Associate Executive Director / Executive Director Designate

Category: Fundraising / Development Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Work Arrangement: Hybrid Type: Part-time A regional chamber of commerce in Arlington, MA seeking an Associate Executive Director / Executive Director Designate in a unique leadership succession opportunity.

Company

Community-centered organization with a deeply engaged membership base. Collaborative, mission-driven culture in which relationship-building is central to the work. Active presence in the local business community, including regular outreach and district engagement and the opportunity to shape the future direction of the organization as part of a planned leadership succession.

Hours/Schedule

• 20 hours per week during the Associate Executive Director phase
• Increasing to an average 25–30 hours per week upon transition to Executive Director
• Availability required for occasional early morning, evening, and weekend events

Job Type

Part-time hourly, with additional hours once transitioned

Location Requirements

Primarily remote/work-from-home; with an optional office; regular in-person required in Arlington, MA for member visits, events, and community engagements

Rate

$30-$35/hr as Associate Director; compensation review at the time of the transition to Executive Director

Job Description

This role is designed to support and ultimately succeed the current Executive Director. The selected candidate will work closely with the current Executive Director, learning all facets of operations before assuming full leadership. With particular emphasis on membership development and marketing, the Associate Executive Director will take on substantial day-to-day leadership responsibilities from day one. The role requires an energetic self-starter who is comfortable in public-facing roles, skilled at building and sustaining relationships, and ready to grow into the full Executive Director position. This person will represent the organization across the business community, manage an active board of directors, and serve as an ambassador for the mission and programs.

Responsibilities

Membership

• Manage onboarding of new members with structured check-ins to ensure engagement and retention
• Recruit and retain members by cultivating relationships with business owners, responding to inquiries, and proactively contacting prospective members
• Follow up on membership leads by phone, email, and in person
• Ensure membership listings are accurate and complete in ChamberMaster
• Engage with members and the broader public on social media platforms
• Represent the organization at monthly meetings in business districts and conduct regular drop-in visits with local businesses
• Manage the “Welcome to Arlington” tote bag program

Marketing & Communications

• Write and manage the member newsletter
• Create and schedule social media content across platforms, including Facebook and Instagram
• Contribute ideas and copy for blog posts
• Assist in developing and executing broader communications and marketing strategies

Events

• Lead and assist with planning and executing events with strong attention to logistics and detail
• Assist in securing event sponsorships
• Take photos at events and post and tag on social media in a timely manner
• Manage event signage, including drop-off and pick-up of lawn signs, banners, and posters
• Prepare and distribute event materials including emails, invitations, flyers, and tickets
• Coordinate post-event follow-up including thank-you notes and sponsor acknowledgment

Financial & Administrative

• Generate monthly membership dues invoices in coordination with the Executive Director
• Follow up on receivables by email and phone
• Assist with confidential and operational matters as needed

Leadership & Transition

• Shadow the Executive Director across all areas of management to prepare for succession
• Manage the board of directors (approximately 12 members), including assigning and following up on specific roles and responsibilities
• Serve as a liaison to the town’s economic development staff and other municipal partners
• Represent the organization at public events, community functions,and speaking opportunities
• Assist with grant writingand grant opportunity research (a plus)

Qualifications

Required

• Proven experience in nonprofit management association management community engagement business development or a related field
• Excellent writing communicationand public speaking skills abilityto represent an organization confidently before diverse audiences
• Strong event planning skillsand meticulous attentionto detail
• Demonstrated abilityto manage multiple priorities simultaneouslywith strong follow-through
• Creative thinkerwith experiencein marketing social media content creationand/or digital communications
• Tech-savvyand proficientin Google Workspace Canva Facebook Instagramand email marketing tools suchas Constant Contact
• Willingnessto be a visible outward-facing presencein the communityincluding attendanceat occasional evening early morningand weekend events
• Abilityto work independentlywith minimal supervision
• Comfort followingupon billing mattersand receivables
• Valid driver’s licenseand access toa personal vehicle
• Own laptop color printerand reliable home Wi-Fi
• Abilityto lift upto20 lbs

Preferred

• Experience managing or staffing a volunteer board of directors - Familiaritywith ChamberMaster or similar association management/CRM software - Experiencewith WordPress or similar content management systems - Prior experiencewith grant writingor grant research - Existing connectionswithin Arlington orthe greater Boston business community - Experience ina chamberof commerce business associationor civic organization setting FlexProfessionals respects diversity among candidates.Candidates are selected basedon qualifications.