Assistant Director, Community Engagement

The American Chemical Society (ACS) seeks a dynamic and experienced Community Engagement Assistant Director to build vibrant, connected communities among the scientific community. This role will develop and implement strategies that foster meaningful connections, facilitate peer networking, enhance member value, and create inclusive spaces where chemical professionals can collaborate, learn, and thrive throughout their careers.

The position reports directly to the Vice President, Membership & Strategic Engagement and is based in our Washington, D.C. office. This is a management-level role responsible for leading a team of four direct reports, with accountability for performance, development, and operational execution.

Key Responsibilities Community Strategy

- Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to build engaged communities across career stages, specializations, and geographic regions

- Design frameworks for connections that drive retention, engagement, and professional growth

- Create pathways for new community members to integrate into existing communities and find engagement opportunities

- Establish metrics to measure community health, engagement levels, and satisfaction

- Design engagement pathways that demonstrate membership value to non-member community participants

- Develop strategies to convert free community participants, students, and non-member attendees into paid ACS members

- Create “membership value demonstration” programs that showcase premium benefits through community experiences

- Design trial membership experiences and limited-time access programs that encourage conversion

- Partner with marketing teams to identify conversion opportunities within community activities

- Track conversion metrics from community engagement to paid membership

- Partner with ACS Local Sections and Divisions to strengthen grassroots member communities

- Provide training, resources, and best practices for local leaders to build engaged member bases

- Facilitate inter-section collaboration and knowledge sharing among community leaders

Community Lifecycle & Conversion Management

- Develop strategies to engage members at critical career transitions (student to professional, career changes, retirement)

- Create retention programs focused on community connection and peer support

- Design re-engagement campaigns for lapsed members emphasizing community benefits

- Collaborate with membership teams on recruitment strategies that emphasize community value

- Manage conversion funnels from free community participation to paid membership

- Develop tiered access models that incentivize membership while maintaining community engagement

- Create strategic touchpoints that highlight membership benefits throughout the community experience

Data-Driven Community Building & Conversion Analytics

- Analyze community engagement data to identify community gaps and opportunities

- Use feedback and surveys to continuously improve community experiences

- Track community participation metrics and report on program effectiveness

- Monitor conversion rates from community participation to paid membership

- Analyze user behavior patterns to optimize conversion touchpoints and experience

Education & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Communications, Marketing, Psychology, or related field; Master’s preferred

- Minimum 7 years of experience in community management, engagement, or customer success roles

- Demonstrated success building and managing online and offline communities

- Proven track record of growing engaged, active communities from conception to maturity

- Understanding of community psychology, social dynamics, and engagement best practices

- Knowledge of member lifecycle management and retention strategies

- Experience with freemium models and converting free users to paid subscribers

- Understanding of membership value proposition development and communication

- Proficiency with CRM systems, community platforms, and member engagement tools

- Strong data analysis skills with ability to derive insights from engagement metrics

- Experience with conversion tracking, funnel analysis, and membership attribution models

- Knowledge of A/B testing methodologies for optimizing member conversion experiences

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to connect with diverse member segments

- Experience managing cross-functional teams and collaborative initiatives

- Ability to influence without authority and build consensus among stakeholders

Preferred Expertise

- Experience with subscription business models and member acquisition

- Deep understanding of what motivates professional community participation

- Ability to identify and nurture community champions and advocates

- Skills in designing inclusive spaces that welcome diverse participation

- Strong empathy and ability to understand community needs across career stages

- Customer success mindset focused on member value and satisfaction

- Ability to translate member feedback into actionable community improvements

- Understanding of professional development needs in scientific careers

- Strategic thinking about membership value proposition and conversion opportunities

- Ability to balance community building with business objectives and revenue goals

- Creative problem-solving with ability to pilot new community initiatives

- Comfort with emerging technologies and digital community trends

- Agility in adapting strategies based on community feedback and changing needs

- Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to experiment and iterate quickly

Success Metrics

In This Role, Success Will Be Measured By

- Community engagement, growth and retention metrics

- Community satisfaction scores and Net Promoter Score improvements

- Successful integration of new members into existing communities

- Increased participation in ACS programs through community activation

- Conversion rate from free community participants to paid members

- Revenue attribution from community engagement activities

- Cost per acquisition (CPA) for new members through community channels

- Member lifetime value (LTV) improvements through community engagement

What We Offer

Compensation & Benefits

- Competitive salary commensurate with experience

- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

- 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching

- Flexible spending accounts and wellness programs

- Professional development fund

Work Environment

- Hybrid work arrangements with flexible scheduling options

- Collaborative culture focused on member success and community impact

- Access to cutting-edge community management tools and platforms

- Opportunities to attend member events and conferences nationwide

- Direct interaction with engaged, passionate chemistry professionals

Growth Opportunities

- Pathways for advancement within ACS membership and community teams

- Leadership development programs and community management certifications

- Cross-functional collaboration with marketing, content, and program teams

- Speaking opportunities at conferences and community management events

This role is based in our Washington, DC office. ACS employees work a hybrid schedule, consisting of working onsite two days per work week, as decided by functional area. The balance of the week is open to working remotely, though employees are always welcome onsite each day if they choose.

A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $140,000-160,000 per year.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of ACS. ACS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.