Senior Vice President, Society Programs

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a not-for-profit scientific and educational organization and is the world's largest scientific society. Founded in 1876, the Society is comprised of a community of more than 230,000 individuals, publishes ninety+ journals and periodicals and produces the largest and most widely used chemical databases in the world.

There are two major operating locations with approximately 1,850 employees. In addition, the ACS has a representative foreign office in China and several field representatives throughout Europe and Asia who promote the use of ACS programs, products, and services. A dozen field offices in the United States and abroad also serve as news gathering centers for Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly ACS magazine. Global operations are managed through ACSI, Ltd. The Society's annual operating revenue is approximately $800M.

The Society's membership is composed of individuals of widely diversified interests and objectives, ranging from undergraduate students in the chemical sciences to the highly experienced chemical professional in industry, academia, government and elsewhere. The Society has over 180 local sections and over thirty technical divisions as well as student chapters and international chapters.

Equally varied are the concerns of members and other scientists in the disciplines of, or related to, chemistry whose interests may lie in maintaining current awareness in scientific, technological, and business developments, education at all levels, or in professional or government relations.

Key Responsibilities and Desired Outcomes

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Vice President, Society Programs serves as a member of ACS's people leadership team, responsible for driving operational excellence across key programmatic areas to ensure alignment with, and timely delivery of strategic goals and priorities. This role provides visionary leadership and oversight for the Education & Career Development, Science, Research & Sustainability, and Events, Meetings & Expositions functional areas. Through a collaborative and outcomes-driven approach, the Senior Vice President, Society Programs ensures the delivery of cutting-edge programs, products and services that enhance member engagement while continuing to amplify American Chemical Society's position as the largest and most esteemed scientific society of its kind in the world. Specific Responsibilities Include:

Strategic Leadership:

• Partners with the Chief Operating Officer ("COO") and senior leadership to shape and implement long-term strategic initiatives that advance the organization's mission.
• Translates strategic objectives into actionable operational plans, supported by clear, outcome-driven performance metrics.
• Drives optimization across individual operating units while maintaining a holistic view of the Society Programs portfolio; ensure strategic alignment and cross-functional collaboration to meet the evolving needs of current and future members.
• Proactively identifies and secures funding opportunities, including grants and strategic investments, to support programmatic growth and innovation.

Operational Leadership:

• Introduces innovative approaches to enhance existing processes, driving resource optimization and improved outcomes.
• Partners with the COO to assess the strategic relevance of programs, products, and services, while streamlining operations to eliminate redundancy and promote organizational efficiency.
• Leverages technology platforms to develop and execute a data-informed, customer-centric strategy that supports sustainable growth for the Society.
• Leads budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation in partnership with Finance and departmental leadership to ensure fiscal responsibility and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Establishes and maintains robust systems and processes to support effective portfolio management, seamless event execution, and meaningful stakeholder engagement.
• Ensures compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards while identifying and mitigating operational risks.

Staff Leadership:

• Provides strategic leadership to a high-performing professional staff committed to delivering innovative, mission-aligned products and services.
• Sets a clear vision and measurable goals, while encouraging a collaborative and team-oriented culture that advances the mission of ACS.
• Cultivates an environment that promotes innovation, accountability, mutual respect, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Engages in regular skip-level meetings to encourage open dialogue, strengthen organizational cohesion, and gain insights from diverse perspectives across the Society.

External Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serves as a passionate and dynamic spokesperson on behalf of the Society and develops strong relationships with members and external stakeholders to advance the mission of American Chemical Society.
• Provides visionary leadership to shape a fresh strategic approach to engage and invigorate ACS's membership to influence effective global growth.
• Monitors and improve service delivery, responsiveness, and satisfaction.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in program and product management, preferably within a nonprofit mission-driven or STEM-focused organization.
• Demonstrated global mindset and cultural fluency with a proven ability to navigate complex, multicultural environments and engage members and stakeholders across diverse geographies.
• Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, building consensus, and aligning departments to achieve strategic, operational, and financial goals. Excels in prioritizing initiatives, driving execution, and ensuring accountability for results.
• Demonstrated business acumen and ability to drive organizational change and innovation. Track record of creatively solving complex challenges and delivering transformative outcomes.
• Technologically savvy and proactive in leveraging digital solutions to address business challenges and enhance performance.
• Exceptional communicator with strong active listening skills. Experienced in presenting to varied audiences, including senior executives, board members, volunteers, and external partners.
• Adept at risk management, simplifying complex issues, and navigating ambiguity with confidence and clarity.
• Committed to talent development and team excellence. Experienced in mentoring staff, leading high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of continuous growth and accountability.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree is required; Advanced degree in business or other related program is desired.

HYBRID OFFICE POLICY

ACS employees work a hybrid work schedule, consisting of working onsite in the Washington, DC office, two days per week. While always welcome to work in the office, employees may work the other three days of the week from a location of their choice. Occasional travel, including weekends and international, will be required (8-10 trips/year).

COMPENSATION

A competitive compensation package will be provided to outstanding candidates. The base salary range for this position is $300,000 to $330,000 along with a highly competitive incentive plan. Salary will be dependent on several factors, including previous work experience, specific industry experience, qualifications, and skill set.

ACS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account or health care savings account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and 4-week work from anywhere; each benefit is subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply based on skills, experience, and location.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of ACS. ACS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.

Korn Ferry has been retained for this executive search. In addition to applying directly with ACS, please send all application materials to the contacts below.

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