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Professional Development Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Leads the execution of Construction Workface Effectiveness (CWE) professional development programs through the coordination of the Design and Deployment teams. Partners with project teams, functional ...

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Professional Development information

See Washington, DC salary details

$43K

$84.4K

$132.5K

How much do professional development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional development in Washington, DC is $84,425.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,500.00 and $115,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is professional development?

Professional development refers to the ongoing process of acquiring new skills, knowledge, and experience to enhance one's career performance and growth. It typically includes activities such as attending workshops, seminars, conferences, pursuing advanced degrees, or completing certifications. The goal of professional development is to keep professionals up-to-date with industry trends, improve job performance, and help them achieve career advancement. Many employers encourage or require professional development to ensure their workforce remains competitive and effective.

What is an example of a professional development opportunity?

A professional development opportunity for a job involves activities such as attending workshops, earning certifications, participating in training programs, or taking courses to improve skills and knowledge relevant to the role. These opportunities help employees stay current in their field and advance their careers.

How do professionals in a professional development role typically collaborate with other departments within an organization?

Professionals in a Professional Development role often work closely with HR, department managers, and team leaders to identify training needs and design effective learning programs. They regularly consult with subject matter experts to tailor content relevant to specific teams and may facilitate cross-departmental workshops or initiatives. This collaborative approach ensures that development programs are aligned with organizational goals and that employees at all levels receive the support they need to grow and succeed.

What is the difference between Professional Development vs Training?

AspectProfessional DevelopmentTraining
PurposeEnhances overall skills, knowledge, and career growthProvides specific skills for a particular task or job
DurationOngoing, long-termShort-term, focused
CredentialsMay lead to certifications or qualificationsUsually results in a certificate of completion
Work EnvironmentApplicable across various roles and industriesSpecific to job requirements

While both Professional Development and Training aim to improve skills, Professional Development focuses on long-term growth and career advancement, whereas Training provides targeted skills for immediate job needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional development specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professional Development Specialist, you need expertise in adult learning principles, curriculum design, and instructional strategies, often supported by a degree in education or a related field. Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-learning authoring tools, and relevant certifications such as CPLP or ATD are typically required. Strong communication, facilitation, and organizational skills help you effectively engage participants and manage multiple training initiatives. These skills are crucial for designing impactful development programs that enhance employee performance and support organizational growth.
What are the most commonly searched types of Development jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Development jobs in Washington, DC are:
What are popular job titles related to Professional Development jobs in Washington, DC? For Professional Development jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Professional Development jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Professional Development jobs in Washington, DC are:
Infographic showing various Professional Development job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $84,425 per year, or $40.6 per hour.

Director, Professional Development

Tennessee Society of Association Executives

Alexandria, VA โ€ข On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Other

Posted 2 days ago

New


Job description

Location: Hybrid โ€” DMV Corridor (2 days onsite requirements in Alexandria, VA)

Reports To: CEO

Employment Type: Full-Time / Permanent

Position Overview

The Associate Director, Professional Development provides strategic and operational leadership for SOPHEโ€™s educational portfolio that aligns with the 2030 Strategic Priorities. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Associate Director serves as the primary professional development lead for SOPHEโ€™s signature events, including the annual conference and advocacy summit, online learning, and educational awards.

Key Responsibilities

Provide leadership for the live education programming of SOPHEโ€™s signature events, including the SOPHE Annual Conference and Advocacy Summit.

  • Lead the conference and summit program development and peer review process for the SOPHE Annual Conference and Advocacy Summit, in partnership with the Annual Conference Education Committee, Advocacy Committee, leadership, and staff.
  • In collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, determine the signature eventsโ€™ delivery and ensure the signature events meet financial goals.
  • Oversee the call for abstracts process. Ensure there is an objective and quality review.
  • Manage the session selection workflows (scoring, review, session assignments, and scheduling) in alignment with program objectives and policies.
  • Assist in session selection meetings when the annual conference committee makes the session selection assignments.
  • Ensure that the coordinator builds registration for signature events.
  • Oversee vendors to include, but not limited to A/V providers, general service contractors, poster boards, signage, etc., in order to execute signature events within budget.
  • Manage logistics, contractors, volunteers, and staffing for signature events.
  • Oversee exhibitors and sponsors, g. exhibit floor plan; coordination with shipping company/hotel to deliver exhibit materials; sponsorship fulfillment according to agreements.
  • Oversee the planning of affiliate events during the signature events.
  • Collaborate with marketing and communications team to promote the signature events.
  • Based on meeting evaluations, recommend future professional
  • Oversee site selection process to include, initiate the site selection committee, solicit and review site recommendations for future conferences, conduct future location site visits, and work with meeting contractors and CEO to negotiate and confirm all facilitiesโ€™ and support service
Develop, implement, and evaluate online education to accomplish our strategic goals and priorities
  • Conduct needs assessments and oversee the development of new education content.
  • Collaborate with the Professional Development Committee to provide a variety of online education in a variety of modalities, e.g. virtual conferences, webinars, journal self-studies, resources, etc. based on the needs assessments.
  • Work with committee members and subject matter experts (SMEs) to build objectives, content development, and moving into production for delivery.
  • Evaluate educational programs. Analyze data from SOPHE surveys, chapter surveys, and professional development activity evaluations to determine learnersโ€™
  • Develop and manage budget. Identify and implement revenue streams and sponsorship opportunities.
  • Collaborate with marketing and communications team to promote educational offerings.
  • Collaborate with membership team to retain and engage members.
  • Manage coordinator and ensure that CE reporting is conducted on time.
  • Manage CE application and review process, including CE pilot testing if required.
  • Streamline workflow, encourage innovation, and deliver quality educational products.
Provide support to chapters for their professional development events and online learning
  • Ensure chapters are conducting and hosting professional development events and/or online learning.
  • Provide a forum for chapters to have support as they plan and implement their educational offerings.
  • Ensure that chapter continuing education credit process is seamless and credits are processed in a timely manner.
  • Attend House of Delegates meetings, as needed.
Oversee awards, fellowships and scholarships program
  • Responsible for the strategic oversight and operational management of awards, fellowships, and other recognition programs.
    • Oversee the application and review process for awards, fellowships, scholarship, and other recognition programs.
    • Facilitate the review and decision-making process for awards and fellowships, ensuring fairness, transparency, and consistency.
    • Conduct a Call for Volunteers and serve as staff liaison to the awards committee.
    • Ensure that award recipients are recognized during the annual conference and summit.
    • Oversee that the logistical aspects are being met for awards recognition.
    • Ensure timely execution of all processes, including deadlines, notifications, and payment distribution.
    • Manage the annual budget for award and fellowship programs, including tracking expenses and financial allocations.
Supervise and train staff
  • Supervise a part-time coordinator.
  • Provide learning opportunities for interns and train them on projects.
Qualifications
  • Bachelorโ€™s degree, preferably with at least five years of experience.
  • Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation and/or CHESยฎ certification preferred
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and good writing skills.
  • Demonstrated strong organizational and problem-solving skills to manage and track several projects simultaneously.
  • Experience with association education, webinar production, project management, volunteer management, event planning.
  • Experiencing managing an association management system (AMS) and learning management system (LMS). Knowledge of Cannolai AMS and Elevate LMS is a plus.
  • Ability to work independently as well as be a good team player.
  • Prior association and/or nonโ€‘profit experience is a plus.
  • Business travel as required, approximately 5%.
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