Strategic Programs & Education Coordinator

Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, with primary offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., is looking for a Strategic Programs & Education Coordinator to join our Healthcare & Scientific Practice team in our Chicago office.

Our Healthcare unit partners with full-service client organizations or standalone technology user groups to define success and growth targets for their organizations. On that solid foundation, we build strong governance practices, develop strategic plans and operational excellence targets, improve on financial practices and ultimately grow the client organizations we serve. The Strategic Programs & Education Coordinator plays an integral role in providing excellent customer service to the nonprofit volunteers and members from our client trade associations and professional societies.

At Smithbucklin, we embody a culture driven by optimism, ambition, expertise, and thoughtfulness, where every team member is empowered to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Join us in shaping the future of association management, where our values serve as the cornerstone of our success.

What You Will Do:

• Manage a portfolio of strategic programs and year-round events, ensuring initiatives are effectively planned, executed, evaluated, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Lead the planning and delivery of virtual, hybrid, and in-person programs and events, managing project timelines, logistics, faculty and volunteer engagement, stakeholder communications, and cross-functional coordination from concept through completion.
• Manage the administration, organization, and maintenance of the learning management system, including all educational programs and content housed within the platform.
• Collaborate across internal teams—including education, marketing and communications, membership, technology, and operations—to ensure integrated and effective delivery of programs, events, and strategic initiatives.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with members, volunteers, client leadership and staff colleagues by providing responsive service, effective communication, and timely resolution of inquiries.
• Develop productive partnerships with volunteer leaders, supporting governance processes, committee activities, and the advancement of organizational priorities.
• Monitor committee and project action items as needed; track deliverables and deadlines; and ensure timely follow-up with volunteers, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as staff liaison to assigned committees, subcommittees, task forces, and/or working groups by facilitating communication, managing project plans, preparing materials, and advancing committee deliverables, goals and volunteer engagement.
• Support various member programs, services, policy initiatives, strategic plans, and other activities by monitoring industry trends, conducting research, and contributing to projects that advance strategic priorities.
• Provide administrative and project support to client teams, volunteer leaders, and staff, including membership database management, reporting, and operational support for key initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support program delivery, technology needs, website updates, member resources, marketing and communications initiatives, and other products and services.
• Manage budgets and revenue projections for educational programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and financial performance targets.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

This Role Might Be for You If…

• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to tailor communications to diverse audiences.
• Are highly organized and member- and volunteer-focused, with the ability to manage day-to-day responsibilities while successfully coordinating multiple projects through completion.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and can effectively prioritize competing demands, solve problems, and adapt to changing needs.
• Possess a strong customer service mindset and enjoy serving as a key point of contact for members, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.
• Can work both independently and collaboratively, exercising sound judgment while contributing to a high-performing team.
• Take ownership of projects and follow through on commitments with professionalism, accountability, and strong attention to deadlines.
• Build productive relationships with volunteer leaders, staff colleagues, and stakeholders to support organizational goals and foster engagement.
• Are interested in developing your skills across multiple areas of nonprofit and association management, including membership, governance, volunteer engagement, programs, and operations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution
• 3-5 years of relevant professional experience, to include project or program management experience; in lieu of a bachelor’s degree, more than 5 years of related experience is preferred
• Proficiency with basic computer skills, including the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Teams, Zoom, learning management systems, etc.
• Ability to travel on average 5-10% of the time
• Experience working in a cross-functional environment

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experience working in a professional services industry or business (e.g., marketing, advertising, consulting, legal, accounting, etc.)
• Comfort working with and/or presenting to senior executives in commercial businesses
• Some experience working in a trade association environment and/or serving related clients

Where Do You Fit?
Whether you are just beginning your career or are a mid- or senior-level professional, working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. By working collaboratively with smart, ambitious, multi-talented, genuine and hardworking colleagues, you will build meaningful, deep and enduring relationships that will serve you well throughout your career, regardless of your chosen path. In addition, as a 100 percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all of our people - regardless of position or compensation - an equal chance to experience the fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, our employees control the destiny of Smithbucklin and are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company.

Smithbucklin is a hybrid work environment with in-office days established as Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  Employees will work a standard 40-hour week, with the possibility of additional hours based on project deadlines.
 
Smithbucklin considers several factors when determining compensation, including a candidate's recent coursework, training, experience, and certifications, among other considerations. The expected pay for this role is $60,000-$64,000. 

Equal Employment Opportunity
At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position.

Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment. You must be authorized to work in the United States permanently.