Senior Program Manager, Content & Engagement

POSITION SUMMARY:

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for the nation's colleges and universities. ACE is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practices. With a diverse base of member institutions, ACE represents nearly 1,700 college and university presidents and executives, serving as the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions. ACE's mission includes serving 280 minority serving institutions, 25,000 higher education professionals, and 7.7 million students enrolled in colleges and universities. ACE membership extends to all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 21 other countries.

The Senior Program Manager, Content & Engagement ensures the successful execution of ACE events and community engagement initiatives by transforming content concepts provided by leadership into well-structured sessions and experiences. This role manages speaker coordination, session planning and execution, and production support for virtual and in-person events, while fostering member engagement through digital platforms and community programming. The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate across teams to deliver high-quality experiences aligned with ACE’s strategic priorities.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES OR TASKS:

Speaker & Session Execution (50%)

• Manage speaker outreach, onboarding, and logistics for virtual and in-person events.
• Translate content concepts from leadership into structured sessions and event formats.
• Coordinate scheduling, materials, and technical requirements for seamless delivery.
• Serve as the primary liaison among speakers, moderators, and internal teams.
• Maintain accurate speaker and session data for reporting and archival purposes.
• Provide production support for in-person events, including scripting, run-of-show development and execution, and coordination with vendors as needed.

Project Management & Operational Support (30%)

• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and documentation for multiple initiatives.
• Monitor progress to ensure deliverables are met on time and within scope.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Provide operational support as needed to support the work of ACE Connect.

Community & Member Engagement (20%)

• Support engagement strategies for ACE communities and networks.
• Implement programming that fosters member connections and knowledge sharing.
• Manage ACE Engage platform, ensuring familiarity with features and engagement across various communities.
• Track and analyze engagement metrics to inform future initiatives.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Proven experience in project management, event coordination, and/or program support.
• Familiarity with member engagement strategies and community-building practices.
• Demonstrated experience with events management platforms (e.g., Cvent) and digital engagement platforms (e.g., Mighty Networks, etc.) strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across teams.
• Knowledge of higher education policy and practice preferred.

Elemental Ratings

• Essential: Event Coordination & Execution, Project Management, Communication Skills, Stakeholder Management
• Important: Familiarity with Cvent or similar event platforms, Digital Community Engagement
• Preferred: Experience with Mighty Networks or similar platforms, Knowledge of higher education or association programming

POSITION SUMMARY:

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for the nation's colleges and universities. ACE is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practices. With a diverse base of member institutions, ACE represents nearly 1,700 college and university presidents and executives, serving as the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions. ACE's mission includes serving 280 minority serving institutions, 25,000 higher education professionals, and 7.7 million students enrolled in colleges and universities. ACE membership extends to all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 21 other countries.

The Senior Program Manager, Content & Engagement ensures the successful execution of ACE events and community engagement initiatives by transforming content concepts provided by leadership into well-structured sessions and experiences. This role manages speaker coordination, session planning and execution, and production support for virtual and in-person events, while fostering member engagement through digital platforms and community programming. The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate across teams to deliver high-quality experiences aligned with ACE’s strategic priorities.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES OR TASKS:

Speaker & Session Execution (50%)

• Manage speaker outreach, onboarding, and logistics for virtual and in-person events.
• Translate content concepts from leadership into structured sessions and event formats.
• Coordinate scheduling, materials, and technical requirements for seamless delivery.
• Serve as the primary liaison among speakers, moderators, and internal teams.
• Maintain accurate speaker and session data for reporting and archival purposes.
• Provide production support for in-person events, including scripting, run-of-show development and execution, and coordination with vendors as needed.

Project Management & Operational Support (30%)

• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and documentation for multiple initiatives.
• Monitor progress to ensure deliverables are met on time and within scope.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Provide operational support as needed to support the work of ACE Connect.

Community & Member Engagement (20%)

• Support engagement strategies for ACE communities and networks.
• Implement programming that fosters member connections and knowledge sharing.
• Manage ACE Engage platform, ensuring familiarity with features and engagement across various communities.
• Track and analyze engagement metrics to inform future initiatives.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Proven experience in project management, event coordination, and/or program support.
• Familiarity with member engagement strategies and community-building practices.
• Demonstrated experience with events management platforms (e.g., Cvent) and digital engagement platforms (e.g., Mighty Networks, etc.) strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across teams.
• Knowledge of higher education policy and practice preferred.

Elemental Ratings

• Essential: Event Coordination & Execution, Project Management, Communication Skills, Stakeholder Management
• Important: Familiarity with Cvent or similar event platforms, Digital Community Engagement
• Preferred: Experience with Mighty Networks or similar platforms, Knowledge of higher education or association programming

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:

This is an onsite position, with four days per week in the office and one telework day available in coordination with the team. 35 hours a week.

Please Note: ACE does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate referrals from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies. Any resumes submitted without a prior signed agreement will be considered the property of ACE, and no fees will be paid.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 403B with matching incentive + employer contribution
• Short term disability/Long term disability/Life insurance
• Generous PTO package
• Paid Parental Leave
• 13 paid holidays + week between Christmas Eve & New Years Off
• Professional Development Opportunities
• ....and more!

For a full summary of our benefits, please reach out to the Recruiting Team.

Please Note: ACE does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate referrals from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies. Any resumes submitted without a prior signed agreement will be considered the property of ACE, and no fees will be paid.