Senior Director, Student Engagement Operations

American Institute of Physics Incorporated • College Park, MD

43d • $136,600 - $153,560 • Hybrid

About The Position

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) seeks a Senior Director of Student Engagement Operations to provide operational leadership for AIP’s undergraduate-focused student programs, including the Society of Physics Students (SPS) and Sigma Pi Sigma Physics and Astronomy Honor Society. The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is a collegiate chapter-based membership organization within the American Institute of Physics (AIP) which serves as a professional association explicitly designed for undergraduate students and their advisors. The purpose of SPS is to help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community. Within SPS is housed Sigma Pi Sigma, which elects members on the basis of outstanding academic achievement and community service.

This role is responsible for translating strategy into execution, ensuring strong day-to-day program operations, effective people management, financial stewardship, and high-quality program delivery. The Senior Director collaborates with AIP Foundation to develop and support fundraising strategies through sponsorship, donor and corporate gifts, and grants from private foundations and government sponsors. Reporting to the AIP Career Opportunity and Advancement Officer (COAO) who serves as the strategic lead on AIP’s Executive Team for student engagement, the Senior Director will manage staff, oversee program operations, coordinate governance and volunteer activities, and ensure that student engagement initiatives are executed efficiently, equitably, and in alignment with AIP’s mission and priorities.  Examples of programs include a summer internship program, multiple scholarship programs, career development resources, educational outreach resources, leadership development, alumni engagement and networking, regional meetings, and a triennial national meeting focused on undergraduates in physics and astronomy.

This position is ideal for an experienced nonprofit or higher-education leader with deep operational expertise, strong people-management skills, and a passion for supporting undergraduate and graduate students in the physical sciences who brings an understanding of academic culture and experience engaging students and faculty in volunteer-driven, student-focused programs.

Periodic travel to visit chapters, regional meetings, and national meetings will be required.  The director will also need to attend periodic virtual meetings outside of normal business hours to effectively interface with stakeholders.

Requirements

• Advanced degree required; degrees in physics, astronomy, related STEM fields, education, nonprofit management, or related areas are welcome.
• Significant experience in operational leadership within a nonprofit, volunteer-driven membership organization, or higher education environment.
• Demonstrated success managing complex programs, budgets, and teams, with accountability for outcomes.
• Proven success in delivering donor and grant support of programmatic goals.
• Experience working with volunteer leaders, councils, boards, or governance bodies.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proven people manager with experience building inclusive, high-performing teams.
• Commitment to a student-centered practice.

Nice To Haves

• Significant familiarity with undergraduate education, student professional development, or STEM engagement strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with digital tools and platforms for communication and resource management is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee the day-to-day operations of AIP’s student engagement programs, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery across all initiatives.
• Translate the strategic vision set by the COAO into operational plans, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Apply project and program management principles to ensure smooth execution of programs, services, and events, including student professional development initiatives and large-scale convenings such as the Physics & Astronomy Congress.
• Continuously assess and improve operational processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and member experience.
• Manage cross functional operational projects from initiation through completion.
• Maintain and grow membership in the societies, deepen chapter engagement, and improve member benefits.
• Lead, manage, and support a team of staff committed to advancing the missions of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable team culture that emphasizes professional growth, clear expectations, and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Recruit, onboard, retain, coach, and develop staff.
• Champion respectful workplace practices and support staff capacity to meet evolving organizational needs.
• Manage operational budgets in partnership with the COAO and AIP finance, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources.
• Monitor program expenditures, vendor relationships, and operational performance; provide regular reporting on financial and operational metrics.
• Develop and implement with the Executive Director of AIP Foundation a strategy for delivering grant support of SPS programs and activities from government and private foundation partners with an interest in undergraduate education and the physical sciences.
• Support the effective functioning of the SPS Council, Executive Committee, chapters, zones, and volunteer leaders through strong operational coordination, engagement, and communication.
• Manage staff–volunteer interfaces to ensure clarity of roles, productive collaboration, and efficient decision-making.
• Maintain strong working relationships with core stakeholders such as AIP Member Societies, Affiliates, and internal AIP teams to ensure operational alignment and shared goals.
• Partner with internal AIP teams to track operational data, identify gaps in operational efficiency, and implement improvements that better serve a diverse student membership.
• Ensure that programs, communications, and services are accessible, responsive, and aligned with student and advisor needs.
• Collaborate with AIP content, engagement, and communications teams to support timely, effective communication with SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma members in the context of a modern digital experience.
• Provide clear, consistent operational updates to the COAO and key stakeholders.
• Serve as a trusted internal partner who anticipates needs, flags risks, and proposes practical solutions.

Benefits

• We offer comprehensive benefits, including generous paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, an annual retirement contribution of 10% of base pay, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees