Employment Opportunities

Executive Director

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
Amherst, Massachusetts

The Opportunity

For more than 50 years, the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce has connected and supported businesses and contributed to the economic vitality of the region.

The environment in which chambers operate is changing. With the rise in connectivity through social media and other outlets businesses have more ways of connecting with customers, building networks and accessing resources. At the same time, businesses continue to need something that is much harder to create on their own: meaningful connection. Chambers still provide this essential resource as the connector throughout the community creating spaces where business and community leaders come together.

The Chamber believes its future value lies in its ability to create connections that individual businesses cannot easily create by themselves. That includes connecting members to one another, to customers and visitors, to major institutions and community partners, and to resources and opportunities that help businesses succeed.

The Chamber is seeking an Executive Director who can help turn that idea into a strong and sustainable organization.

This is a hands-on leadership position in a small organization. The Executive Director works in partnership with the Board of Directors, leads a small staff, represents the Chamber externally, and focuses the organization's limited resources on the areas where it can provide the greatest value.

Creating Value Through Connection

The Executive Director will ensure that membership provides meaningful and visible value to businesses throughout the Amherst area.

The ED will:

• Build strong relationships with current, prospective, and former members and develop a deep understanding of their needs, challenges, and opportunities.

• Identify opportunities to connect businesses with one another, customers, visitors, students, employees, institutions, and community resources.

• Convene businesses around shared interests, industries, opportunities, or challenges when collective action can create value.

• Create meaningful opportunities for business-to-business engagement that go beyond networking for its own sake.

• Help members access regional resources, expertise, partnerships, and opportunities.

• Develop strong working relationships with the Amherst Business Improvement District, municipalities, higher education institutions, tourism and economic-development organizations, and other partners, complementing rather than unnecessarily duplicating their work.

• Serve as a visible and credible representative of the Chamber and the Amherst area business community.

• Listen regularly to members and use what is learned to shape Chamber priorities, programs, advocacy, and partnerships.

Strengthening Membership and Financial Sustainability

The Executive Director will be responsible for strengthening the Chamber's membership base and building a sustainable financial model.

The ED will:

• Develop and implement a clear strategy for member recruitment, retention, engagement, and renewal.

• Be willing to work directly with members and prospective members, particularly while rebuilding relationships and establishing stronger membership systems.

• Engage Board members and volunteers in membership development, relationship-building, sponsorship, and other work where their networks and expertise can strengthen the organization.

• Cultivate strong relationships with sponsors and organizational partners and ensure that sponsorships provide meaningful value.

• Work with the Board, Treasurer, and contracted bookkeeper to develop the annual budget, forecast revenue and expenses, monitor financial performance, and provide timely and understandable financial reporting.

• Maintain a purposeful portfolio of signature revenue-generating events and other opportunities that strengthen member engagement and connection.

• Evaluate events and programs based on their purpose, participation, member value, financial contribution, and demands on staff capacity.

• Identify appropriate opportunities to strengthen and diversify revenue over time.

• Continue to assess budget capacity related to potential growth in staffing through organizational investment that would lead to increased capacity particularly around membership and engagement.

Building a Focused and Effective Organization

The Executive Director will translate the Chamber's priorities into a practical plan of action and build the relationships, systems, and accountability needed to carry it out.

The ED will:

• Work with the Board to establish a small number of annual priorities and measurable goals.

• Proactively bring ideas, analysis and recommendations to the Board to ensure annual priorities and goals are met or exceeded.

• Provide Board members with clear and timely information about membership, finances, programs, opportunities, and organizational challenges.

• Create specific and manageable ways for Board members and volunteers to contribute their expertise, relationships, and time.

• Supervise and support the Chamber staff member responsible for events and marketing, the contracted bookkeeper, and student employees who staff the visitor center.

• Establish clear responsibilities, delegate effectively, and foster a culture of accountability and follow-through.

• Maintain practical systems for membership data, financial management, planning, communications, and organizational operations.

• Make disciplined choices about what the Chamber should pursue, change, partner on, or stop doing based on its mission, member value, financial implications, and available capacity.

Partnership with the Board

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works closely with the Board President and Executive Committee.

The Board is responsible for the Chamber's mission and strategic direction, fiduciary oversight, and evaluation and support of the Executive Director. Board members also contribute relationships, expertise, and leadership to advance the Chamber's work.

The Executive Director is responsible for leading the organization, recommending strategies and priorities, managing staff and operations, engaging members and partners, and implementing the direction established with the Board.

A successful partnership requires clear expectations, candid communication, mutual accountability, and a shared commitment to the Chamber's success.

What We Are Looking For

The Chamber is seeking a thoughtful, practical, and relationship-centered leader who can combine strategy with execution.

Strong candidates will bring many of the following:

• Experience leading or managing within a nonprofit, membership organization, small business, economic-development organization, community organization, or similarly complex environment.

• A demonstrated ability to listen, build relationships, recognize shared needs and opportunities, and bring people together around them.

• Experience establishing priorities and turning ideas into action.

• An understanding of membership, business development, fundraising, sponsorship, sales, or other forms of relationship-based revenue development.

• Financial literacy and experience with budgeting, financial reporting, and organizational decision-making.

• Experience supervising staff, contractors, volunteers, or teams.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills and comfort representing an organization publicly.

• The judgment to recognize both promising opportunities and the limits of a small organization's capacity.

• Curiosity about the changing needs of businesses and the evolving role of membership organizations.

• Knowledge of the Amherst area and regional economy, or the demonstrated ability to quickly learn a community and develop authentic relationships within it.

Candidates do not need to have previously led a Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber welcomes applicants whose leadership experience and transferable skills come from a variety of professional backgrounds.

What Success Looks Like

During the first 12 to 18 months, the Chamber expects the Executive Director to make meaningful progress toward:

• Stabilizing membership and strengthening retention;

• Establishing regular and meaningful engagement with members;

• Developing a clearer value proposition that members can understand and experience;

• Creating purposeful opportunities for connection among businesses, customers, visitors, institutions, and community partners;

• Providing the Board with reliable financial reporting and a clearer understanding of the Chamber's financial model;

• Establishing an intentional portfolio of revenue-generating events and member-engagement activities;

• Creating clear opportunities for Board members and volunteers to participate in advancing Chamber priorities;

• Strengthening staff roles, organizational systems, and follow-through; and

• Developing a focused set of priorities for the Chamber's continued growth and development.

Position Details

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Executive Director works regularly throughout the Amherst area and attends Chamber and community programs and events, including some outside traditional business hours.

Anticipated salary range: $85,000-$95,000, commensurate with experience.

The Chamber currently provides paid vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, mileage reimbursement for authorized business travel, and participation in a SIMPLE IRA program in accordance with Chamber policy. The Chamber does not currently provide employer-sponsored health insurance.

The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates whose experiences and perspectives will contribute to a strong and vibrant business community.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter to info@amherstarea.com with the subject line "Executive Director Application."