American Society of Transplantation (AST)
Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director

Position Specification
Position: Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director
Organization: American Society of Transplantation (AST)
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors
Website: https://www.myast.org/

The Organization
The American Society of Transplantation (AST) is a 501(c)(3) mission-driven professional society that serves its membership of more than 4,200 clinicians and researchers in the fields of organ donation and transplantation as well as the larger transplant community of organ transplant candidates, recipients, living donors, deceased donor families, and caregivers. Operating out of its headquarters in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, this nonprofit organization focuses on its pillars of advocacy, education, research, organ donation, and service to the patient community. The Society provides online and in-person educational opportunities for its members, facilitates funding of research to advance the field and maximize the gift of organ donation, and advocates on a legislative and regulatory level to benefit transplant candidates and recipients and living donors.

To accomplish this, the AST employs a talented team of 20 staff members to meet member and community needs. The organization has maintained a growth trajectory, doubling its staff and offerings since 2015. Financially healthy, the operating budget sits at $5.25 million with a strong endowment of $17 million with $2.5 million raised annually.

To keep pace with anticipated growth and expanding programs, the AST seeks a range of talented professionals to conceive, develop and implement new and emerging programs, identify and secure additional, diverse sources of funding and recruit, retain and promote top-tier professionals to manage and shape strategy for the organization.

The AST receives its primary funding from member dues and donations, income from educational meetings and offerings, and through sponsorship and giving from a growing list of industry partners and philanthropic donors. The Society is the largest transplant organization in North America and is recognized as the premier society for transplantation. AST members are sought out nationally and internationally as transplant experts and advocates. Other transplant organizations, policy makers, regulatory agencies, payors, academic institutions, and the general public look to the AST for guidance, research, and resources related to transplantation.

The AST offers online training and webinars as well as key onsite educational meetings:

• International Transplant Science Meeting
• Fellows Symposium on Transplantation
• Cutting Edge of Transplantation (CEoT)
• American Transplant Congress

Organizational Principles
Mission Statement: The American Society of Transplantation is a diverse organization dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation and improving patient care by promoting research, education, advocacy, organ donation, and service to the community through a lens of equity and inclusion.

Core Purpose: Improving human life by advancing the field of transplantation.

Core Values: The principles that guide the AST’s internal conduct and its relationship with the external world.

• Patient-Centered
• Inclusive and Responsive
• Transformative
• Global Perspective
• Absolute Integrity
• Knowledge Sharing

History
The history of the AST began in 1981, when its charter members met and decided a separate society should be organized for transplant physicians. The American Society of Transplant Physicians (ASTP) was founded on May 10, 1982, and open to all physicians and health professionals interested in transplant medicine and biology. In 1998, the ASTP name was changed to the American Society of Transplantation (AST). Today, AST is a growing and diverse organization of more than 4,200 members representing all areas of the field of organ transplantation and donation. In 2018, the Society grew, incorporating patient voice into its efforts through the evolution of its public facing Power2Save campaign. As AST looks to its future, although its five pillars remain the same, the vision is bold and aspirational.

Strategic Aims
Continuous Innovation – We will advance and promote continuous support for innovation in treatment of patients with advanced organ dysfunction/end-stage organ failure and care of living donors.

Engaging Members – We will maximize engagement from the majority of our members to ensure they are actively participating in, contributing to, and finding value in AST programs and initiatives.

Serving our Patients and the Broader Society – We will ensure that the AST is regarded as a leading voice on organ transplantation-related topics for the benefit of patients worldwide.

Developing the Workforce – We will enable the development of an increasing number of diverse, qualified transplant professionals and scientists that are advancing the field of transplantation and improving patient outcomes as demand increases.

A Future-enabled AST – We will ensure a robust infrastructure for the AST so that we have the resources to appropriately support and enable our future efforts and programs.

The Position
Overview
The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director (CEO/ED) of AST reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for partnering with a 14-member Board of Directors to set the mission and vision of the AST and define its strategic direction, ensure that resources are in place to accomplish important mission goals, recruit and retain staff, and build the kind of culture which supports the Society’s mission. AST collaborates with other transplant focused organizations, industry, universities, colleges, regulatory agencies, and other health related agencies, nationally and internationally.

The CEO/ED is the key management leader of the American Society of Transplantation and will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for the AST’s staff, programs, and execution of its mission. This organizational leader will develop a deep knowledge of field, core programs, operations, and business plans to ensure success across internal operating responsibilities including: developing short- and long-range plans; implementing plans directly and through five direct reports and approximately 20 total AST staff; preparing and monitoring budgets; implementing policies and procedures; and providing continuity in the organization.

Key Responsibilities
The AST seeks a visionary executive with the ambition, skills, and drive to successfully lead the organization through its next phase of growth and innovative programming. The CEO/ED will be an inclusive, thoughtful, dynamic leader who values and promotes the history, mission, and future opportunities of transplant medicine and who can leverage their experience, and strategic vision for the benefit of AST’s future growth. This strategic leader will be attentive to issues of equity and inclusion, illustrate AST’s value to its membership, and further AST staff’s motivation to exceed expectations and further cement the organization as a leading association focused on transplant medicine.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Participate in the formulation, and oversee the implementation, of AST’s mission and strategic plans.
• Lead the mission and vision of the organization, along with the Board of Directors, so that AST members receive high-quality services.
• Implement strategic plans, based on data-driven analytics, projections, and financials.
• Oversee the management of AST's budget and ensure that it is a financially viable, sustainable organization with the resources to meet current and projected program growth.
• Build a high-performing senior leadership team and play an active role in attracting, retaining, and developing a best-in-class staff.
• Serve as an ambassador of AST, representing its vision and services through public presentations and by attending relevant events, conferences, and gatherings.
• Develop and collaborate with the Board of Directors, ensuring that committees and efforts are well-organized and funded.
• Inform the Board of Directors regularly of internal organization matters, including relevant staffing, funding and program success and priorities.
• Ensure AST complies with relevant state and federal laws and regulations and with standard accounting procedures.
• Keep AST current and at the forefront of national and international organizations in the field of organ transplantation.
• Maintain current knowledge of literature or other publications on trends in transplant medicine, association management, and other opportunities that will keep AST abreast of the industry.
• Provide continuity to the Board of Directors given AST one-year Presidency term and its representation of diverse leadership across the industry.
• Identify and implement cost-effective ways to deliver state-of-the-art programs to members.
• Participate in identifying and cultivating corporate and individual sponsors.

Qualifications
The CEO/ED will make it a priority to define AST's priorities and direction. The role is both a strategic and tactical one, and the position will require the incumbent to assess and evaluate strategies, further AST’s brand recognition to differentiate itself from other like-minded organizations and prove successful in fundraising efforts, and lead existing/hire new talent to ensure the industry finds AST to be their professional home with ample opportunities for advancement and professional growth. The CEO/ED will invest heavily in training, mentoring, and capacity building at AST and actively promote AST to build its financial reserves and goodwill. The CEO/ED will secure resources, budget, and allocate resources appropriately, and hold themselves accountable for the overall health of the organization. Other desired qualifications and leadership characteristics include:

• A minimum of five years’ experience in management of programs in senior and preferably nonprofit management positions.
• An understanding of the challenges facing the transplant field and a desire to learn.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and execution.
• Results-driven, sound business and financial acumen, proven leadership skills, and demonstrated success in leading a scientific/medical or similar organization.
• Prior experience working with or reporting to a Board of Directors.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Experience effectively conveying an organizational mission to both professional members and other key stakeholders.
• Keen ability to develop and sustain relationships with existing partners as well as new partners across the field of transplant medicine.
• Ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers, and sponsors.
• Demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and proven experience building an organizational environment reflective of those
• Undisputable ethics, integrity, and accountability.
• Prior success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funding partners, other transplant organizations, and volunteers.
• Experience in transplant medicine or another medical specialty strongly preferred.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors for the AST defines and governs the activities of the organization. Its members share in a joint and collective authority to further the organization’s mission to advance the field of transplantation and improve patient care by promoting research, education, advocacy, organ donation, and service to the community through a lens of equity and inclusion.

Representatives to the Board of Directors are appointed for a term of three years. Officer positions on the board are a term of two years outside of President appointees who serve as President-Elect, President, and Past President for twelve months each once elected.

Key AST Relationships

Reports to:

Board of Directors

Direct Reports:

Associate Executive Director
Chief Development Officer
Director of Operations
Director of Membership
Administrative Assistant

Education

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.
• A master’s degree or doctorate degree in a related field or Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation is preferred.

Compensation

• An attractive compensation package based upon background and experience will be provided.

Application

• Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit an application to: ASTCEOED@KornFerry.com

The Community
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Mount Laurel Township is a suburb of Philadelphia with a population of 44,473. It is located in Burlington County and offers residents a sparse suburban feel with a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many professionals and families live in Mount Laurel Township and the public schools are highly rated.

In 2020, Mount Laurel was ranked 16th in Money magazine's list of the 50 best places to live in the United States, citing a kid-friendly environment, affordable housing, and easy access to Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore.

Laurel Acres Park is known for its Veterans Memorial, fishing lake, playground, and grassy hill used for concerts and sledding in the winter when it snows. The Mount Laurel Baseball League and the Mount Laurel United Soccer Club play in the park's sports fields, and since 2008, the Mount Laurel Premiership. Mount Laurel also includes two dog parks. Several historical landmarks in Mount Laurel include General Clinton's headquarters, Paulsdale, Evesham Friends Meeting House, Jacob's Chapel, Hattie Britt School, and Farmer's Hall.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, commonly referred to as “Philly,” is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the second-most populous city in both the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. It is in the Southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, sitting alongside the Delaware River. It is one of the most historically significant cities in the United States and served as the nation's capital until 1800. Philadelphia is the nation's sixth-most populous city with a population of 1,603,797 as of the 2020 census. Since 1854, the city has been coextensive with Philadelphia County, the most populous county in Pennsylvania and the urban core of the Delaware Valley, the nation's seventh largest and one of the world's largest metropolitan regions with 6.245 million residents. Philadelphia is known for its extensive contributions to American history, especially the American Revolution, and for its contemporary influence in business and industry, culture, sports, and music. Landmarks include the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed) and other American Revolutionary sites.

For additional information, visit:
https://www.mountlaurel.com/

http://www.phila.gov/

https://www.visitphilly.com/