Associate Vice President, Business Development

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a professional and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit

Our Mission The American College of Surgeons is dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient and safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment.

Our Vision To create a healthcare landscape where surgeons thrive and every patient has access to and benefits from the highest standards of surgical care, driven by innovation, education, leadership, and trust.

Job Summary:


The Associate Vice President, Business Development is responsible for establishing and leading a newly defined, enterprise-wide business development function for the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This role will design and implement proactive, targeted growth strategies that expand the reach, adoption, and revenue of ACS surgical quality, accreditation, and verification programs.

As a key member of the leadership team reporting to the Chief Operating & Revenue Officer, the AVP will build the processes, infrastructure, and capabilities required to move the ACS to a more data-driven, market-facing, and opportunity-driven growth organization. The role partners closely with surgeon leaders, senior management, and cross-functional teams to align program strategy with market needs, strengthen value propositions, and accelerate sustainable growth and impact.

• Build and lead a modern business development function, including segmentation, targeting, pipeline management, and performance tracking.
• Develop and execute enterprise strategies to expand adoption of ACS accreditation and verification programs across hospitals and health systems.
• Identify, prioritize, and penetrate high-value market segments through proactive outreach and tailored engagement strategies.
• Establish scalable processes, tools, and metrics to drive consistent revenue growth, margin improvement, and market expansion.
• Own and deliver annual and long-term revenue and operating margin targets tied to program growth.

This exempt position will report to the Chief Operating and Revenue Officer in the Division of Executive Services. It is based in our Chicago office and is a hybrid role: 3 days per week in the office/2 days per week remote.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $200,000 - $250,000 (commensurate with related experience).

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Growth Architecture

• Design and implement a comprehensive business development strategy focused on scaling ACS surgical quality, accreditation, and verification programs.
• Build and institutionalize proactive, targeted business development practices, including account-based strategies and market prioritization.
• Partner with executive leadership to define growth goals, success metrics, and long-term expansion strategies.
• Lead enterprise go-to-market planning, including segmentation of hospitals and health systems, value proposition refinement, and competitive positioning.
• Establish consistent, value-based pricing and packaging strategies aligned with market demand and program impact.

Market Development & Insights

• Identify and prioritize new market opportunities, including underserved segments, emerging care models, and system-level partnerships, in partnership with product management to assess feasibility and strategic fit.
• Develop a deep understanding of hospital and health system needs, aligning ACS offerings as essential solutions to quality, safety, and performance challenges.
• Leverage market research, competitive intelligence, and customer insights to inform program evolution and new offering development.
• Translate industry trends, regulatory dynamics, and quality imperatives into actionable growth strategies in coordination with product management to inform roadmap direction.

Business Development Execution & Operations

• Build and oversee a high-performing business development team with clear roles, targets, and accountability.
• Establish and standardize core processes including lead generation, prospect qualification, pipeline management, and conversion tracking.
• Implement CRM tools, dashboards, and KPIs to manage performance and enable data-driven decision making.
• Drive disciplined execution of new customer acquisition, program expansion within existing accounts, and retention strategies.
• Develop scalable playbooks and training to ensure consistent, high-quality engagement across markets.
• Lead the development of high-quality, tailored sales materials, partnering with product management, marketing, and subject matter experts to ensure accuracy, differentiation, and alignment with platform capabilities.

Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement

• Develop and expand strategic partnerships with health systems, industry organizations, and key stakeholders to accelerate program adoption.
• Engage directly with C-suite leaders and clinical executives to position ACS programs as critical drivers of quality and improved outcomes.
• Represent ACS externally to elevate the visibility, credibility, and value of its accreditation and verification programs.
• Lead contract negotiations with health systems and partners, collaborating with Legal, Finance, and product management to ensure alignment on commercial terms, product capabilities, and delivery commitments.

Customer Engagement & Value Proposition

• Strengthen and articulate the value proposition of ACS programs, emphasizing measurable impact on surgical quality, patient outcomes, and organizational performance.
• Partner with product management, marketing, and program teams to develop compelling, evidence-based messaging and materials.
• Ensure a coordinated, high-touch engagement model for priority accounts and strategic opportunities.

Performance Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for business development activities, including pipeline health, conversion rates, and revenue growth.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to senior leadership on progress, risks, and opportunities
• Continuously refine business development strategies and processes based on performance data, market feedback, and evolving organizational priorities, while providing structured input to product management on implications for product direction and positioning.
• Benchmark against industry best practices to ensure ACS remains competitive and innovative in its growth approach.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, healthcare administration, marketing, or a related field is required. Advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in business development, growth strategy, or commercial operations, preferably within a healthcare setting.
• Demonstrated success building or transforming business development or sales functions, including establishing processes, teams, and performance metrics.
• Significant experience in healthcare, preferably working with hospitals, health systems, or accreditation/quality improvement programs.
• Proven track record of driving measurable revenue growth and market expansion.
• Experience engaging and influencing C-suite stakeholders within complex healthcare organizations.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning capabilities, with the ability to translate insights into action.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and executive facilitation skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional collaboration and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.

Additional Job Requirements

• Accountable for achieving revenue targets and delivering year-over-year growth in alignment with ACS strategic priorities.
• Contributes to enterprise budgeting and investment planning to support growth initiatives.
• Willingness to travel as needed to engage with health systems, present at industry events, and support business development efforts.

Comprehensive Benefits: We're committed to attracting and retaining top talent via valuable benefits!

• Vacation, personal, and sick hours including 13 paid holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical-comprehensive coverage through BlueCross BlueShield
• Dental, Vision, and Prescription drug program
• 403(b) Matching Program
• Pension Plan
• Flexible Spending Medical/Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Domestic Partner Coverage

The American College of Surgeons is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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