Vice President of Professional Development and Accreditation

JOB SUMMARY

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to serve as Vice President of Professional Development and Accreditation. This executive-level position is responsible for advancing IEDC’s mission to deliver world-class education, training, certification, and accreditation services for economic development professionals. The Vice President will lead a high-performing team, oversee the design and delivery of professional development offerings, the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) certifications, and ensure the integrity and growth of the accreditation program for economic development organizations (AEDO).

This is a pivotal role for a visionary leader who is committed to driving and developing excellence in adult learning, credentialing, and the professionalization of the field.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS & KEY OUTCOMES

Leadership and Strategy

• Lead and manage the professional development, certification, and accreditation functions of IEDC.
• Supervise and mentor directors and staff responsible for training programs, CEcD and Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) certifications, and the Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) program.
• Oversee the professional development aspect of entrepreneurship led economic development work at IEDC.
• Develop and implement strategic plans, budgets, and annual goals to ensure growth, quality, and relevance of IEDC’s offerings.
• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team and contribute to organizational strategy and innovation.

Courses and Training

• Oversee a portfolio of 25+ professional development courses and virtual learning programs annually.
• Ensure course content, manuals, and instructors remain current, high-quality, and aligned with the evolving needs of economic development professionals.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, instructors, and partners to deliver engaging, outcome-driven learning experiences.
• Evaluate delivery models (in-person, virtual, hybrid, learning management systems) to ensure accessibility, effectiveness, and sustainability.
• Lead the evolution of IEDC’s learning ecosystem, including the launch of a Learning Management System (LMS) in 2026.

Certification and Credentialing

• Oversee the administration and integrity of the CEcD program, including exam development, eligibility, recertification, and candidate support.
• Oversee the growth and scaling of the EDP program and its global recognition as the sister certification to the CEcD.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts and explore opportunities for new credentials or micro-certifications.
• Serve as subject matter expert around best practices and standards in certification and testing.

Organizational Accreditation

• Oversee the AEDO program, including application review, site visits, and peer evaluations.
• Promote the value of accreditation to member organizations and economic development stakeholders.
• Ensure the program reflects evolving standards of excellence and professional practice.

Stakeholder Engagement and Promotion

• Represent IEDC with members, partners, sponsors, and at conferences and events.
• Build strong relationships with external stakeholders to support program participation and partnership development.
• Provide thought leadership on trends in workforce development, professional credentialing, and economic development.

Operational Leadership

• Manage budgets and performance metrics for all program areas under the VP’s purview.
• Generate year-over-year revenue increases across all managerial lines through proactive oversight and performance optimization.
• Ensure operational efficiency and high levels of customer satisfaction across all services.
• Work closely with marketing and other internal departments to ensure professional development marketing strategies and tactics are effective.
• Leverage technology and data to improve processes, reporting, and user experience.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to program delivery, compliance, and reputation.

Completes other duties and related projects as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & CREDENTIALS

Required qualifications

Education & Credentials:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in public administration, education, economic development, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in professional development, certification and adult learning, preferably with an association or membership-based organization.
• Familiarity with economic development or related fields.
• Experience managing credentialing or accreditation programs strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and engage a remote team, foster diverse perspectives, and advocate for and support the professional growth of all team members.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to drive revenue growth in diverse ways.
• Understanding of learning management systems and their deployment
• Expertise in budgeting, grants management, and financial forecasting.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investments in people and systems.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to collaborate across a wide variety of diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Effective organizational skills and proficiency in MS Office, Teams, Zoom and Circle preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, public speaking, program creation and training expertise.
• Commitment to the mission and values of IEDC.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and the professionalization of the economic development field.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
• Diplomacy & Confidentiality
• Member & Stakeholder Engagement
• Outcomes & Solutions Oriented
• Program & Project Management
• Technical Expertise & Credibility
• Values & Prioritizes Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Leadership Competencies

• Budgeting and Financial Stewardship
• Decisiveness
• Drives Staff Development & Engagement
• Managing for Performance
• Visionary Leadership

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is eligible for remote work within the United States. Candidates within commuting distance of Washington, DC are considered local and have the option to work from IEDC’s offices. If not located within commuting distance of our Washington, DC office, candidates must be located in the United States, have reliable access to dedicated high-quality internet service, and be willing to accommodate an Eastern U.S. schedule of operations. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

In addition, this position requires:

• Occasional weekend and evening work
• Some overnight, out-of-town travel (10-15%)
• Occasional travel to the IEDC office

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to occasionally talk, hear, stoop, bend, kneel, frequently sit for extended periods of time, and continuously operate a computer and use manual dexterity for tasks such as keyboarding. The job requires occasional sedentary physical effort of lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying objects weighing up to 25 lbs. The mental demands of the job include continuous comprehension, organizing and reading and writing; frequently engage in reasoning, decision making, and interpreting and analyzing data; and occasionally requires resilience.

The International Economic Development Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer who encourages applications from women, people of color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff.

ABOUT IEDC

IEDC is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that, for nearly 100 years, has been helping economic developers around the world facilitate economic well-being in their communities. It is the largest organization of its kind supporting this profession.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to careers@iedc.org. Applications submitted without cover letter will not be considered.