Director, Scientific Content Management

Unit Overview

The Scientific Advancement unit’s efforts are focused on helping the Society fulfill its mission “to advance the broader chemistry enterprise, and its practitioners, for the benefit of Earth and its people.” The unit is comprised of the Office of Sustainability, ACS Green Chemistry Institute®, the Office of Research Grants, technical divisions, scientific programming at ACS National Meetings, the Office of Awards and Programs and chemical safety. The Director, Scientific Content Management position is responsible for the direction of technical programs and scientific programming within the unit; the policies under which they operate; and the identification and development of content and initiatives aligned with the Society’s and technical divisions’ scientific priorities. The position reports directly to the Senior Director, Scientific Advancement.

Position Accountabilities

• Responsible for providing direction for technical programming for ACS meetings including developing strategic, and operational that effectively support meetings as well as the development of key performance metrics.
• Serves as an expert in determining high priority, timely topics and potential speakers for new meeting programming that will enable the offering of more collaborate sessions across technical divisions and other programming partners.
• In close collaboration with the technical divisions and the ACS Meetings and Expositions, the incumbent is responsible for the successful execution of two annual hybrid meetings that routinely attract more than 30,000 attendees, generate over $10 million in revenue and over 20,000 technical papers.
• Works in collaboration with the communications and marketing units to coordinate successful publicity and marketing of ACS meetings worldwide.
• Collaborates across the organization and with various volunteer and stakeholder groups on the successful execution of high-quality events that maximize attendance and impact.
• Responsible for people management to include talent acquisition, performance management, and professional development. Develops the unit’s staff organization and provides guidance and support to staff to ensure that the Society’s mission is accomplished, and that staff are provided opportunities to grow and develop professionally.
• Serves as a staff liaison to committees or task forces assigned.
• Staff: Director Full-time reports: 2-4.

Education/Experience/ Knowledge

PhD in chemistry or related science; minimum of 10 year of experience with 6 years of management experience. The ideal manager will be a creative thinker; forward-looking; bold; capable of developing and pursuing an innovative vision; experienced working in a high-energy and visible position; and capable of understanding, working with, listening to, and building consensus and collaboration across diverse constituencies, both within and outside ACS. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have an understanding of chemistry’s role in addressing pressing scientific challenges and an awareness of the cutting-edge research areas in the chemical sciences. Experience in data analyses to identify most cutting-edge scientific topics relevant to academics and industry is desirable. A proven track record of effective staff management, team building and collaboration both within an organization and with external entities, including international organizations. This position requires up to 30% business travel.

This position will be primarily based in the Washington D.C. office. ACS employees work a hybrid work schedule, consisting of working onsite, three days per week. ACS employees are in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday with the third in-office day scheduled in consultation with the manager. While always welcome to work in the office, employees may work the other two days of the week from a location of their choice. New employees are immediately eligible for this hybrid work arrangement. ACS offers relocation assistance, if applicable.

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