Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 75 years of success serving the association market, is looking for a chief staff executive (President) to be located in our Washington, DC Headquarters office to serve our association management client organization the Railway Supply Institute (RSI).

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.

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) is the only all-inclusive trade association for railway suppliers. Representing over 170 companies, RSI acts on behalf of the smallest to the largest suppliers to North American freight and passenger railroads and their 240,000 employees. Industry segments include mechanical, communications & signaling, maintenance of way and passenger industries. 

RSI represents its member companies and promotes the primary interests of the industry. With access to decision-makers in the United States Congress and the Administration, RSI works with regulatory agencies and Congressional lawmakers to promote rail supply industry interests. RSI members continuously invest in new technologies that make our rail systems safer, cleaner and more efficient and RSI plays an important role at both the federal and state level supporting our members and their customers.

Partnering with the RSI Board of Directors, the RSI President has overall responsibility for strategic leadership, program and services planning and execution, member services and operations, industry advocacy and government relations, and the financial and general business management functions of the organization. The President is accountable for overall success in achieving the mission of RSI. The individual selected for this role will engage the appropriate resources to support RSI’s portfolio of products and services and direct the work of a matrix RSI team of experienced and talented functional specialists at Smithbucklin.

The RSI President is directly accountable to the Board of Directors for achievement of outcomes—including mission impact, volunteer strength and service delivery. The RSI President will work interdependently to execute their responsibilities within the framework of Smithbucklin’s established client stewardship principles and operating guidelines.

Internally, the RSI President is part of a large community of peer association executives at Smithbucklin. Success is measured by achieving client-defined results and client-evaluated satisfaction measures, consistently demonstrating required executive competencies.

 
Smithbucklin is a client-centric organization, and this position is embedded within RSI’s own unique culture, values, and behaviors. Client organization working environments vary but are all dynamic and volunteer driven. Smithbucklin’s work style is highly collaborative, with teams organized both hierarchically and matrixed. Work activity for this role is self-managed and autonomous. High-pressure situations characterized by both changing board and industry expectations and multiple priorities are frequently encountered. Some travel is required.

RSI President Role and Responsibilities

INDUSTRY RELATIONS. Serve as the external face of the industry. Build and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, industry associations, and media outlets, including engaging in public speaking opportunities, maintaining an active social media presence, and participating in adjacent industry association events.

PLANNING AND EXECUTION. Be an advisor, guide and support the RSI Board of Directors in executing their long-term strategy and annual goals and allocating resources including capital and people. Provide expertise, develop, present, and recommend operational plans & programs to the board and committees that deliver the desired outcomes. Includes allocating resources, setting budgets, determining operational plan, program activities, and establishing revenue and expense targets for annual budgeting. 

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. Plan, direct, monitor, and analyze association finances to achieve RSI’s financial objectives. Financial planning and decision-making to ensure funding is available and that RSI assets are utilized efficiently and responsibly. Works with the Board of Directors and Treasurer to develop annual operating budget, analyze, interpret and forecast financials. Coordinate Smithbucklin resources and facilitate the use of outside investment managers on behalf of the client. Recommend and ensure compliance with policies and ensure financial control processes are in place.

GOVERNANCE. Provide governance support and leadership expertise to the Board of Directors and committees. Provide onboarding, guide and mentor Directors in their volunteer role. Develop and comply with association policies & bylaws. Actively engage in succession planning process, recruit and recommend potential volunteer leaders. Establish board and committee agendas. Ensure that an effective, high-performance, governance model is in place.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT. Provide administrative oversight of ongoing association operations. Monitor, evaluate and optimize the performance of association programs against goals. Allocate Smithbucklin staff and internal/external resources to meet association objectives. Act as the main liaison between the association leadership and staff, lead association committees or ensure that leadership is in place, coordinate and provide direction to volunteers, report to and communicate with the Board of Directors to obtain direction, establish objectives, and implement strategies. 

ADVOCACY MANAGEMENT. Serve as chief advocate and oversee and manage a comprehensive government relations and advocacy program to promote, protect and advance industry interests and positions with regulators and policymakers. Assign and supervise work, including advocacy staff and contract lobbyists.

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT. Manage relationships with board members and volunteers. Facilitate the establishment of positive relationships between Smithbucklin staff and RSI constituents. Apply Smithbucklin client stewardship principles and ensure alignment and collaboration among volunteer leaders.

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT. Manage and motivate a matrix staff team of approximately 15; assign and supervise work, evaluate performance, and develop individuals. Lead & direct the efforts of cross-functional teams of indirect reporting Smithbucklin service unit professionals as needed to meet client goals. Coordinate, motivate, and influence association volunteers to work towards client organizational goals and priorities. 

MANAGE ASSOCIATION GROWTH. Oversee development, implementation, marketing, and evaluation of programs and services designed to grow the association, create member value, advance association priorities, and grow non-dues revenue.

OVERSEE EXTERNAL MESSAGING & BRAND MANAGEMENT. Oversee the development of the association’s internal and external messaging on industry issues and trends and communicate with volunteers and staff regarding the association and the work of RSI members. Ensure all actions, activities, and output for association is consistent with the brand promise and value proposition.

PARTNER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT. Identify, contract, and manage partners required to execute the board’s strategic directives. Recommend and review service provider selection as required to meet client organization-specific needs. Manage service provider contract administration including setting performance metrics for desired outcomes.

 Qualifications
•    A minimum of 12-15 years of experience in a leadership and/or management role(s)
•    Experience as a senior-level executive, COO, Chief of Staff or the top P&L leader of an organization
•    Experience in a volunteer-led organization and/or association management experience ideal
•    Capable of shaping the vision and implementing an ambitious strategic plan
•    A business-minded person, with profit and loss and budgetary experience
•    Demonstrated passion for the mission of his/her organization, his/her professional community and cultivating a continuous learning culture with the client team
•    Experience/understanding of the regulatory, legislative, and policy-making environment; ideally direct experience within government relations and industry-specific advocacy
•    Knowledge and a measurable track record of expanding an organization’s membership and core assets while elevating the profile of an organization through outreach, marketing, and public relations
•    Is recognized as a collaborator and someone who effectively builds and enhances relationships.
•    Skills to cultivate and maintain engagement with member organizations, sponsor partners, and volunteers
•    An inspirational leader, with a history of leading staff and managing their professional growth and development
•    Demonstrated experience as external industry relations serving as a dynamic spokesperson, communicating our vision and values. Presentation and public speaking skills are required
•    Proficiency with basic computer software, including the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

About Smithbucklin

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. Smithbucklin is the association management and services company more organizations turn to than any other. Our mission is to achieve the missions of the client organizations we serve and provide uncompromised stewardship for their long-term prosperity. Smithbucklin offers full-service management and outsourced services to trade associations, professional societies, technology user communities, industry consortia, charitable organizations, corporations and government institutes. Founded in 1949, Smithbucklin has offices in Chicago, Washington D.C., Old Lyme, Conn., St. Louis, Bethesda, Md., and San Ramon, Calif., and delivers seamless association and event management services worldwide. The company is 100 percent employee-owned. For more information, please visit www.smithbucklin.com or call 1-800-539-9740.Equal Employment OpportunityAt Smithbucklin Corporation, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without r...egard 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.

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