess program sentiment.
o    Develop and implement systematic ways to regularly gather feedback from the Forums members such as focus groups and surveys.
o    Serve as the main contact for incoming chairs and vice chairs, ensuring their smooth preparation, onboarding, and communication.
o    Collect ideas from volunteer leaders and suggest speakers/tours for the Forum's two annual meetings.  Work with the team to confirm speakers and tour locations. 
o    Successfully oversee the National Forum staff team (currently two managers). Cultivate a positive team atmosphere and ensure a consistently high degree of collaboration and communication; regularly provide feedback; perform their annual reviews.
o    Lead and participate in the Forum's two annual events (National Forum Symposium in the spring and CRE.Converge in the fall).

Supervises:
•    National Forums Development Manager
•    National Forums Operations Manager 

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s Degree and/or CAE is a plus)
•    7+ years’ experience in membership, business development or project/program management role, including prior supervisory experience
•    Strong track record of developing, fostering and building corporate relationships, including individuals in the C-suite
•    Extensive experience working with volunteers 
•    Successfully managing a team
•    Ability to effectively market the vision and value of membership and participation in high-level programs such as the National Forums program 
•    Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collegially with others and with the highest standards of integrity
•    Ability to present information effectively, both verbally and in writing
•    Experience developing and successfully managing budgets
•    Ability to travel 3-4 times per year 
•    Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office suite

About NAIOP

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, is the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial and mixed-use real estate. NAIOP provides unparalleled industry networking and education, and advocates for effective legislation on behalf of our members. NAIOP advances responsible, sustainable development that creates jobs and benefits the communities in which our members work and live. For more information, visit www.naiop.org.

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