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CEO

Req Number: RCZ4RX
Location: New York, NY / Hybrid
Posted: 7/31/2025
Category: Government/Not-For-Profit : Not-For-Profit
Job Type: Permanent
Compensation: USD 400,000.00 - 500,000.00 Yearly - 0
Position: Chief Executive Officer
Organization:  American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Location: Headquartered in New York, NY (though role can be hybrid)
Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors

THE OPPORTUNITY
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) seeks a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to serve as the strategic and visionary leader of the organization, advancing its mission to support chemical engineers in their professional growth and to promote the safe and ethical practice of chemical engineering across all industries. The new CEO will significantly impact the profession by shaping and driving a transformational agenda to reaffirm AIChE’s significance and relevancy today and in the future.

The CEO partners with the Board of Directors and staff to develop and execute long-term strategies that support innovation, growth, and global impact in the chemical engineering profession. The CEO represents the organization to a wide range of stakeholders, including members, next generation engineers, industry leaders, academia, government, international partners, and the public. The role requires a forward-thinking, collaborative leader with the experience to navigate complex challenges, foster partnerships, and drive meaningful progress in science, education, sustainability, and workforce development.

The CEO will ensure the organization offers a robust and relevant value proposition, as well as the overall performance and health of the organization, overseeing financial management, staff leadership, membership engagement and growth, and program creation and delivery. The CEO will foster trust, collaboration, engagement, and transparency. With an understanding of both the external trends and evolving needs of chemical engineers and the industries they serve, the CEO will ensure that AIChE remains a trusted voice and resource for the profession -- championing innovation, fostering the next generation of chemical engineers, and highlighting the critical role of chemical engineering in addressing societal challenges.

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
AIChE is the leading professional organization for chemical engineers to promote excellence in the development and application of chemical engineering across industries. Headquartered in New York City, AIChE serves more than 60,000 members in over 110 countries, including professionals from academia, industry, and government. It sponsors over 40 technical and professional communities across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including emerging areas such as translational medicine. The organization has nearly 100 staff and annual revenue of approximately $50M. Through its mission, AIChE empowers chemical engineers to innovate, lead, and make a positive impact on society and the planet. As a key thought leader, AIChE fosters connectivity globally, such as serving as the hub for the Center for Chemical Process Safety.

The AIChE Foundation provides funding for impactful programs that support the organization’s mission and promote the advancement of the chemical engineering profession, today and in the future. Founded in 1990 as the philanthropic arm of AIChE, the Foundation supports programs that enable AIChE and its members to be a positive force for change through safe and responsible practice of chemical engineering. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees with fiduciary responsibility held by the AIChE Board of Directors.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIRED OUTCOMES

Strategic Leadership:
  • Collaborate with the AIChE Board of Directors, Foundation Board of Directors, and staff leadership to clearly establish strategic priorities and update the organization’s long-term strategic plan to ensure continued relevancy and impact. Ensure the organization is agile to anticipate and address the dynamic environmental trends that may impact the ability to achieve AIChE’s objectives.
  • Foster a collaborative partnership between the AIChE Board and staff to promote strong engagement and clear communications and propel the organization forward in achieving its objectives.
  • Communicate the organization’s vision and strategic direction to all stakeholders and develop action plans, metrics, and accountabilities for their achievement. Ensure resources are allocated to priority activities.
  • Leverage the strength and trust in AIChE’s brand to achieve its mission.
  • Challenge assumptions and the status quo and identify innovations to the traditional business model that ensure the organization continues to be relevant and financially sustainable in the long-term.
  • Ensures the development and implementation of a robust value proposition and targeted communications strategy that enables recruitment and retention of a diverse and vibrant membership, including the next generation engineers.

Board Relations and Volunteer Engagement:
  • Forge and maintain a collaborative, trusting, and transparent working relationship with the AIChE Board to facilitate the advancement of AIChE’s strategic plan and annual operating plans. Communicate regularly on progress toward achieving strategic priorities, operational matters, and new developments impacting objectives.
  • Support the Board to ensure best practices in governance.
  • Serve as a principal liaison between the executive team and staff and the AIChE Board of Directors.
  • Foster vibrant volunteer engagement; build and maintain a “member-centric” model of operation to ensure strong growth and retention among industrial and academic members and across volunteer demographics.

Staff Leadership:
  • Build a highly effective, results-oriented team.
  • Attract, inspire, mentor, and retain an engaged, motivated, and diverse staff while developing future leaders for AIChE.
  • Instill accountability for the organization’s commitments, providing clarity, fairness, and constructive feedback.
  • Ensure the organization is appropriately structured and staffed to fully implement the strategic plan.
  • Create, foster, and support a positive, proactive organizational environment of innovation, encouraging achievement of AIChE’s goals and objectives.
  • Promote a culture of transparency and collaboration to build trust and elevate morale across all levels of the organization throughout the country.

External Relations:
  • Articulate AIChE’s mission, value proposition, and impact, effectively and with passion, and serve as a persuasive and compelling spokesperson for AIChE to build and promote its brand and public image.
  • Foster relationships nationally and globally with volunteers, sponsors, and other key external constituencies.
  • Develop and maintain strategic professional organizational relationships, including peer societies globally.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
The CEO of AIChE should be a visionary and collaborative leader with an understanding and appreciation of engineering, scientific, or technical professions, ideally with direct experience in or adjacent to the chemical engineering field. This individual must bring a proven track record of leading complex organizations of comparable scale, building strategic partnerships, and driving mission-focused growth at a national or global level. Executive leadership experience within associations or as a volunteer is preferred. Among the key experiences and attributes for the next CEO are the following:

  • An executive with a proven track record of visionary leadership, who proactively anticipates and addresses significant challenges and opportunities impacting the profession and associated industries.
  • Proven performance as the CEO or other Executive Leader for an organization with strategic and P&L responsibilities of comparable scale and complexity preferred.
  • Record of effectively working with diverse stakeholders to build consensus and forge an organization’s strategic plan and execute upon that plan with appropriate urgency, timeliness, and responsiveness to outlined goals, establish metrics, achieve benchmarks, and deliver projects on budget.
  • An effective, credible spokesperson before all audiences globally, internal and external.
  • Experienced staff leader, with a demonstrated track record for attracting and developing strong talent, and building and managing a high-performing, collaborative, and innovative team in a results-oriented, fast-paced environment.
  • Understanding of strategic marketing and communications, including leveraging technology, social media, and analytics.
  • Outstanding interpersonal, influence, and persuasion skills, including the ability to relate well to a wide range of constituencies; outstanding listening skills, with the ability to clearly articulate the message and earn the respect of their audience.
  • Situational leadership, with an ability to read the room; political savvy.
  • A collaborative style with strong convening and consensus-building skills.
  • Experience engaging and motivating a diverse volunteer community is desirable.
  • Global mindset and experience a strong plus.
  • A person of high integrity and character; trustworthy.

EDUCATION
A bachelor’s degree is required. Advanced degree preferred. A degree in chemical engineering is a plus but not required.

COMPENSATION
A competitive compensation package will be provided for outstanding candidates. The base salary range for this position is $400,000 to $500,000 along with a competitive incentive plan. Salary will be dependent on several factors, including previous work experience, specific industry experience, qualifications, and skill set.

KORN FERRY CONTACTS

Lorraine Lavet
Sector Leader, Association Practice
Phone: 703-919-6540
Lorraine.Lavet@kornferry.com

Paul Pospisil, PhD
Senior Client Partner, Global Lifesciences
Phone: 917-945-9430
Paul.Pospisil@kornferry.com

Bryce Gilfillian
Senior Associate
Phone: 409-782-6083
Bryce.Gilfillian@kornferry.com

Emily Lynch
Senior Project Coordinator
Phone: 703-498-7227
Emily.Reda@kornferry.com


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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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