ABA Education Specialist
For over 100 years, ABA has helped independent bookstores start up, grow, and succeed. As a national not-for-profit trade organization, ABA provides indie bookstores with education; business products and services; an e-commerce platform; marketing support; and advocacy.
ABA’s Education Specialist will work with the members of ABA’s Education Team to develop and implement professional education for booksellers, and to help facilitate and support ABA's bookstore education conferences.
Essential Job Functions:
Conference Education
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Develop, create, and coordinate education content and planning for education conferences
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Create education materials including presentations and handouts
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Assist with event execution and logistics before, during, and after education conferences
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Participate in pre-event conference calls and video calls with presenters and panelists
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Manage the collection, organization and dissemination of education content event materials.
General Education
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Create, host, manage and/or support general education initiatives
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Facilitate virtual education
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Contribute to overall departmental strategy to ensure members’ needs are met
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Implement member feedback mechanisms and use that feedback to inform education content
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Coordinate with other ABA departments as needed to optimize development of education
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Work collaboratively and independently on education team initiatives, manage multiple projects at once, and identify priorities based on individual, team, and organizational needs
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Research, network, and liaise with booksellers, industry partners, and subject experts to ensure education deliverables are aligned with member needs
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Identify salient trends in bookselling, publishing, retailing, and other related areas that might enrich ABA education content development.
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Prioritize equity, access, representation and antiracism in all work.
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Perform other duties as needed.
Work Activities:
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Attend and participate in all staff meetings and events meeting, as required.
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Travel is required to prepare for and to attend ABA’s conferences and trade shows.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
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Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal and customer service skills; and organizational skills with attention to detail.
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Strong organizational and time management skills, including handling multiple projects simultaneously, meeting tight deadlines, and reacting quickly and smoothly to changes.
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Superior attention to detail.
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Strong computer skills with a special emphasis on Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Google Suite, along with basic image and video editing programs.
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Comfortable with appearing on public-facing multimedia platforms like short videos and leading virtual webinar education
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Eagerness to learn and grow in a team environment.
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Must be reliable and flexible on short notice.
Position Specifics:
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This position is a remote work position.
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Employment Type: Full-time, salaried position. This is a non-exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
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Salary: $55,000 per year
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Schedule: Generally, ABA staff work 8 am - 4 pm, 9 am - 5 pm, or 10 am - 6 pm ET unless negotiated with the supervisor. Work week is 35 - 37.5 hours. Occasional paid overtime at the manager's discretion.
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Travel is required for in-person conferences, shows, and events, including approximately 10+ days of U.S. travel twice a year. Upcoming scheduled travel includes Children’s Institute 2024 in New Orleans (approx 6/7/24 - 6/13/24).
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This position is part of ABA’s Education Team and reports directly to ABA’s Director of Education.
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Physical demands of the job include bending, standing, and lifting, primarily at events, as well as sitting.
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All job responsibilities should be considered through equity, access, representation and antiracism lenses in accordance with ABA’s ends policies.
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All job responsibilities should be considered through ABA’s stated values.
Benefits:
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401(k)
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Dental insurance
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Employee assistance program
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Flexible spending account
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Medical insurance
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Health savings account
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Life insurance
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Paid time off
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Vision insurance
Schedule:
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8 hour shift (with 30 - 60 minute paid lunch)
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Monday to Friday (except occasionally during conference and events)
How to Apply:
Please email a resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: Education Specialist. Your cover letter should speak to your interest in this position and what experience you would bring to ABA. Only applicants who follow these directions will be considered. Applications will be accepted until the role is filled. We will begin reaching out to applicants after May 1, 2024.
Equal Opportunity:
ABA believes diversity and diverse perspectives make our organization stronger, and we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and an association that’s representative of all of our members and the customers they serve. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age; ethnicity; color; race; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity and/or expression; marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status; past or present military service; physical, mental, or sensory disability; national, social, or ethnic origin; neurodiversity; pregnancy; family or parental status; and/or genetic information (including family medical history).
Important Note: If you are passionate about ABA’s mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
About us:
For almost 125 years, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) has been the guiding voice for independently-owned bookstores. Founded in 1900, ABA is a national not-for-profit trade organization that supports the success of independent bookstores. This success is assisted through education, information dissemination, business services, programming, technology, and advocacy. ABA's membership has evolved over the years, and our members are more diverse, involved in community, and act as guiding forces in locales around the country. ABA represents over 2,500 independent bookstores across the United States.
