The Manager, WTS Communications and Programs will work to develop new approaches for learning opportunities for WTS members, prospective members, and transportation stakeholders, including virtual and live programming; and identify other strategies for the education and engagement of the transportation community.  Additionally, this position will assist the Director, External Relations & Strategic Initiatives in the development and implementation of external communications including drafting of executive and leadership letters, and talking points, and WTS International press releases. 

This role will oversee the WTS International programming portfolio, to include virtual panels on themes like leadership and career development, equity, diversity and inclusion, women-owned small business issues/entrepreneurship, and building a diverse future workforce in the industry; but also timely content in the transportation sector, including transportation legislation, tech innovations, and new research. This role will strengthen the WTS membership value proposition and build name recognition 

The Manager will report to the WTS International Director of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives. This role will closely align and often collaborate with other departments and positions, such as Meetings & Events; Marketing & Communications, and Membership & Chapter Relations. The Manager will also work closely to support WTS members, chapter representatives, leadership and volunteers.  

The ideal candidate for this position must be patient, organized, curious, deadline-driven, and thorough, with excellent writing skills, experience with working with a variety of high-level public agency leaders and C-Suite executives, and customer management. A basic understanding of federal transportation policy is also beneficial. 

Company Summary: The Women’s Transportation Seminar International (WTSI) is an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation.  WTSI attracts, sustains, connects, and advances women’s careers to strengthen the transportation industry.  WTSI offers its over 8,000 members, including women and men, access to high-caliber professional development, networking opportunities, mentoring programs, and unparalleled access to industry and government leaders.  WTSI is helping women find opportunity and recognition in the transportation industry.   

Responsibilities & Position Description: 

This role will build a year-round “elevated content” portfolio and calendar. This will include, but will not be limited to:

1. Webinars and virtual programs, like live broadcasts or social media chats 
2. Online resources for both members and prospective members, like white papers, blog posts, and other “outside the box” products.  
3. Providing “behind the paywall” content on MyWTS Higher Logic communities for member access, and public content on the WTS website to entice new members and corporate partners/sponsors. Some content will be original and will require excellent writing skills, and some will be curating existing materials or partnered content for republishing and sharing. 

This role will take programming and content ideas and execute on those ideas:  

1. Example:  Manager will take a general webinar idea/ concept provided by WTS leadership or staff, and then recruit subject matter experts from both inside and outside the WTS membership; planning and confirming their speaking roles and responsibilities, determining event dates, developing basic talking points for the marketing team to promote the event, and then providing a finalized project plan to the Meetings and Events team to launch online registration and co-produce.  The manager role may also handle initial event introductions and/or emcee/moderate if and when required.
2. Examples of program development and communication responsibilities include the WTS International Distinguished Speaker Series, the WTS Foundation Transportation YOU Capital Summit, WTS leadership workshops and webinars, and content development and communications in the form of summaries and analyses of industry research and/or events. 

This role will think outside the box: What is missing in WTS International-level programming? What do new and exciting resources look like? What do our members want, and how can we deliver? 

This role will be a team player and a “do-er”: The Manager will create and coordinate with multiple departments, but also work in a small team environment with little “silo-ing.” 

This role will be able to assist with youth and student programming as well as professional development: The Manager will recruit and schedule tours and presenters for programs like WTS Internationals’ Summer Transportation YOU Capital Summit 

1. Example: The Manager will reach out to public relations or educational points of contact to schedule and confirm tours and visit for groups of students to airport facilities, ports, train or rail stations, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and/or the United States Congress. 

This role will help build and maintain members-only resource library content in the MyWTS Communities (HigherLogic platform) that relate to WTS program areas including career development, leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.  

This role will continually evaluate and analyze programming performance: The manager will establish a methodology of surveying program attendees and analyze and act upon those findings. The Manager will regularly report out metrics such as downloads, attendee feedback, new topic areas, etc. and execute a plan of recommendations from leadership for program improvement, if needed.  

This role will develop a complete and detailed listing of WTS program offerings and provide updates for the WTS website to the Communications team in a timely fashion. 

This role may represent WTS International industry events and exhibit trade shows to pitch WTS offerings, meet and develop relationships with potential speakers and content contributors, and to stay up to date on industry topics and trends.  

This role will elevate the WTS brand through communications with external stakeholders, including trade relationships with trade media, etc..  

Duties:  

• Collaborate with WTS staff, WTS board leadership, WTS member volunteers and with transportation subject matter experts to ensure a variety of instructional quality of courses/programs, assessment of teaching styles, and use of appropriate technology 
• Identify, recruit, and confirm subject matter experts from the WTS membership, corporate partners, WTS stakeholders, and transportation industry leaders to volunteer their time to present on virtual and/or in person panels and at events (webinars, live chats and broadcasts, interviews, etc.) 
• Plan and execute learning opportunities, such as webinars and live events, in coordination with the WTS Meetings and Events department.  
• Develop and implement strategic plans and policies for online learning and programming, and perform yearly program assessments 
• Provides a status report on a regular basis as determined by the President & CEO or Consultant for Learning Management regarding the status of assigned responsibilities. 
• Provides support in strategic development and inter-departmental coordination that enables WTS International to realize its strategic objectives as defined by the President & CEO. 
• Develops and administers the educational programming of the Association and Foundation. 
• Guest writes blogs, articles, speeches, and talking points for WTS leadership as assigned by the Director, External Relations and Strategic Initiatives  
• Assist in development and implementation of external communications strategy, including media engagement  
• Work with Associate, Communications and Marketing, ensure WTS external website and social media platforms reflect the brand and current WTS initiatives 
• Develop content for external website to utilize as an additional tool in member and partner  recruitment  
• Assist in content development as it relates to the WTS annual content calendar  
• Execute on program delivery concepts presented by President & CEO, Directors, and board leadership  
• Works with other associations and companies to create partnerships for developing jointly sponsored educational programs
• Aligns with WTS chapters when appropriate for programming opportunities 
• Serve as staff liaison to assigned committees
• Work on site at a variety of association meetings and events
• Other duties and tasks as assigned 

Qualifications: 

• A successful candidate for this position could come from varying backgrounds and educational experiences.  A specific degree is not required, but post-high-school educational experience preferred.  
• At least 3-5 years of overall professional experience within communications, educational programming, content delivery positions or within associations  

• Ability to travel to approximately 5-7 number of industry events each calendar year  
• Experience in and/or knowledge of transportation industry preferred  
• Excellent long-form writing skills (samples required) 
• Experience in developing programming and educational content, in either an instructional design or marketing role  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Work Environment and Physical Demands: WTS International works in a hybrid environment under a results only work environment that allows for flexibility in work hours as long as the work gets done. This position will be required to be in Washington, DC for specific programming, meetings, and sessions- potentially monthly. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel.  The employee is frequently required to talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. 

About Women's Transportation Seminar International

The Women’s Transportation Seminar International (WTSI) is an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation. WTSI attracts, sustains, connects and advances women’s careers to strengthen the transportation industry. With over 8,500 members in 65 chapters across the United States and Canada, WTS provides unprecedented access with members representing the highest levels of the transportation industry and offers programs attracting emerging leaders to careers in STEM. WTSI is helping women find opportunity and recognition in the transportation industry.

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