Position: Coach, Regional Conference Planner Cohort
Committee: Regional Conference Planner Cohort
The Regional Conference Planner Coach is appointed from members who have successfully completed one or more terms as a regional Conference Planner. The appointment will be made by the NAFSA Vice President for Professional Development and Engagement in consultation with the current Regional Affairs Committee (RAC) Chair and Chair-Designate.
The Regional Conference Planner Coach supports the on-going professional development of NAFSA’s 11 regional Conference Planners. Over a 24-month period, the coach will work with two successive cohorts to foster collegiality and to support the Conference Planners in their task of planning a regional, bi-, or tri-regional conference in an in-person, hybrid, or virtual format. As a former regional Conference Planner, the coach will provide perspectives on managing the process of planning a regional conference, promote the sharing of best practices between regions, and empower conference planners to lead the planning of a conference while retaining the autonomy and culture of their regions.
For questions or additional information, please contact the NAFSA Regional Affairs team.
Position description updated August 2024.
NAFSA is not currently accepting applications for this position. Visit NAFSA Volunteer Leadership to learn about available opportunities.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
- Guide two (2) successive cohorts of regional Conference Planners through their 12-month terms.
- Lead monthly virtual “office hour” meetings and full-cohort calls and develop agendas for calls in collaboration with NAFSA staff partner.
- Engage cohort members in 1:1 calls periodically throughout the year as needed to provide individualized guidance and support.
- Plan and lead meetings with regional Conference Planner cohort at the Annual Conference in collaboration with NAFSA staff.
- Generate dialogue across regions and consider emerging trends in the industry, in collaboration with Regional Affairs (RA) staff, to address necessary knowledge and skill areas for leaders.
- Share observations from one’s own experience as a regional leader to provide insights about mitigating challenges in the conference planning role.
- Observe and identify challenges and needs presented by the regional Conference Planner cohort so that they can be addressed in conjunction with NAFSA staff.
- Field questions and provide additional individual coaching when necessary.
- Partner with NAFSA staff to provide insights, experiences, and expertise to inform leadership development priorities and materials.
- Identify key leadership skills/competencies based on the needs of regional Conference Planners and prioritize them during calls and meetings throughout the year.
- Collaborate with NAFSA staff to develop conference planning training skills and modules.
- Share or deliver training content to regional leaders.
- Work with regional Conference Planners to develop transition plans for resource and process documentation related to regional conference planning practices.
All NAFSA leaders are expected to foster an inclusive environment and seek to learn and understand the multicultural perspectives of the committee/team, our constituents, and stakeholders to align with the NAFSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement. An expression of leadership in this area includes:
- Engagement of the committee/team to identify and implement strategies for increased personal outreach, recruitment, onboarding for all; especially diversity-focused and underrepresented groups.
- Increasing accessibility and participation from underrepresented groups, individuals, and institutions.
- Expansion of educational content within the committees’ purview through intentional outreach and recruitment of diverse presenters and institutional types in partnership with various NAFSA groups.
Volunteer Commitment
- Estimated 10-12 hours per month to complete ongoing work, which includes the following:
- Virtual “office hour” calls with cohort members
- Full-cohort call preparation and facilitation
- If requested, up to two to three 1:1 calls with cohort members throughout the year
- Preparation for and facilitation of virtual calls in January and through duration of term.
- Preparation for and facilitation of a regional cohort meeting at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
Required Qualifications
- Current NAFSA membership throughout length of the leadership term.
- Successful completion of one or more NAFSA regional conferences as a Conference Planner.
- Demonstrated engagement and leadership within NAFSA.
- Current employment in, or retirement from, the field of international education.
- Willingness to provide training in multiple modalities.
- Willingness to field individual emails and phone calls from conference planners to provide advice and coaching.
- Institutional support for this volunteer commitment.
- [Preferred but not required] Ability to attend, and if applicable, travel to the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo and closest NAFSA Regional Conference for duration of the leadership term.
Relationships
With other NAFSA Members and Leaders
- Cooperate with current Conference Planners and Conference Planner Coach as well as future regional Conference Planner Coach to share strategies or plan trainings.
- Towards end of term, begin working with successor Coach to develop transition plans.
- Collaborate with other NAFSA leaders to enhance work efforts across the association.
- Represent cohort among representatives of other leader groups as needed.
With NAFSA Staff and Vendors
- This position partners closely with the NAFSA staff partner assigned. NAFSA staff assists the coach in preparing for face-to-face meetings and in planning “office hour” meetings and full-cohort video conference calls. Additional needs may be identified and addressed by staff on the RA staff unit.
- Periodically, the coach may be expected to engage with NAFSA vendor companies and software for the purposes of meetings and training.
Benefits and Appreciation
NAFSA appreciates its volunteer leaders with a strategy that develops, celebrates, and supports them throughout the year:
- Each year, leaders in this role receive complimentary access to two NAFSA e-learning courses, during quarter 1 and quarter 4.
- Leaders in this role are invited to an invite-only appreciation reception at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Leaders in this role are asked to attend online and onsite leadership community gatherings throughout the year, with themes focused on the NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0.
- Leaders in this role are recognized with special signage at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
