Senior Manager, Forum

THE ORGANIZATION

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a high-quality support network of 18,000 business founders and owners in 220 chapters and 80 countries worldwide. EO’s purpose is to move the world forward by unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurs. Since 1987, EO has helped entrepreneurs achieve transformational growth through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences, and collaborative learning. Guided by EO’s core values: trust and respect, thirst for learning, think big, be bold, and together we grow, EO’s international staff collaborates successfully across diverse cultures. As an EO employee, you will gain access to the world’s top experts in entrepreneurship, grow beyond your perceived limits, and make breakthroughs as you refine and realize your personal goals. EO’s competitive total rewards package, flexible work environment, and generous professional development resources are frequently cited as among the most popular benefits of working at EO.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Manager of Forum will oversee a critical function within the core forum product. This role involves oversight of the forum products to which all members can derive value and find their people faster. This individual is critical in bringing sustainable solution to any areas of friction from how a member, SLP, or key executive engages with the forum product (including marketing, placement, content, and ongoing satisfaction). This individual will work with the team to execute strategic priorities and develop transparent processes that make forum opportunities and resources frictionless.

The Senior Manager will work on a variety of projects including content development, delivery, training, certifications, and quality assurance of forum products. The span of this role is vast, with multiple simultaneous projects, and includes indirect training, live events, and chapter/ regional-level support. It also supervises the operations of the forum member vendor network.

This position requires strong cross-functional relationship skills as well as content development, event management, and leadership development competencies along with a deep understanding of EO products. Successful individuals will have experience working with entrepreneurs as clients and the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with various departments and stakeholders across the organization. Additionally, the Senior Manager of Forum aligns with volunteers and vendors within other member communities.

As a leader this individual will join a highly collaborative team with a “whatever it takes” positive attitude You’ll be assisting in working with members to determine needs, leading staff teams to success, and event delivery and quality assurance as required with other product leaders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the operational design and delivery of forum products in accordance with EO Global, product portfolio, and product team priorities (forum content and trainings, forum placement, forum health, trainer network). Contributes to the success of the entire forum ecosystem including forum leadership pathways through creation of the long-term strategic plan and KPI’s for forum health.  Ensures all content and product delivery is high quality, culturally relevant, and aligned to standard.
• In conjunction with the product design, technology, and marcomm teams, builds forum materials that are professional, updated, visually appealing, and accessible to all members in the forum trainer network. Create print and digital materials as needed.
• Accountable for ensuring execution processes and teams adhere to SOPs, budgets, evaluation, and protocols as well as agile requests from stakeholders. Lead onsite events as needed. Ensures that forum and community products are ideated, created, delivered, and evaluated to standard and within budget. Evaluate existing processes and recommend continual improvements.
• Assists with the development, vendor adoption and alignment, and quality assurance of forum content. Help plan and manage training events (globally and regionally delivered such as forum training, forum workshops, moderator training, moderator summits, trainer certifications, etc.) by recruiting qualified content providers/ vendors, developing agendas and content scope, overseeing event logistics, and providing impeccable customer service to stakeholders.
• Conducts audits to ensure that forum trainers are using the permitted materials with authorized IP.
• Proactively monitors member training needs and global growth to ensure that trainer intake, including from specific geographies and language capabilities, meet demands. Co-creates training schedule in conjunction with stakeholders including participants and staff from other verticals. Maintains an annual calendar of certifications booked and published at least nine months in advance.  
• Liaises with communications, regions, and other stakeholder groups to message forum news and forum leadership opportunities across the organization which results in members who are well informed of forum practices and a diverse pool of qualified volunteers and vendors.
• Work cross-collaboratively with other members of the forum team to ensure that forum design and delivery of other forum products is frictionless and forum metrics are achieved. Cross-train to other functions within forum and across products.
• Provide accurate and timely data reports after each iteration and year and works with analysis team to evaluate the forum leadership products. Provides expertise during times of evaluation and gives insight into areas of improvement and trends. Maintains active learning component to understand competitor practices and offerings.
• Ensure product debriefs are timely, comprehensive, and result in concrete action items or strategic pivots. Work with product teams to iterate on the debrief process, gathering feedback and adjusting the framework to optimize the value of each session. Report key findings to key stakeholders and leaders (members and staff) and track trends across products. 
• Delivers training and upskilling of forum leaders, trainers, members and staff. Make proactive recommendations for content and training revisions. Ensures that member vendors have a transparent and thorough process of evaluation and feedback throughout their time of service. Develop and maintain a system for tracking and following up on action items that arise from the trainer growth areas and issues.
• Conducts ongoing competitive analysis for forum and other relationship building initiatives. Include findings in an annual report.
• Manages and motivates forum staff and member volunteer leaders. Coach and supervise direct reports to achieve goals and objectives with positivity.
• Develop training for staff and members on how to engage with the products portfolio, offerings, and processes.
• Serve as staff support for assigned products portfolio workstreams and member directors as needed including regular calls, member leader support, training, and in-person meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field (master's degree preferred).
• Proven experience in content development, event management, leadership development, and/or membership associations with at least 4 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a team and work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills in English. Multiple languages a plus.

• Must have strong ability to work in teams with high accountability, willingness to work with ease across cultures, geographies, and time zones.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.