Who we are:

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a federation of 10 Member Societies which in turn have more than 130,000 members across the globe. AIP was founded in 1931 in an effort to alleviate societal and economic turmoil and to better humanity through science. Today, almost 100 years later, we further our positive impact through our mission: to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. We want you to become a part of this mission!
 

Summary:

AIP is looking for a visionary professional to join the Institute’s Federation Office within the Executive Office team. The Federation Office team is charged with designing and implementing strategies and programs that deliver on AIP’s goal of being a vibrant federation that advances the success of our Member Societies. The Federation Office is led by the Chief Federation Officer, a member of AIP’s Executive Management Team. The Director reports to the Chief Federation Officer.
 

AIP’s Member Societies (MS) and Affiliates are the foundation of the organization’s success, and the Federation Office is charged with nurturing relationships with these member organizations, understanding their needs, and aligning AIP capabilities and outputs to advance their success. The Director’s role within the Federation Officer will be to execute on understanding and responding to priorities of AIP’s Member Societies and marshalling capabilities from across AIP in support of MS success.

AIP’s Federation Assembly is a convening of leaders from all MS charged with nurturing federation and Member Society collaboration and collective action, and informing AIP’s work to advance the success of its Member Societies. The Assembly is the mechanism by which Member Societies bring concerns and priorities to the forefront. It makes recommendations to the AIP CEO, advising on federation actions and AIP activities that support the shared mission. The Director plays a key role supporting the Chief Federation Officer’s role as Secretary to the Assembly, and leading initiatives such as Federation Task Forces, Workshops, etc. The Director also has responsibility for supporting and directing the organization of AIP’s Annual Forum, a convening of staff and volunteer leaders from AIP MS and Affiliates in the form of a 1-day workshop focused on topical issues of relevance to the advancing of positive change in the physical sciences enterprise.

The Director also sits on the AIP Portfolio Innovation Council (PIC) which is charged with setting direction for the life-cycle management of AIP’s portfolio of programs, products, and services, ensuring the portfolio’s alignment to AIP’s Strategic Framework and FIRE goals, and fostering a staff culture of innovation, structured risk taking, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

The Federation Office also plays a key role as a clearing house for MS-MS and MS-Affiliate connectivity, and the Director plays a key role in making and nurturing these connections, in coordination with the Chief Federation Officer and Member Society Liaison. The Director will be key to connecting AIP and the MS to AIP Affiliates and other relevant organizations, extending the reach of the Federation to partners with whom AIP shares an aligned mission.

AIP is headquartered in College Park, MD and is offering a flexible hybrid working schedule; there is opportunity to work remote in combination with working on-site.

Come join a team of energized, charismatic, collaborative, and passionate individuals and help make a difference through the Physics Sciences!

What you’ll do:

Plan execution

• Implement a MS engagement and partnership strategy that cultivates and maintains ongoing relationships with AIP MS.
• Understand both shifting and ongoing priorities of AIP MS while identifying partnership opportunities prospective collective action initiatives with and among MS that can advance the shared impact of the Federation in the physical sciences enterprise.
• Integrate and reinforce a federation perspective and cultivate a “culture of membership” throughout AIP as the backbone of AIP MS relations and the foundation of AIP’s advancing the success of its Member Societies.
• Marshall expertise/capabilities from across AIP; form cross-functional teams in support of Federation partnership and collective action initiatives.
• In collaboration with the CFedO, assist in maturing the construct of and value derived from the Federation Assembly and its subordinate committees.
• Manage follow-up activities identified by the Federation Assembly for collective action, collaboration, information gathering, sharing of leading practices, etc.
• In collaboration with staff and volunteer stakeholders, lead the program planning of the AIP Annual Forum.

Relationship building and management

• Support AIP Federation Office efforts to develop and maintain a web of relationships among AIP and MS staff and volunteer leaders.
• Develop innovative approaches to creating sustained communications with and engagement of MS with AIP and its programs to optimize the value of membership in AIP.
• Be an internal advocate for AIP’s goal to be a vibrant federation that advances the success of its Member Societies and cultivate MS advocates throughout AIP. Collaborate with AIP staff leaders to assure that the needs and priorities of Federation members are accounted for in the development and execution of content and audience engagement programs employed.
• Lead implementation of the AIP Affiliates class program to develop mission-extending, partnership, and collective action opportunities, as well as organizational or membership support activities that align with AIP strengths.

Portfolio management and innovation

• As a member of AIP’s Portfolio Innovation Council:
• Acquire and apply market intelligence and research outcomes that can help evaluate development or evolution of new AIP programs, products, and services that are aligned to priority issues and needs of the MS.
• Evaluate and prioritize new and continuing AIP programs, products and services, and provide oversight for their development, implementation, and performance
• provide guidance and support to product and program leaders to ensure appropriate market positioning, content quality, and adoption by AIP primary audiences.

Convening of stakeholders

• In collaboration with CFedO, plans the annual Assembly Forum, which brings together stakeholders from the AIP Federation for a day of learning and discourse.
• Support activities of the Federation that enable and promote sharing, information exchange, networking, and group learning.

Leadership

• Provide staff support to the Federation Assembly and its Committees
• Provide staff support to the Membership Committee of the AIP Board of Directors.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree is required. Advanced degree preferred. CAE Credential of related degree or certification also preferred.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in a membership-based association, organization, or science-related corporation - preferably one with institutional members.
• Expertise in business and/or program development.
• Demonstrated success in growing relationships in a membership or diverse stakeholder enterprise.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collegially with senior-level external and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams and facilitating work in a horizontally integrated function.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects with competing priorities and exercise sound judgment in evaluating such situations and issues.
• First-hand experience of scientific society/association management in areas such as: membership governance structures and processes; awards and recognition; compliance;
• Direct experience of society volunteer- and staff- led strategic planning efforts.
• Understanding of society business models and business process improvement approaches.
• Understanding of scientific society advocacy strategies and tactics.
• Experience of vendor procurement and management, along with budget development and oversight.
• Direct experience of volunteer and volunteer-committee management.
• Meeting planning experience.

Why join us:

AIP offers comprehensive benefits, including generous paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, an annual retirement fund, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and more.

Your colleagues at AIP are welcoming, gracious, and eager to help each other succeed. With our commitment to community service, institute-wide social opportunities, and ongoing learning and development, AIP is a rewarding place to work.

To Apply:

Include a resume and a cover letter with your application. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a full match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.

About AIP:

The American Institute of Physics is a dynamic, forward-thinking 501(c)(3) membership corporation of scientific societies. Our mission is to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. AIP is a trusted and reliable source of information and analysis and is a center of excellence that advances the physical sciences enterprise through research and analysis aimed at improving the understanding of our heritage and promoting future progress.

Diversity welcome! Diversity is integral to our mission and is engrained in everything that we do at AIP. We encourage and invite people of all backgrounds to apply and join our team. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, creed, marital status, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, personal appearance, national origin, ancestry, protected veteran status, or physical or mental disability. Click here to view AIP’s Diversity Statement.
 

AIP is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer  
EOE, including disability/Vets