The Board of Directors of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) is seeking a professionally respected, service-oriented, and energetic individual to become its next Executive Director. ASPRS is a highly visible organization with national and international exposure, founded in 1934 and marketed as “The Imaging & Geospatial Information Society.” The mission of the Society is to advance knowledge and improve understanding of the mapping sciences and to promote the responsible applications of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and supporting technologies. ASPRS membership includes 5000 individuals and 130 organizations from private industry, government, and academia.
Reporting directly to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be a visionary leader who must help articulate, assertively advocate, and successfully execute the Society’s agenda of work objectives, pursuant to the Society’s Strategic Plan, within budgetary guidelines, on behalf of a diverse membership from academia, government and industry. The successful candidate is expected to have experience building, sustaining, and strengthening a non-profit organization, focused on professional development of its members. The successful candidate is expected to possess understanding of the scientific and technical impact ASPRS has within the wide range of disciplines related to photogrammetry and remote sensing. In addition, he or she must be both hands-on manager and recognized leader who thinks strategically but can respond quickly to an immediate need. Click here to access the current Position Description.
A small skilled ASPRS staff reports to the Executive Director, but many governance responsibilities and the technical accomplishments of the Society rely upon volunteers’ time and expertise. Thus, receptiveness to others’ recommendations and ideas is a paramount consideration. Excellent negotiation, open-minded listening, and honed communication skills are critical. He or she must be able to work closely with the Board, the staff, and the membership to promote an open, inclusive environment that emphasizes cooperation and teamwork. The Executive Director is expected to deploy a management approach to long-term success through quality service. Those serviced by ASPRS include “internal” constituents such as ASPRS staff and membership and “external” constituents such as non-member individuals, groups, government, non-government organizations (NGOs), academics and commercial institutions. Through the effective use of leadership skills the Executive Director is expected continuously to improve the process, products, services and culture of ASPRS as measured by meeting or exceeding customer requirements.
Professional societies are facing decreasing membership and reduced operating budgets.
The successful candidate is expected to stabilize membership trends, will envision ways to incorporate new technical and operational approaches, will demonstrate experience with financial management, and will improve the society’s value proposition for existing and prospective members. In addition, he or she will be diplomatic and of the highest integrity, will possess sound judgment, and will bring a sense of humor.
