Job Information
Smith Bucklin Corp Executive Vice President, NBMDA/NAFCD in Chicago, Illinois
Executive Vice President, NBMDA/NAFCD
Association Management Chicago, IL Washington, D.C.
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Description
Smithbucklin , a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, is looking for a chief staff executive to jointly serve our clients, the North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) and the North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD)
Our Work Environment
Smithbucklin empowers associations and communities that enrich society and move industries, fields, and professions forward. Working together, we help organizations reimagine solutions to nurture growth, advance missions, and increase reach and impact. With expert capabilities propelled by talent, versatility, and creativity, we help associations achieve their greatest potential. Our mission is to achieve the missions of the client organizations we serve and provide uncompromised stewardship for their long-term prosperity. The work environment is collaborative, with teams organized through a matrix of skill levels and expertise. The company is 100% employee owned.
About NBMDA
The North American Building Material Distribution Association is a trade association representing the leading wholesale distributors of wood panels, surfacing materials, cabinet hardware, finishes and related interior products. Membership is comprised of distributors and suppliers that serve the independent building material and kitchen and bath dealer, as well as those that serve production companies involved in cabinetry, architectural woodwork, stock woodwork, store fixtures, solid surface fabricating, plastics fabricating, general and specialty woodworking industries. NBMDA mission is focused on promoting the value of the wholesale distributor throughout the channel. For more information, visit www.nbmda.org .
About NAFCD
The North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) is a trade association serving distributors and suppliers of floor covering materials and related products. Its purpose is to enable wholesale floor covering distributors to be the most efficient, professional and profitable vehicle for bringing their suppliers' products to market resulting in the highest degree of customer satisfaction. NAFCD is dedicated to providing its members with opportunities to learn from each other, stay ahead of trends, and become better educated on ways to grow their business. For more information, visit www.nafcd.org (https://www.nafcd.org/default.aspx)
THE ROLE: Provide strategic, financial, and operational leadership for two membership-based industry associations, each with an annual budget of $1.2m. In collaboration with the Boards of Directors, develop the organizations’ long and short-term growth strategies. Advocate and develop relationships to advance the building material and floor covering distribution industries. Engage the appropriate resources to achieve the desired outcomes for the organizations. Manage overall operations and make major decisions affecting the organizations. Manage the organization's financial, technology, and human resources. Negotiate and/or approve agreements and contracts for the organization. Ensure compliance with by-laws and board policies for both organizations.
EXPECTED RESULTS: Achieve the organizations’ vision, mission, and organizational goals; achieve annual budgeted financial performance; grow the organization; build strong relationships across the industries, with key stakeholders and with volunteer leaders; and advance NBMDA’s and NAFCD’s external brand, reputation, and impact.
PERFORMANCE METRICS: Measured by achieving Board-defined metrics while consistently demonstrating the required leadership competencies: the organization's overall relevance and impact; the financial, operational, and resource management effectiveness.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
STRATEGY. Advise, guide, and influence the NBMDA and NAFCD Boards in defining its long-term strategy and goals. Provide expertise, develop, present, and recommend execution plans and programs to the Boards and committees that deliver on strategic goals in established time frames. Includes prioritizing initiatives, allocating resources, setting budgets, determining operational program activities, and establishing performance targets.
GROWTH. Oversee development, implementation, marketing, and evaluation of programs and services designed to grow membership, create member value, advance association priorities, and grow non-dues revenue. Act externally in the industry as the chief business development officer to increase industry engagement support and participation in NBMDA and NAFCD.
FINANCIALS. Plan, direct, monitor, and analyze NBMDA’s and NAFCD’s finances to achieve the financial objectives. Financial planning and decision-making to ensure funding is available and assets are used efficiently. Works with the Executive Committee, Treasurer, and Board members of each organization to develop and get approval for the annual operating budget; analyze, interpret and forecast financials. Provide management KPIs and financial metrics to the Board. Recommend and ensure compliance with policies and financial control processes are in place.
GOVERNANCE. Provide governance and compliance leadership expertise to the Boards of Directors and committees. Advise, guide, and mentor Directors. Develop and amend association policy & bylaws as needed. Actively engage in the board succession planning, recruit and recommend potential association leaders. Establish Board and committee policies and charters. Ensure an effective, high-performance governance model and member/volunteer engagement processes are in place.
OPERATIONS. Provide executive oversight of association resources and operations that are managed in partnership with Smithbucklin. Monitor, evaluate, prioritize and optimize the performance of association programs against goals. Allocate staff and internal/external consulting resources to meet association objectives. Act as the main liaison between the association leadership and staff, lead an effective committee structure, report to and communicate with the Board to obtain direction, establish objectives, and implement strategies.
RELATIONSHIPS. Manage positive relationships with the Board, key strategic partners, and volunteers. Be a visible voice force in the building material and floor covering distribution industry. Identify industry partners that can help achieve NBMDA’s and NAFCD’s goals, develop and manage strategic partnerships, and coordinate association efforts on key industry issues.
TALENT. Manage a diverse team of senior leaders across each function of the organization. Assign and oversee work, evaluate performance, and develop individuals. Lead & direct the efforts of cross-functional teams as needed to meet each association’s goals. Coordinate, motivate, and influence association volunteers to work towards client organizational goals. Manage resources effectively within a matrix-based professional services environment.
BRAND. Continue to evolve the global go-to-market strategy and messaging with oversight of NAFCD and NBMDA’s internal and external messaging and communications. Ensure all communication, actions, activities, and output for both associations are consistent with the brand promise and value proposition.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Minimum attainment of an undergraduate university degree. Advanced degree preferred.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior-level management and leadership experience is required. Demonstrates experience and competence with developing both strategy and operational plans to support general business goals of an organization and directing the operations designed to achieve these goals. Must include experience with budgeting and managing P&L. Knowledge of governance practices, financial management, and accounting is required.
Prior experience with leading, performance management and developing diverse staff is desirable. Prior experience with mobilizing results from volunteers and with matrix work environments is beneficial.
An understanding of the role as an employee of a professional services company while working closely with volunteer leadership to execute association goals and objectives.
Experience leading an organization through change to remain relevant is a plus.
Experience and/or familiarity with the wholesale distribution sector is highly desirable.
Previous work in Association Management is desirable.
SKILLS & TECHNICAL ABILITIES
Business Analysis Skills
Business Planning Skills
Communications Ability (written & verbal)
Financial Acumen (budgeting, forecasting, analyzing)
Ability to influence others
Presentation Skills
Supervising Skills (assign/delegate, motivate, observe/correct performance, reward)
Administrative & Project Management Skills
Marketing Management Skills (program design & management, communications strategy)
KEY BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES
Demonstrated Executive Presence
Board Relationship Management
Results Oriented: strives to achieve high levels of individual and organizational performance
Initiative: takes independent actions and goes beyond what the position or situation requires
Analytical/Systematic Thinker: takes a well-ordered and logical approach to analyzing a problem, organizing work, and planning actions
Conceptual /Strategic Thinker, identifies and see the relationship among key issues while understanding the big picture
Forward-thinker: anticipates and plans to deal with future events, trends, problems or opportunities
Team Builder: creates an environment to sustain highly motivated groups working to achieve common objectives
Consensus Builder: uses well-considered approaches to convince others and build support of ideas & objectives
Communicator: takes advantage of opportunities to listen to others, have them feel listened to and satisfy their need to be informed
Relationship Builder: develops and maintains strong network of internal and external clients/contacts
Developer of People: takes time to provide guidance and feedback to improve other’s performance and ensure their development
Personal Sensitivity/Empathy: is perceptive and responsive to the feelings, attitudes, values, and concerns of others.
● Global Orientation: has a well-formed global worldview and is able to understand and operate in a multicultural, multi-national, cross-border industry
Customer/Member Focused: is aware of member needs; makes decisions with members in mind; builds strong member relationships
Accountable: follows through in all areas; accepts and delivers on responsibilities; requires others to follow through on commitments
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard 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.
Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment, you must be authorized to work in the United States permanently.