Executive Director

Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, with primary offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., is looking for an Executive Director to join our team in our Washington, DC office.

At Smithbucklin, we embody a culture driven by optimism, ambition, expertise, and thoughtfulness, where every team member is empowered to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Join us in shaping the future of association management, where our values serve as the cornerstone of our success.

Our Work Environment

Smithbucklin empowers associations and communities that enrich society and move industries, fields, and professions forward. Working together, we help organizations reimagine solutions to nurture growth, advance missions, and increase reach and impact. With expert capabilities propelled by talent, versatility, and creativity, we help associations achieve their greatest potential. Our mission is to achieve the missions of the client organizations we serve and provide uncompromised stewardship for their long-term prosperity. The work environment is collaborative, with teams organized through a matrix of skill levels and expertise. The company is 100% employee owned.

EXPECTED RESULTS: Achieve the organizations’ vision, mission, and organizational goals; achieve annual budgeted financial performance; grow the organization; build strong relationships across the industries, with key stakeholders and with volunteer leaders; and advance external brand, reputation, and impact.

PERFORMANCE METRICS: Measured by achieving Board-defined metrics while consistently demonstrating the required leadership competencies: the organization's overall relevance and impact; the financial, operational, and resource management effectiveness.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITES:

STRATEGY. Advise, guide, and influence the Boards in defining its long-term strategy and goals. Provide expertise, develop, present, and recommend execution plans and programs to the Boards and committees that deliver on strategic goals in established time frames. Includes prioritizing initiatives, allocating resources, setting budgets, determining operational program activities, and establishing performance targets.

GROWTH.  Oversee development, implementation, marketing, and evaluation of programs and services designed to grow membership, create member value, advance association priorities, and grow non-dues revenue. Act externally in the industry as the chief business development officer to increase industry engagement support and participation.

FINANCIALS.  Plan, direct, monitor, and analyze association finances to achieve the financial objectives. Financial planning and decision-making to ensure funding is available and assets are used efficiently. Works with the Executive Committee, Treasurer, and Board members of each organization to develop and get approval for the annual operating budget; analyze, interpret and forecast financials. Provide management KPIs and financial metrics to the Board. Recommend and ensure compliance with policies and financial control processes are in place.

GOVERNANCE.  Provide governance and compliance leadership expertise to the Boards of Directors and committees. Advise, guide, and mentor Directors. Develop and amend association policy & bylaws as needed. Actively engage in the board succession planning, recruit and recommend potential association leaders. Establish Board and committee policies and charters. Ensure an effective, high-performance governance model and member/volunteer engagement processes are in place.

OPERATIONS.  Provide executive oversight of association resources and operations that are managed in partnership with Smithbucklin.  Monitor, evaluate, prioritize and optimize the performance of association programs against goals. Allocate staff and internal/external consulting resources to meet association objectives. Act as the main liaison between the association leadership and staff, lead an effective committee structure, report to and communicate with the Board to obtain direction, establish objectives, and implement strategies.

RELATIONSHIPS. Manage positive relationships with the Board, key strategic partners, and volunteers. Be a visible voice force in the building material and floor covering distribution industry. Identify industry partners that can help achieve the association’s goals, develop and manage strategic partnerships, and coordinate association efforts on key industry issues.

TALENT.  Manage a diverse team of senior leaders across each function of the organization. Assign and oversee work, evaluate performance, and develop individuals. Lead & direct the efforts of cross-functional teams as needed to meet each association’s goals. Coordinate, motivate, and influence association volunteers to work towards client organizational goals. Manage resources effectively within a matrix-based professional services environment.

BRAND.  Continue to evolve the go-to-market strategy and messaging with oversight of the association’s internal and external messaging and communications. Ensure all communication, actions, activities, and output for both associations are consistent with the brand promise and value proposition.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

• Senior-level management and leadership experience is required. Demonstrates experience and competence with developing both strategy and operational plans to support general business goals of an organization and directing the operations designed to achieve these goals. Must include experience with budgeting and managing P&L. Knowledge of governance practices, financial management, and accounting is required.
• Prior experience with leading, performance management and developing diverse staff is desirable. Prior experience with mobilizing results from volunteers and with matrix work environments is beneficial.
• An understanding of the role as an employee of a professional services company while working closely with volunteer leadership to execute association goals and objectives.  
• Experience leading an organization through change to remain relevant is a plus. 
• Experience and/or familiarity with the housing and building material sector is highly desirable.
• Previous work in Association Management is desirable.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SKILLS & TECHNICAL ABILITES  

• Business Analysis Skills
• Business Planning Skills
• Communications Ability (written & verbal)
• Financial Acumen (budgeting, forecasting, analyzing)
• Ability to influence others
• Presentation Skills
• Supervising Skills (assign/delegate, motivate, observe/correct performance, reward)
• Administrative & Project Management Skills
• Marketing Management Skills (program design & management, communications strategy)

KEY BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES 

• Demonstrated Executive Presence
• Board Relationship Management
• Results Oriented: strives to achieve high levels of individual and organizational performance
• Initiative: takes independent actions and goes beyond what the position or situation requires
• Analytical/Systematic Thinker: takes a well-ordered and logical approach to analyzing a problem, organizing work, and planning actions
• Conceptual /Strategic Thinker, identifies and see the relationship among key issues while understanding the big picture
• Forward-thinker: anticipates and plans to deal with future events, trends, problems or opportunities
• Team Builder: creates an environment to sustain highly motivated groups working to achieve common objectives
• Consensus Builder: uses well-considered approaches to convince others and build support of ideas & objectives
• Communicator: takes advantage of opportunities to listen to others, have them feel listened to and satisfy their need to be informed
• Relationship Builder: develops and maintains strong network of internal and external clients/contacts
• Developer of People: takes time to provide guidance and feedback to improve other’s performance and ensure their development
• Personal Sensitivity/Empathy: is perceptive and responsive to the feelings, attitudes, values, and concerns of others.
• Global Orientation: has a well-formed global worldview and is able to understand and operate in a multicultural, multi-national, cross-border industry
• Customer/Member Focused: is aware of member needs; makes decisions with members in mind; builds strong member relationships
• Accountable: follows through in all areas; accepts and delivers on responsibilities; requires others to follow through on commitments

Smithbucklin considers several factors when determining compensation, including a candidate's recent coursework, training, experience, and certifications, among other considerations. The expected pay for this role is $115,000-$130,000 base.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position.

Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment, you must be authorized to work in the United States permanently.