The Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) is seeking its next Director of Education and Workforce Development. This position reports to the Executive Director at our headquarters in Vancouver, Wash., and is a critical leader and creative strategist for the Association.
The Director of Education and Workforce Development leads NWPPA’s strategy and delivery of all education, training, and other workforce development programs for public power utilities across the West. The reach of influence spans major conferences, workshops, instructor-led training, and web-based delivery methods in nine Western states and British Columbia.
The education and training team within NWPPA includes several program managers and administrative professionals who work together to deliver a broad range of electric utility industry content based on need, cost effectiveness, and quality. The target audiences for these programs include boards of directors, commissioners, general managers, and utility staff working in operations, engineering, power services, finance, customer service, human resources, communications, administration, and other utility positions.
The Director also works closely with staff and an association advisory committee that includes representatives of members and other various utility-related businesses. The person holding this position must understand both the core and emerging needs for development of NWPPA’s member utilities’ personnel, be able to communicate effectively both internally and externally, and implement outcome-based learning strategies and budgets.
Summary of Responsibilities:
Serve as the leader for innovation that creates and maintains a competitive advantage for NWPPA in delivering content.
Lead the development, implementation, and delivery of the education, training and development strategy; and oversee the curriculum of the organization’s offerings.
Build and inspire a collaborative team of staff and learning consultants/vendors, and technical trainers.
Shape and direct the workforce development agenda for NWPPA in partnership with the education and training advisory committee.
Build and maintain close working relationships with NWPPA leadership and external business partners to understand key business objectives, priorities, and needs.
Serve as the training and development champion and thought leader within NWPPA and on behalf of NWPPA’s membership.
Apply best-in-class approaches aligned with evolving competencies and learning needs.
Execute responsive, fast-paced planning and delivery of programs. The Association delivers over 230 educational events annually, reaching over 6,500 participants, and organizes several large conferences and workshops.
Key Qualifications:
Minimum 5 years of organizational leadership and effective management of staff, with an emphasis on education and training.
Experience in utility-sector education and workforce development preferred.
Bachelor’s degree or higher in related field.
Ability to use assessment methods and determine creative strategies for new and emerging education and development programs.
Proven capability to find and evaluate effectiveness of contracted trainers and consultants.
Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and outcomes in a variety of adult learning approaches.
Ability to design and report metrics that demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency of initiatives to the Executive Director and Board of Trustees.
Ability to implement marketing strategies to increase participation in events and offerings.
Experience with development of training strategies, objectives, budgets, and execution plans.
Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively toward common goals both internally and externally with national, regional, and local organizations.
Ability to negotiate contracts with consultants and other vendors with respect to quality, cost, and appropriate deliverables.
Capability to manage a portfolio of select programs and events.
Availability for significant travel regionally within the NWPPA territory.
Competitive salary and extensive benefits package. Salary will depend upon experience.
This position will be open until filled, with a first review date of applications on December 6, 2019.
Scott Corwin Executive Director NWPPA 9817 NE 54th Street, #200 Vancouver, WA 98662
NOTES:
Additional Salary Information: Competitive salary and extensive benefits package. Salary will depend upon experience.
About Northwest Public Power Association
Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) is a not-for-profit association of over 155 public/people’s utility districts, electric cooperatives, municipalities and Crown corporations in the Western U.S. and Canada. NWPPA also serves the needs of over 350 Associate Members who are allied with the electric utility industry. NWPPA was founded in 1940 with a focus on education and training, communications, and policy advocacy to serve the collective interests of cooperatives, public and people’s utility districts, municipalities, and mutual public power utilities throughout nine western states and British Columbia.
