The Board of Directors of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) is seeking a professionally respected, service-oriented, and energetic individual to become its next Executive Director. ASPRS is a highly visible organization with national and international exposure, founded in 1934 and marketed as “The Imaging & Geospatial Information Society.” The mission of the Society is to advance knowledge and improve understanding of the mapping sciences and to promote the responsible applications of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and supporting technologies. ASPRS membership includes 5000 individuals and 130 organizations from private industry, government, and academia.
Reporting directly to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be a visionary leader who must help articulate, assertively advocate, and successfully execute the Society’s agenda of work objectives, pursuant to the Society’s Strategic Plan, within budgetary guidelines, on behalf of a diverse membership from academia, government and industry. The successful candidate is expected to have experience building, sustaining, and strengthening a non-profit organization, focused on professional development of its members. The successful candidate is expected to possess understanding of the scientific and technical impact ASPRS has within the wide range of disciplines related to photogrammetry and remote sensing. In addition, he or she must be both hands-on manager and recognized leader who thinks strategically but can respond quickly to an immediate need. Click here to access the current Position Description.
A small skilled ASPRS staff reports to the Executive Director, but many governance responsibilities and the technical accomplishments of the Society rely upon volunteers’ time and expertise. Thus, receptiveness to others’ recommendations and ideas is a paramount consideration. Excellent negotiation, open-minded listening, and honed communication skills are critical. He or she must be able to work closely with the Board, the staff, and the membership to promote an open, inclusive environment that emphasizes cooperation and teamwork. The Executive Director is expected to deploy a management approach to long-term success through quality service. Those serviced by ASPRS include “internal” constituents such as ASPRS staff and membership and “external” constituents such as non-member individuals, groups, government, non-government organizations (NGOs), academics and commercial institutions. Through the effective use of leadership skills the Executive Director is expected continuously to improve the process, products, services and culture of ASPRS as measured by meeting or exceeding customer requirements.
Professional societies are facing decreasing membership and reduced operating budgets. The successful candidate is expected to stabilize membership trends, will envision ways to incorporate new technical and operational approaches, will demonstrate experience with financial management, and will improve the society’s value proposition for existing and prospective members. In addition, he or she will be diplomatic and of the highest integrity, will possess sound judgment, and will bring a sense of humor.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Excellent leadership, management and team-building skills, including the ability to motivate, align efforts, set goals, delegate and monitor effectively;
- Demonstrated record of success in strategic planning and problem solving;
- Proven track record of progressive responsibility in an academic, governmental and/or industry/business environment;
- Experience in building and mentoring a high-performance management and/or support team in a complex organization with demonstrable skill in developing strong teams and collaborations;
- Experience in sound management of the finances of a non-profit organization or an organization of similar capacity and complexity;
- Knowledge of how to develop relationships with key stakeholders;
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills;
- Undergraduate degree with coursework in a discipline related to the mission and objectives of the Society.
Desired
- Demonstrable proficiency working with a volunteer, and frequently changing, corps of professionals to accomplish objectives;
- Graduate degree from an accredited school in a related discipline;
- State licensure as a PE or PLS;
- Certification as a Photogrammetrist or Mapping Scientist;
- Minimum of 15 years’ experience, with at least five (5) years in a senior management leadership position of progressing responsibility;
- Business acumen in spirit and ability to find innovative ways to grow a non-profit organization
Compensation for the successful candidate will be negotiated based upon qualifications and will be comparable to similar positions in other non-profit organizations of professional members.
Applications are to be submitted as a .pdf file and need to include a letter of intent describing professional interests and accomplishments, educational background, management and other experience relevant to the position, a resume or curriculum vitae, and contact information for at least three references. The position location and place of business of ASPRS is Bethesda, Maryland.
Applications should be addressed to:
Ms. Roberta Lenczowski
The Search Committee will accept applications through October 1, 2013.
ASPRS is a 501(c)(3) organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer
Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 6,000 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.
Contact:
Kim Tilley
ASPRS Director of Communications
301-493-0290 ext.103
kimt@asprs.org