Executive Director

The Boston Society for
Architecture’s mission is to improve the quality of life for
Boston-area residents by championing innovation in the built
environment with a clear vision to solve related critical equity
and sustainability challenges.

 

The Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) is seeking a
charismatic, energetic, and passionate leader with a strong
operational and fundraising background and a track record managing
and building collaborative, high-performing organizations.

The BSA is a partnership between the Boston Society of
Architects (BSA/AIA) and the BSA Foundation. The BSA operates as a
convener, collaborator, educator, and action leader to ensure that
the power of design is fully employed in creating solutions that
address the equity and climate crises of our time.

As a member-led association, the BSA/AIA is one of the oldest
and largest chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Comprising world-renowned architects, designers, engineers,
builders, and other industry professionals, it benefits from a
committed membership who are some of the leading thinkers and
innovators in professional practice today. The Foundation is a
community nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives
through design for all in Greater Boston.

The BSA delivers on its mission through two connected streams of
work:

• Enabling architects to excel in their profession by offering
  education and networking opportunities, and advocating for the
  profession at local, state, and national levels.
• Catalyzing and collaborating on innovation initiatives aimed at
  addressing equity and sustainability challenges in the built
  environment.

These streams of work are synergistic: architects apply their
skills to collaborative initiatives, which in turn inform their
knowledge and capabilities. Both are designed to ensure a thriving
architectural community that is tackling the issues of our era.

The BSA’s vision is to solve critical equity and sustainability
challenges related to the built environment. It aims to realize
this vision by activating its network of architects, engineers,
developers, policymakers, community members – and new partners – to
work together designing and testing solutions to today’s most
demanding problems. Its goal is to lift these solutions up as
models that can be adopted locally, nationally, and
internationally.

The Chapter’s members include more than 4,500 practicing
architects, allied professionals, students, and public members
interested in architecture and design. The BSA has an annual budget
of approximately $4 million, an endowment of $10 million,
and a staff of 13 professionals.

 

BASIC FUNCTION

The Executive Director will be a strategic thinker who will
provide the energy and leadership necessary to ensure that the BSA
continues to provide a dynamic public voice in design, civic life,
and the role of design in society and culture. The Executive
Director’s knowledge of the intersection of architecture, advocacy,
and community engagement will be critical in leading the
organization with a deep passion for architecture, urbanism, and
the built world. The Executive Director, in collaboration with the
BSA Board President and the Foundation Board Chair, will be the
public face of the organizations, key spokesperson, and instrument
for educating the public about the importance of architecture and
design.

Reporting to the BSA Board President and the Foundation Board
Chair, the Executive Director will oversee the staff, internal
operations, and programs. Working closely with the Boards, the
Executive Director will guide and motivate the staff and be a
leader who will serve as an advocate for membership issues and BSA
programs. A consensus builder, the Executive Director will be the
primary link between the Boards and staff and the overall driver of
the organization’s mission.

The Executive Director will be an enthusiastic fundraiser and
advocate on behalf of the BSA with civic leaders, practitioners,
academic institutions, the media, and the general public. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES

• Champion the BSA’s values, mission, culture, and
  constituencies.
• Prudently manage the finances of the organization and ensure
  strong financial systems and controls, working closely with the
  Board Treasurers and outsourced finance partner.
• Develop, hire, and retain high-performing staff and ensure a
  collaborative, supportive work culture.
• Forge mutually beneficial working relationships with both
  Boards.
• Implement a strategic vision that addresses revenue and
  programs. Develop strategies to ensure the BSA has a long-range,
  cohesive plan to achieve member-focused goals pertaining to
  programming, education, events, and grantmaking that increase
  member value.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the BSA’s
  members and constituents, particularly members that serve as
  leaders of the BSA’s elected committees and knowledge communities
  (volunteer committees). Collaborate with the Boards through the
  promulgation of design excellence, advocacy, and continuing
  education.
• Play a critical role in expanding the BSA’s funding base to
  best position the organization for long-term sustainability and
  impact. Actively pursue membership growth and engagement of
  leadership. Maintain the chapter’s preeminent position within the
  AIA. Participate in AIA activities in Massachusetts and on regional
  and national levels.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with leaders
  in government, design, educational, cultural, civic, and
  professional organizations in the community – both in Boston and
  beyond. Work to implement Board initiatives to enhance the
  involvement and engagement of emerging design professionals and the
  area schools of architecture in their activities and programs.

 

IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Executive Director should understand the Greater Boston
landscape and have a strong interest in and commitment to
architecture and design and the following experience and
qualifications.

• Proven executive leadership, problem-solving, planning, and
  fiscal capability as a manager within an organization representing
  cultural, educational, or academic institutions with a focus on the
  built world; able to represent important views in the areas of
  urbanism, architecture, and design. Business and financial acumen
  are necessary to direct a complex organization.
• Experienced fundraiser with a track record of closing major
  gifts from individual donors, foundations, government sources, and
  corporations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with high emotional intelligence
  and experience leading and collaborating with staff and valuing
  their work and ideas. A team builder who will seek to break down
  organizational silos.
• A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all
  facets of an organization.
• The skill, confidence, and political savvy to work effectively
  with two separate boards coupled with the experience to create and
  maintain constructive partnerships with a variety of constituents
  including: donors; government, civic, cultural, and business
  leaders; academics; and colleagues and partners in architecture and
  design.
• A history of effectively communicating internally and
  externally; demonstrated ability to identify and capitalize on
  public relations opportunities as they arise; able to build support
  and consensus by listening well and synthesizing information
  clearly to explain objectives.
• Ability to think in highly strategic, analytical, and political
  ways, particularly about issues affecting architecture, design,
  urbanism, and the like; understanding of the public policy
  process.
• Entrepreneurial; willing to embrace changes and innovations
  faced by the profession.

 

COMPENSATION

Salary range: $225,000 to $250,000

 

The BSA is committed to
maintaining a work environment that is free from any and all forms
of unlawful discrimination and harassment. It is therefore the
BSA’s policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment against any
applicant, employee, vendor, contractor, or client on the basis of
race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status,
genetic information, citizenship status, or any other basis
prohibited by law. It is also the BSA’s policy to prohibit any and
all forms of retaliation against any individual who has complained
of harassing or discriminatory conduct or participated in a firm or
agency investigation into such complaints.

 

Nominations and applications may
be submitted to Susan Meade and Addie Jones at BSA@PhillipsOppenheim.com.