President & CEO
| Req Number: | 255FP0 |
| Location: | Arlington, VA (Hybrid) |
| Posted: | 9/3/2025 |
| Category: | Government/Not-For-Profit : Not-For-Profit |
| Job Type: | Permanent |
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
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The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) is a 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 1921 and headquartered in Arlington, VA. As the leading voice for the specialty, batch, and custom chemical industry in the United States, SOCMA represents companies of all sizes by advancing advocacy, regulatory engagement, and industry growth. With revenue of $5.8 million and a staff of about 19 employees, the association delivers outsized impact through government relations, technical and safety programs such as ChemStewards® and ChemOps Training, and business intelligence resources including lead sheets, pulse polls, and the Contract Manufacturing Outlook Report.
SOCMA is also recognized for convening industry leaders through the SOCMA Show, SOCMA Summit, executive roundtables, and networking platforms that foster collaboration, sustainability, and best practices, while amplifying member visibility through media promotion, sponsorships, and thought leadership opportunities. Its members play a vital role in the global chemical supply chain, providing specialty chemistries to markets ranging from consumer products and electronics to pharmaceuticals and agriculture. By championing pragmatic policies, cultivating business connectivity, and elevating operational excellence, SOCMA strengthens the growth, safety, sustainability, and innovation of specialty chemical manufacturing across North America.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The President & CEO will provide overall executive leadership for SOCMA and partner with the Board of Governors to shape the future of SOCMA. They will ensure the highest quality of member services and a robust value proposition, while upholding the fiscal, legal, and ethical integrity of the organization. Reporting to the SOCMA Board, which represents both large and small member companies, the CEO will be responsible for effective leadership, development and growth, and advancement of the mission and goals of the organization. In collaboration with the Board and staff, the President & CEO will lead the execution of SOCMA’s newly developed strategic plan, deepen strategic partnerships and relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders, and promote SOCMA as the voice of specialty chemical manufacturers within the industry.
This position offers an opportunity to lead a transformative organization making a meaningful impact in the specialty chemical manufacturing industry. The CEO will be a relational and high-impact leader who brings strong leadership, management, and critical thinking skills, with an inclusive dedicated focus to advancing the mission of SOCMA. They will perform a vital role in amplifying the industry’s voice and enhancing the association’s public and political credibility and brand, key to effectively representing the interests of its membership.
The President & CEO will be responsible for the following areas:
Strategic & Operational Leadership:
- Provide forward-thinking leadership that supports the execution of SOCMA’s strategic plan in alignment with member priorities and board guidance. Recommends and updates association goals consistent with the strategic plan.
- Ensure measurable progress across key pillars such as advocacy, communications, events, regulatory engagement, and member services.
- Identify new opportunities/challenges and recommend action to the Board as appropriate. Monitor industry trends and anticipate emerging issues to inform strategic positioning and resource allocation. Remain agile and open to new opportunities or challenges, including economic, political, regulatory, and legislative trends.
- Ensure that SOCMA provides a strong value-proposition and remains relevant to current and prospective members.
- Position the organization to thrive in the context of external conditions and changing political/regulatory environments.
Board Relations & Governance:
- Build and maintain trusting, collaborative working relationships with the Board of Governors and ensure proactive engagement and communication with the Board.
- Collaborate and partner closely with the Board to implement strategic priorities and ensure good governance practices. Facilitate and demonstrate alignment between SOCMA’s programmatic work and the Board’s long-term vision.
- Provide regular communications to the Board, keeping them informed of key activities and the operational and financial health of SOCMA. Proactively assist the Board in identifying key emerging opportunities, issues, and risks.
- Provide regular reporting of progress on strategic priorities. Provide guidance as new developments lead to a need to shift priorities. Provide strategic counsel and support in the onboarding of new members.
Staff Leadership:
- Attract, motivate, empower, and develop a mission-driven, results-oriented team committed to service, excellence, and innovation.
- Cultivate a collaborative, team-oriented internal culture that reflects SOCMA’s core values and commitment to member success. Cultivate cross-division collaboration and foster a culture of integrity, diversity, social responsibility, teamwork, transparency, and results.
- Serve as a dedicated, inclusive leader with an open-mindedness to innovative ideas, technology, and approaches to execute the organization's strategic goals.
- Ensure high performance and accountability of SOCMA’s strategic plan and goals through transparent goal setting, accountability and performance evaluation, and professional development.
Advocacy/Public Policy:
- Proactively lead in the public policy arena, in conjunction with key staff, on priority issues both legislative and regulatory, on a bi-partisan basis, with increased focus given the shifting political landscape.
- Advance SOCMA’s policy agenda at the federal and state levels, representing the industry before Congress, regulatory agencies, and aligned coalitions. Elevate the industry’s impact and effectiveness in this arena.
- Forge and maintain strong relationships with government affairs professionals, other industry organizations, agency leadership, and other relevant associations where there is mutual interest.
- Serve as a visible, credible voice for specialty chemical manufacturers in public, regulatory, and media forums.
Member & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Serve as the primary relationship-builder with member companies, ensuring consistent engagement and value delivery.
- Lead with a hands-on, service-oriented approach that deepens member trust and retention. Personally engage in membership development, retention, and engagement.
- Promote connectivity across the membership through curated programming, technical resources, and networking forums.
- Ensure the entire SOCMA team is member-focused to ensure outstanding service.
Communications, Media, and Marketing:
- Lead a proactive, strategic communications strategy to ensure SOCMA’s voice is amplified across policy, industry, associations, and public audiences.
- Serve as the industry’s key ambassador and spokesperson. Advocate before all important audiences while also engaging other members of the executive leadership team as appropriate to reinforce the value of the specialty chemical industry and member contributions.
- Drive brand development, media relations, digital communications, and thought leadership efforts to ensure that SOCMA retains and enhances engagement, drives visibility with key stakeholders, and supports membership growth.
Financial and Operational Oversight:
- Maintain the financial health of the organization, including annual budgeting, forecasting, and dues/non-dues revenue strategy. Ensure strong membership retention and growth and evaluate additional non-dues revenue services that provide value to the members.
- Evaluate the entirety of the organization’s infrastructure and operations, including its overall business model, revenue mix, resource allocation, staffing models, IT infrastructure, and accountability structures, to support program delivery and ensure continued agility, success, and longevity of SOCMA.
- Oversee the success of SOCMA’s annual trade show, the largest annual event attended by suppliers and buyers interested in technologies, innovations, and process solutions with applications for the specialty, custom, fine and industrial chemical markets.
- Prepare annual budget aligned to SOCMA’s strategic plan for review and approval by the Board of Governors. Make recommendations for priority investments that advance the industry’s goals.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local codes, regulations, and ordinances.
Oversight of Affiliated Entities
- Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for SOCMA’s two wholly owned LLCs:
1. An association management division that currently supports four client associations with management services for back-office operations.
2. A data services division responsible for maintaining and providing access to historical chemical data essential to regulatory and industry stakeholders.
- Ensure alignment between LLC operations and SOCMA’s broader mission, values, and financial objectives.
- Oversee budgeting, staffing, and performance accountability for each entity, driving operational excellence and client satisfaction.
- Identify opportunities for growth, service innovation, and cross-functional collaboration between the LLCs and SOCMA core programs.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will be an impactful visionary leader with at least 10 years of senior executive leadership experience in an association or industry group, chemical sector company, or aligned organization of similar or larger scale, scope, and complexity. The candidate will have a passion for advocating for the issues of greatest importance to the specialty chemical manufacturing industry or broader chemical industries with a diverse constituency. They will be an innovative and transformational strategic thinker with strong business and financial acumen, P&L responsibility, proven staff leadership, advocacy, communications, and relationship-building skills.
They will demonstrate strong organizational and team building skills, as well as a successful record of accomplishment for collaborating with diverse stakeholders to advance a robust strategic vision for the organization, including a sustainable financial model and clear membership growth and retention strategy. Association leadership and/or knowledge of the chemical industry/manufacturing sector is desirable.
Additional experience and qualifications will include the following:
- Experience overseeing the development and implementation of an organization’s strategic plan, working collaboratively with a Board of Governors, managing a P&L, and leading a diverse team of professionals and members to achieve the goals and objectives of an organization.
- Experience overseeing a large successful trade show or annual meeting a plus.
- Executive presence and gravitas, with an ability to galvanize a high-profile industry Board on a priority agenda and amplify the voice of the industry before key audiences including government officials, industry, peer associations, and media.
- High energy visionary leader capable of anticipating and addressing significant industry challenges and opportunities. Innovative and open-minded to innovative ideas generated from the Board, membership, and the staff.
- Strong analytical skills with a capability of analyzing and articulating complex and strategic issues and their potential impacts for decision-making for staff, Board members, and key business partners.
- Strong financial and business acumen to ensure the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of SOCMA.
- Experience designing and delivering member-driven business development or B2B programming.
- Demonstrated success leading communications, media engagement, and/or marketing initiatives.
- An effective, credible, and influential communicator and spokesperson before all audiences including government officials, media, business leaders, and the public at-large. Outstanding written, oral, and presentation communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal, relational, and influence skills with a record of accomplishment for successfully working with a wide range of diverse stakeholders including government officials, industry leaders, association members, and educators. Ability to clearly articulate the message and earn respect from their audience.
- Strong knowledge of Washington, DC, including both legislative and regulatory affairs and agencies. An ability and passion for quickly engaging in the legislative and regulatory issues facing the specialty chemical manufacturers industry to advance its agenda with credibility on a bi-partisan basis.
- Prior working knowledge of the specialty chemical manufacturing is advantageous, as SOCMA operates in an industry that benefits from specialized knowledge.
- Experienced staff leader, with demonstrated record of accomplishment for leading a dynamic organization; attracting, developing, and motivating strong talent; and managing and mentoring a high-performing, empowered team in a results-oriented, fast paced environment.
- A record of accomplishment for building strong alliances and coalitions with organizations that share common objectives. International business experience is a plus.
- Strong emotional intelligence, with an ability to forge consensus, collaborate, and lead with humility, compassion, and empathy.
- The courage and conviction to challenge and defend ideas and strategies before opponents and advocate before diverse audiences on the industry’s priorities.
- Strong entrepreneurial spirit and an ability to translate new opportunities into measurable results. A future leaning perspective on how the digital world and AI are evolving and implications for SOCMA.
- Reputation for strong integrity and sound judgement, upholding high ethical standards.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree in relevant discipline, industry-relevant certifications, or equivalent business experience a plus.
COMPENSATION
A competitive compensation package will be provided for outstanding candidates. Salary will be dependent on several factors, including previous work experience, specific industry experience, qualifications, and skill set.
PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates has retained Korn Ferry to assist the Board in this search. Screening will begin in September 2025 and continue until an appointment is made. Applications (including resume or CV and a cover letter addressing interest should be submitted to socma_president@kornferry.com. Nominations and inquiries should be directed electronically to sophia.carr@kornferry.com.
Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome diversity in our workforce and encourage all qualified applicants to apply.
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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.
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