Description
The Professional Education Specialist is responsible for providing administrative support for the day-to-day operations for all American Kidney Fund's (AKF) professional education programs. These programs are designed to educate and engage healthcare professionals-including physicians, nurses, dietitians, social workers, dialysis technicians, pharmacists, scientists and other clinicians receive high-quality educational opportunities and resources that advance the American Kidney Fund's mission to prevent kidney disease, improve health outcomes, and support those affected by kidney disease. Reporting to the Associate Director of Professional Education, this role supports the implementation and operation of professional education initiatives and provides administrative support for the Professional Education Team and cross-collaborative efforts.
The Professional Education Specialist supports online continuing education courses and activities, professional webinars, virtual and in-person conference exhibit booths and sessions, specialized initiatives such as the Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) Program and the Unknown Causes of Kidney Disease (UCKD) Project. This position works with internal staff, subject matter experts, accrediting bodies, learning management system administrators, corporate sponsors, external vendors, and healthcare professionals to support program operations and deliverables.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Professional Education Program Support (45%)
This area focuses on coordinating and administering AKF's Professional Education programs and educational initiatives to ensure high-quality delivery and participant engagement.
- Work closely with the Associate Director of Professional Education in the administration of the Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) Program by helping to update the application yearly, advertise to relevant clinical researchers, collect digital applications, organize and distribute applicant packets to the Selection Committee for review, coordinate interviews with finalists and generate awards for selected fellows.
- Coordinate and manage aspects of AKF's professional-facing educational webinars and continuing education activities including scheduling, preparation and setup, backend logistics, chat moderation, post event follow-up and other logistics on webinar platform. Other duties include securing subject matter expert (SME) speakers, reviewing PowerPoint presentations for accuracy and completeness, managing logistics, and conducting evaluation activities to inform improvements to the programs.
- Support administrative aspects of managing the Unknown Causes of Kidney Disease Project, including scheduling meetings, drafting communications and coordinating logistics for the annual UCKD Summit alongside the Associate Director of Professional Education.
- Proactively identify gap areas on AKF's website to suggest new web content or content enhancements.
- Collaborate with team to secure subject matter expert (SME) speakers, supporting the process for reviewing PowerPoint presentations for accuracy and completeness, managing logistics, and conducting evaluation activities to inform improvements to the programs.
Educational Activities & Event Management (35%)
This area supports the operational infrastructure that enables successful delivery of educational programs, conferences, continuing education and learning management systems.
- Support the creation of online continuing education (CE) and continuing medical education (CME) courses and activities by liaising with subject matter experts (SMEs), accrediting bodies, learning management system (LMS) administrators, and corporate sponsors.
- Help identify qualified SMEs for course development and peer review to add to internal database for current and future projects.
- Provide routine maintenance of the LMS through regularly scheduled reviews and updates to pages as needed.
- Assist with accreditation renewals and suggest new accreditations for all courses.
- Assist with coordinating, managing and executing exhibit booths at multiple virtual and/or national and local professional conferences throughout the year.
- In collaboration with Associate Director of Professional Education, support all aspects of exhibit booth management, including coordinating logistics with AKF staff and outside vendors, preparing exhibit equipment for packing, coordinating freight shipments, constructing booth structures, securing certificates of insurance where applicable and maintaining inventory of various educational materials and giveaways.
Communications and Reporting (15%)
This area ensures effective communication, reporting, customer service, and administrative support that enables successful program operations and cross-functional collaboration.
- Maintain the Professional Education team's metrics dashboard and prepare quarterly, annual and ad hoc reports.
- Respond to course participant inquiries and user issues within established timeframes.
- Audit and organize CSN Program folders and databases and identify opportunities to engage past CSN awardees in ongoing projects.
- Manage the Professional Education email inbox.
- Schedule team meetings and prepare meeting minutes and summaries.
- Serve as the point of contact for external vendors.
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)
- Perform additional responsibilities and projects as determined by the supervisor and leadership team.
Requirements
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Health Administration, Public Health, Education, or related discipline.
- Minimum of 2-4 years of work experience with healthcare professionals in the non-profit sector or another professional environment.
- Demonstrated ability to be highly flexible, provide exemplary customer service, and work independently and in a team environment.
- Competency in effectively communicating with various levels of professionals internally and externally, through both verbal and written correspondence.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to prioritize and handle a number of projects simultaneously and complete work in a timely manner.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.
- Ability to work some weekends or evenings and travel overnight to events across the nation to represent AKF, as needed (35%).
- Ability to lift materials and boxes up to 30 lbs.
Preferred
- Experience with event management and professional conference meeting planning are preferred.
COMPETENCIES
- Flexibility
- Customer Service
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Organization
- Project Prioritization
- Ability to work independently
- Teamwork
The salary range displayed is for a successful candidate hired in the DMV area. The salary range may be adjusted to reflect cost of living factors for candidates living outside of this location.
Employee benefits:
In addition to your competitive salary, paid holidays, vacation, sick and personal days; health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance and disability coverages; and a generous matching 403(b) retirement plan, we'll shower you with perks, including:
- Culture: We ensure our team knows how much they are valued, as demonstrated by our Quality Work Environment (QWE) Task Force and employee-led recognition and social events throughout the year.
- Compressed work week: Start the weekend early with shorter workdays on Fridays-closing at 3 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day and 2 p.m. in the summer.
- Flexibility: Employees work from home most of the time with 1-4 days a month in the office.
- Clear expectations: You'll know what you need to do to succeed; annual raises and bonuses for all employees are based on your performance.
- Location: Convenient location and a short walk to the popular Pike and Rose shopping center
- Parking: Arrive and leave work comfortably, thanks to an underground parking garage whose cost is paid for by AKF. Metro subsidies are provided for those who do not drive.
- Dress code: Business casual through the week and casual on Fridays.
AKF offers a hybrid work schedule with employees working in the office 1-4 days per month and telework the rest of the time. 
