Manager, Education and Certification

Job Overview The American Bus Association (ABA) seeks a strategic and experienced Manager of Education & Certification to lead the design, management, and growth of the association’s education and certification enterprise, while serving as a key partner to ABA’s members in identifying, shaping, and delivering high-value learning for the bus and group travel industry. This role reports to the Vice President of Membership & Marketing and sits within ABA’s core association segment responsible for leading the organization’s member-first culture and value proposition. In this capacity, the Manager plays a central role in delivering one of ABA’s most important forms of member value: high-quality, relevant, and practical education. The Manager owns ABA’s education and certification framework across all member types, councils, and programs, ensuring that learning is cohesive, high-quality, and aligned with both organizational strategy and real-world member needs. The position plays a central role in shaping how ABA delivers professional development, safety training, and operational education across the industry. As the national trade association for the private bus industry, this role plays a central part in advancing operational excellence through practical, field-informed education and certification programs. Working with the Bus Industry Safety Council and other councils, the Manager helps shape programs that reflect real-world bus operations, maintenance practices, safety management systems, and regulatory compliance. This hands-on role requires regular member engagement and in-person meetings to translate insights from operators, safety leaders, and maintenance professionals into relevant, scalable education and training pathways. Over time, the Manager becomes a trusted resource to members on education, training, and certification. Success in this position requires the balance of strategic vision and hands-on curiosity: the ability to design enterprise-level education systems for ABA, while also building subject-matter fluency in bus safety and maintenance and driving the development of high-impact content. This role operates at the intersection of education strategy, member service, safety, events, and advocacy. Working in close partnership with councils, in-person meetings, and the Government Relations team, the Manager ensures that ABA’s education programming reflects current regulatory realities, emerging risks, and best practices, while also driving attendance, revenue, and engagement through year-round and in-person learning. Reports to: Vice President of Membership & Marketing Works closely with: ABA Councils, Membership, Meetings & Events, Communications, Advocacy, External Education & LMS Partners Key Responsibilities ABA Education & Certification Strategy Develop and maintain a member-wide education and certification framework serving all ABA member types. Ensure ABA Certified programs are: · Modular (e.g., Safety, Maintenance) · Scalable over time · Consistent in structure, branding, and renewal requirements Serve as the central point of accountability for ABA education and certification governance. ABA Certification Governance · Own the structure, standards, and lifecycle of all ABA certifications, including: • ABA Certified – Safety [placeholder example] • ABA Certified – Maintenance [placeholder example] • CTIS [this role would look at reviving this previous program] • Future certification tracks · Coordinate certification development with relevant councils, industry and association leaders, and subject-matter experts. · Establish certification requirements, assessment standards, renewal processes, and documentation guidelines. · Protect the integrity and credibility of the ABA Certified brand. Council Education Coordination · Partner with all ABA councils to: • Align council-led education with ABA’s broader learning and certification strategy. • Ensure council expertise is reflected consistently across ABA education offerings. • Support collaboration and reduce duplication across councils. · Work closely with the Driving Force Council, which plays a central role in shaping ABA’s education strategy and has led the development of educational tracks for Marketplace, as well as with BISC and BusMARC, both of which are essential to advancing safety education for bus operators. · Act as a facilitator and strategic advisor, helping councils translate expertise into structured, scalable education. In-Person Events & Education Alignment · Collaborate with the Meetings & Events team to elevate in-person education at ABA events. · Ensure Marketplace and other ABA meetings align with education and certification pathways. · Support the intentional design of educational tracks that connect in-person learning to year-round education and certification opportunities. · Help translate successful in-person education into scalable formats where appropriate. Learning Platform & LMS Partner Oversight · Oversee ABA’s learning platform strategy, which may be delivered through an external LMS partner. · Work with LMS partners to: • Define content structure and learning pathways • Establish access and pricing models for members and non-members • Maintain quality control, reporting, and member experience standards · Serve as ABA’s internal liaison for LMS-related strategy and governance. External Education & Training Partnerships · Manage relationships with education and training partners, including: • Regulatory or standards bodies (e.g., FMCSA where applicable) • Independent trainers and education providers • Manufacturers and industry experts · Determine when ABA should curate, license, or partner rather than create content internally. Member Value & Revenue Alignment · Collaborate with Membership and Marketing teams to: • Position education and certification as core member benefits • Support recruitment, retention, and engagement • Develop sustainable pricing models for certifications and premium education · Ensure offerings remain accessible, particularly for small and emerging members. Qualifications · Experience in education strategy, professional development, certification programs, or learning management · Strong understanding of adult learning principles · Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives without direct authority · Comfort working with volunteer leaders, councils, and external partners · Excellent organizational, communication, and facilitation skills · Willingness and ability to travel 25–50% to key events and sales meetings. Preferred Experience · Association or nonprofit experience · Oversight of certification or credentialing programs · Experience working with LMS vendors or education partners · Industry education, workforce development, or standards-based training programs Measures of Success · ABA educational offerings are clearly organized and easy for members to navigate · ABA certification programs launch and grow with consistency and credibility · Councils, especially Driving Force, feel supported and aligned · In-person education at Marketplace and other events is elevated and strategically aligned · Education contributes meaningfully to member engagement, value, and revenue · Programs are financially sustainable (money is made, not lost) Work Environment & Benefits ABA is headquartered in Washington, DC, with a hybrid work schedule. This position may be based remotely, with quarterly travel to DC for strategic planning and staff meetings. We offer a competitive benefits package designed to attract and retain top-tier professionals committed to excellence. The American Bus Association is an equal opportunity employer. About the American Bus Association The American Bus Association (ABA) is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the North American private bus, group travel, and tourism industries. ABA unites bus operators with their partners—manufacturers, tour operators, destinations, attractions, hotels, DMOs, and travel partners—under one association. We serve as the industry’s definitive forum for connection, business growth, and results. We champion bus and group travel by advocating for a stronger industry, supporting member success, and providing meaningful opportunities for collaboration. Through cross-sector events, industry research, educational programming and certifications, and policy advocacy, ABA helps members connect people with places and move communities forward. ABA members have access to a wide range of programs and services, including professional staff support, government relations, the ABA Foundation, ABA Marketplace, Women in Buses, the Bus Industry Safety Council, and other industry-focused initiatives. For more information, visit www.buses.org Apply tot his job