Leadership Development Specialist
Job Description
Job Description
Position Overview
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is seeking a dynamic Leadership Development Specialist to develop and manage leadership and professional development programs for county members and internal staff. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking, influence, relationship building, and hands-on execution to strengthen NACo’s mission and impact. This role plays a key part in delivering meaningful experiences while supporting HR goals and initiatives that help us build a winning team and thriving workplace.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the design, planning and execution of the association’s training programs for members. This includes the following:
Manage logistics, budget, partner coordination and operational execution for the County Leadership Institute (CLI), which brings together an annual class of up to 30 county leaders for a week of leadership training.
Develop unique, engaging and relevant leadership tracks for NACo’s major conferences and virtual webinars throughout the year
Research potential contributors to NACo’s leadership networks
Redefine NACo’s leadership training brand by assessing member needs and curating a strong roster of facilitators, tools, and curricula.
Evaluate existing NACo leadership offerings to identify underserved county roles or sectors and recommend new programs or networks.
Support the design, planning and execution of the association’s training, engagement and wellbeing programs for teammates. This includes:
Liaise with staff, vendors and consultants to design and implement the Annual calendar with live, virtual and on-demand opportunities for learning, wellbeing and engagement.
Curate and promote tools like LinkedIn Learning and Gallup
Create internal communications and initiatives to drive learning and engagement
Identify learning needs and propose innovative solutions in partnership with internal teams and external resources
Build and maintain a library of training content, assessments, toolkits and career development resources – including mentoring, manager development and leadership training
Stay informed on trends and best practices in leadership and talent management, especially in the non-profit, association and government sectors. Translate insights into actionable strategies and execute on the ground with minimal supervision
Foster positive and trusted relationships with staff and members to understand needs, gather feedback, report and improve program metrics to achieve mutual success
Support broader HR activities and processes related to engagement and projects as assigned
Qualifications, Preferred Competencies and Skills:
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Education, Public Administration, or related field
5–7 years of experience in designing and managing leadership development, learning, or talent management programs
Experience working with or within government, nonprofit, or membership-based associations strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience in program design, facilitation, and project management with attention to detail and communication skills
Strong understanding of adult learning principles, instructional design and graphic design, and leadership development models
Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and desire to improve public service
Excellent MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook skills required. Other CRM and HR tech/tools a plus.
Location:
While this position is based in Washington, D.C, with occasional travel required, it may be performed remotely, in a hybrid capacity or in-person, depending on evolving responsibilities and candidate experience.
Salary: $70,000 with eligibility for annual variable bonus starting 2026
Why Join NACo:
Opportunity to lead impactful, mission-oriented public affairs efforts at a national level.
Work alongside a dedicated team committed to helping county government officials in the pursuit of excellence in public service, ultimately helping people and places to thrive.
Competitive salary and benefits package.