Assistant Director of Components

The Assistant Director of Components leads the strategic development, support, and growth of ACS's Local Sections in the US, International Chapters and Student Chapter network, serving as the primary organizational liaison between headquarters and components worldwide. This role combines elements of member success management, network development, business strategy, and community building, requiring both strategic vision and operational excellence to drive component engagement, expansion, and support. The ideal candidate will develop scalable support models, create tools and resources that enable local success, use data to drive decisions and measure impact, and support a high-performing volunteer network that delivers value to our members. This position reports to our VP of Membership and Strategic Engagement.

Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Planning (30%)

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan for the component network, treating component as key stakeholders in ACS's value delivery model
• Identify and prioritize growth opportunities in underserved geographic markets, particularly internationally
• Establish KPIs, performance dashboards, and analytics to assess component health, engagement, and ROI
• Drive innovation in component programming using pilot-test-scale methodologies common in business settings
• Provide strategic guidance to governance bodies, translating business insights into actionable recommendations

Component Support & Scalable Solutions (20%)

• Design scalable support infrastructure including self-service resources, toolkits, training programs, and technology platforms
• Function as a strategic consultant to component leaders, advising on growth strategies, operational efficiency, and sustainability
• Develop tiered service models that optimize resource allocation based on component size, maturity, and potential
• Create data-driven playbooks and best practices that components can adapt to their local contexts
• Partner with cross-functional teams (legal, finance, technology) to ensure components have the infrastructure needed to succeed

Leadership and People Management (20%)

• Lead and develop components support team, building high-performance culture
• Provide clear direction, priorities, and expectations to ensure alignment with organizational goals
• Coach, mentor, and support team members through regular check‑ins, performance reviews, and development planning
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative team environment that encourages innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Model strong leadership behaviors, set standards for professionalism, communication, and service excellence
• Support management efforts by guiding the team through new processes, systems, or organizational initiatives

Volunteer Engagement (20%)

• Design and deliver leadership development programs that build capabilities and prepare volunteers for increasing responsibility
• Implement succession planning frameworks to ensure leadership continuity and institutional knowledge transfer
• Create recognition structures that motivate volunteer performance and celebrate achievements
• Identify high-potential leaders and create pathways for advancement within the broader ACS ecosystem

Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration (10%)

• Serve as the voice of components, advocating for their needs in strategic decisions
• Partner with marketing and communications to build components brand awareness and share success stories
• Collaborate across business units to create synergies, reduce duplication, and maximize collective impact
• Establish regular communication rhythms (town halls, newsletters, digital forums) that keep components informed and engaged

Required Qualifications: Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of 8 years and 4 years of progressive management experience in one or more of the following:
• Customer success, account management, or client services leadership
• Partner/channel/franchise network development and management
• Business development or sales operations in multi-location environments
• Community management or user engagement at scale
• Strategic consulting or program management
• Membership organizations or nonprofit management
• Demonstrated success building and scaling geographically distributed networks or teams
• Proven track record driving measurable business results and achieving strategic objectives
• Approximately 20-30% domestically and internationally

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking : Ability to develop data-informed strategies that balance global consistency with local flexibility
• People Management and Leadership skills : Ability to build high performing teams and guide staff through change and transformation
• Business acumen : Understanding of growth drivers, financial sustainability, and performance optimization
• Relationship management : Exceptional ability to build trust and influence stakeholders without direct authority
• Analytical skills : Comfort using data, metrics, and analytics tools to inform decisions and measure impact
• Change management : Experience driving transformation initiatives and gaining buy-in from diverse stakeholders
• Scalability mindset : Ability to design solutions that work for 10 components and 200 components
• Communication excellence : Outstanding written and verbal skills for executive, operational, and volunteer audiences

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with CRM/database platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar)
• Experience with data visualization and analytics tools (Tableau, Power BI, Excel)
• Comfort with project management software and collaboration platforms
• Ability to leverage technology for automation, efficiency, and enhanced user experience
• Budget management and financial analysis capabilities

Preferred Background

• Experience in professional services, SaaS, franchise systems, or multi-site operations
• Experience with not for profits desired but not essential
• Track record building partner enablement programs or customer success playbooks
• International business experience or managing global networks
• STEM background or experience serving technical/scientific communities desired
• Experience with community platforms, online engagement tools, or member portals

Compensation & Benefits

This position is based in our Washington, D.C. office and a reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $140,000-$150,000 per year.

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.

Application Process: We want to hear from you if:

• You've built and scaled distributed networks, partner ecosystems, or customer communities
• You use data to drive decisions and have a track record of measurable results
• You're energized by the idea of applying business strategies to mission-driven work
• You can translate corporate methodologies to a volunteer-led environment
• You're ready to make a career move that offers both professional challenge and meaningful impact

To apply, please submit:

• Resume highlighting quantifiable achievements and business results
• Cover letter addressing:
  • Why you're interested in transitioning to/working in the nonprofit sector
  • How your corporate/business experience translates to this role
  • Your vision for modernizing and scaling a components network