2025 Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer
Academy of Model Aeronautics
Muncie, Indiana, USA
www.modelaircraft.org/edsearch
Commensurate with experience
Organization Overview:
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) is an 88-year-old national association representing nearly 150,000 members
of all ages and backgrounds who build and fly model aircraft as a hobby or for competition. Most of its members belong
to one or more of AMA's 2,300 clubs, with flying sites throughout the country. AMA provides members with liability
insurance and safety programming for remote piloting of model aircraft in accordance with AMA rules and FAA
regulations. AMA members enjoy camaraderie and having fun flying model aircraft with other like-minded people who
have a passion for aviation. Videos of AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) and National Model Aviation
Museum may be seen at www.modelaircraft.org/edsearch.
Position Overview:
AMA is in need of a dynamic executive director to lead the drive to increase visibility, improve member awareness, and
grow the brand of the world’s largest aeromodeling organization. In addition to directing a 50-person staff, the executive
director will be responsible for working with an active president and Executive Council (board of directors) to create
member growth and retention initiatives, review and improve member services, and lead marketing, advocacy, and
outreach programs. The executive director will represent AMA’s aeromodeling community to national and local
governmental regulatory bodies and agencies, other stakeholder organizations, donors, funders, supporters, and the
general public.
Duties and Responsibilities:
o Directs the overall operations of AMA, with direction on policy from its Executive Council, including managing
an annual $10-plus million operating budget.
o Manages AMA’s headquarters facility and the IAC, its operation, maintenance, and development.
o Maintains official records/documents to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
o Works with the Executive Council, staff, and committees in developing policies, programs, organizational plans,
and long-range strategies to carry out AMA’s mission.
o Maintains a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the aeromodeling community, related
fields, government policies and regulations, and association management.
o Develops and maintains professional liaisons with all levels of government, the modeling community, and other
stakeholders.
o Maintains coalitions and alliances with allied organizations that support AMA’s mission and goals.
o Serves as an effective spokesperson representing and promoting AMA and its programs to members, agencies,
organizations, the general public, and the media.
o Leads the Academy’s advocacy efforts and oversees AMA’s government relations activities, in concert with the
AMA president and Executive Council.
o Oversees all essential programs, including aeromodeling competitions, youth development and education, charter
club relations, and the historical preservation AMA and the National Model Aviation Museum.
Executive Management:
o Implements all policies, programs, and directives of the Executive Council and provides support, consultation,
and vital information in a timely manner to the Council and committees.
o Assists the AMA president in his duties and attends and oversees the logistics and the formal reporting and
recording of all Executive Council and membership meetings held by AMA.
o Oversees the sanctioning of national, international, and regional competitions and events.
Membership Service:
o Ensures that the needs of members and clubs are met and/or exceeded and that clubs, members, and membership
issues are resolved in a timely fashion.
Administration:
o Establishes and sees that effective management is in place along with appropriate provision for succession.
o Maintains a climate that attracts, keeps, and motivates a staff of top-quality people and enables them to be
effective team members.
o Acts as a conduit to ensure good communication between the staff and the Executive Council and facilitates a
positive working relationship between both.
o Facilitates an atmosphere of open communication with the staff through regularly scheduled staff meetings and
frequent interaction with key personnel.
o Ensures that programs, policies, and procedures are in place to maximize volunteer involvement.
o Ensures adequate security, upkeep, and maintenance of all property and equipment owned, rented, or leased by
AMA.
o Ensures good communication and collaboration between committees, work groups, and related staff assignments.
Personnel:
o Establishes positive relationships with employees, volunteers, members, committees, and the Executive Council.
o Provides general direction to all employees and oversees all areas of human resource management, including
administering disciplinary action when necessary.
o Establishes and maintains a fair and competitive compensation program and appropriate educational and
development programs for staff members relating to their specialized work area.
o Provides for ongoing evaluations of employee performance.
Communications:
o Ensures that the Executive Council is kept fully informed about the condition of AMA, its operations, and all
critical factors affecting it.
o Develops and maintains a comprehensive communication process that keeps members, staff, and Executive
Council members informed and up to date through a wide variety of social, electronic, and traditional print
communications.
o Presents AMA’s point of view on aeromodeling and the AMA to outside agencies, organizations, and the public.
o Maintains open lines of communication with staff.
Finance:
o Assists the executive vice president, the Finance Committee, and auditors in developing financial strategies,
annual budgets, and preparing tax/financial reports.
o Authorizes and monitors expenditures and ensures for adequate control and accounting of funds.
o Ensures that an annual independent audit is conducted and reported to the Executive Council.
o Identifies and pursues all revenue sources, coordinates fundraising activities approved by the Executive Council,
and ensures that recognition is extended to donors.
o Assists the Executive Council in identifying non-dues revenue opportunities and develops and executes revenue
strategies to meet AMA’s goals and objectives.
Fundraising:
o Monitors and oversees the functions, operations and fundraising activities of the AMA Foundation, in concert
with the Foundation Director and the AMA Executive Council.
o Provides administrative support to the Executive Council and committees for fundraising.
o Establishes and maintains positive relationships with potential donors, existing donors, government agencies,
foundations, and corporate benefactors.
Public Relations:
o Acts in a senior public relations role to promote AMA’s goals and objectives at community functions,
membership gatherings, or events as requested by the Executive Council or AMA’s president.
o Establishes positive relationships with the public, government agencies, cultural entities, and the media, and
monitors public perception of AMA and aeromodeling activities.
o Develops and maintains professional liaisons with the modeling and industry-related communities in support of
issues of mutual concern.
Program Management:
o Provides leadership, and develops, implements, and maintains programs that provide value and benefit to the
membership and the AMA, in collaboration with the Executive Council.
o Utilizes analytics to evaluate how well program goals and objectives are met and makes recommendations to
modify or terminate programs that do not meet or exceed established goals.
Supervision:
o Executive director reports directly to the AMA president and bears overall accountability to the Executive
Council as a whole.
o The performance of the executive director is reviewed by the Executive Council once a year.
Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities:
o Must be an experienced leader with proven executive management and administrative skills.
o Must possess strong planning, implementing, executing, and evaluation skills.
o Must be able to work effectively with the Executive Council, president, executive vice president, staff directors,
and staff.
o Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, and electronic communication skills.
o Must have the ability to work with and supervise others as a team builder and team player.
o Must be a role model and a lead-by-example team builder who is willing to empower and delegate authority.
o Must have the ability to mentor, inspire, motivate, and maintain the morale of the staff.
o Must be able to develop and lead lobbying initiatives intended to influence, advance, and promote the mission of
AMA.
Education and Experience:
o Should have a four-year degree in business/management or equivalent work experience.
o Should have five years of work experience in a senior executive management position with organizational and
administrative experience in membership association.
o Should have experience managing a professional, technical, and clerical support staff.
o Should have experience managing a multimillion dollar annual budget.
o Aeromodeling or aviation experience is a plus but not a requirement.
Job Type:
This is a Full-time, in-person position.
AMA offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including paid time off,
medical, dental, disability, and a 403(b) plan.
Location:
AMA Headquarters, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, Indiana 47302.
The executive director is expected to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of AMA Headquarters in Muncie,
Indiana.
Travel:
This position requires some travel to promote, protect, and advance the mission of AMA at Aeromodeling or Unmanned
Aircraft System/Drone events and meetings and aviation industry and government-related FAA events or meetings.
How to Apply:
Please send a cover letter, résumé, and compensation requirements via first-class mail to the following address:
Academy of Model Aeronautics
C/O ED Search Committee
5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie Indiana 47302.
Résumés may also be sent via email to (see our website for contact details).
Résumés will be accepted through February 28, 2025.