Committed to serving global societal needs. ASTM International positively impacts public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate consensus standards - developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts - and innovative services to improve lives...Helping our world work better.
ASTM provides an excellent compensation and benefits package including:
• Undergraduate and Graduate Tuition Reimbursement
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave
• 403(b) plan with company match
• 100% company-funded defined benefits pension plan
Please Note: This is a Hybrid position, preferably in the Washington, D.C, or Philadelphia area
Summary of Position
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded $15 million for a center of excellence to support U.S. engagement in international standardization for critical and emerging technologies (CETs) essential to U.S. competitiveness and national security. The new Standardization Center of Excellence (SCoE) will be led by ASTM International, with involvement from multiple partners from across the standards development ecosystem. By forging collaborations among industry, government, and academia, the SCoE is strategically positioned to accelerate standards development and provide programs to benefit communities of various CETs in the coming years. The center’s efforts will align with the U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET) and its Implementation Roadmap. The center will also support and complement the broader goals of the United States Standards Strategy published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), with the goal of ensuring that the U.S. remains a global leader in standardization efforts. Learn further here.
We are looking for a highly independent and driven Director to lead the development, execution, and management of organizational plans to support the formation and growth of the CET SCoE. The SCoE Director will be responsible for contributing to the development of a strategic plan that drives the development of various programs to support CET standardization and a long-term strategic vision for the SCoE’s activities. Associated tasks include but are not limited to:
- Develop and implement strategies to initialize, develop and sustain the SCoE program through collaboration between different stakeholders from standards bodies, industry, government, and academia for the various CETs
- Coordinate with partners to develop priorities that align and advance with SCoE vision and initiate programs such as road mapping workshops, events or activities for program development and increased stakeholder engagement
- Engagement, alignment, and management of resources to support internal cross functional ASTM structures (i.e. financial management and budget development).
- Build and sustain heightened awareness of the U.S. Standardization System and the critical importance of CET standardization engagement
- Monitor and improve organizational development plans for meeting key targets by regularly reviewing SCoE activities and identifying areas for improvement
- Analyze global CET market research to keep abreast of trends and provide key insights to leadership
- Define and structure programs to initiate new business development opportunities
- Define and track measurable goals and KPIs to achieve organizational business goals
- Carries out other assignments and manages special programs as assigned
In general, the SCoE Director will have a key role in identifying stakeholders, conducting engagement, and facilitating consensus building on high level planning and developing goals that align to SCoE deliverables. Evaluating opportunities and conducting standardization activities (e.g. pre-standardization workshops, landscape analysis, etc.), education and workforce development, and knowledge transfer activities are essential to support the growth and organizational objectives of the SCoE. This SCoE Director must have a robust understanding of standards, knowledge on CETs such as Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing, Quantum Computing, biotechnology, Semiconductors, amongst many others. The SCoE Director will also engage regularly with communities of various CETs, formulating strategies and plans to further position the work of the SCoE within the global technological ecosystem. Specifically, the SCoE Director will:
- Work in a collaborative mode with colleagues to meet organizational goals and objectives
- Stakeholder identification and engagement, facilitating consensus-based standardization activities
- Interact confidently with experts and leaders in industry, government, and academia to further the growth of the SCoE
- Direct market research and stay current with emerging trends and issues related to various CETs under the SCoE.
- Direct strategic reviews of SCoE activities and milestones, analysis of trends and future directions, quantitative analysis of relevant data
- Lead the team in assessing emerging technologies, business partnerships, and other related business ventures aligned to the SCoE’s goals
- Effectively synthesize desktop research, expert viewpoints, and own expertise into clear strategies, recommendations, and future directions.
- Manage and lead negotiations and close partnership agreements with different stakeholders from government agencies
- Effectively represent the center at events such as conferences, exhibitions, workshops, webinars, and training programs in related areas
- Identify appropriate program and event sponsors to maximize stakeholder engagement
Please note that regular travel will be required for this position (approximately 25%).
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, business, or related discipline, with at least 10 years of full-time professional experience, preferably in technical and managerial roles.
- Proven track record in managing programs, including overall responsibility for project quality, schedule, and cost
- Excellent communication, organizational, and negotiation skills in conducting business activities in an international setting with a strong sense of business acumen
- Ability to analyze industry research reports and produce appropriate development direction
- Independent self-starter with a “roll up your sleeves” attitude that can manage multiple activities and engagements, as well as program execution and implementation
- Ability to work closely with a diverse collection of staff, technical committees, individual technical experts, and contractors
- Ability to think “big-picture” and connect opportunities to current or required organizational reality
- Comprehensive understanding of standardization efforts, have experience in standards development activities and organizations
- Have an excellent understanding of emerging technologies and their use in the industry
- High competence in project and stakeholder management
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in science, engineering, business, or related discipline
- 5–10 years of professional technical management and/or business development experience within a CET field
- Knowledge of any existing regulation requirements and standards affecting CETs
- Demonstrated leadership and ability to execute organizational development programs at scale
- Demonstrated partnership management with the capability to juggle between multiple projects and priorities
- Excellent relationship management skills and ability to represent organization at a global scale
- Proven record of influencing people without positional authority
- Critical thinker and decision maker, able to understand and relate what is best for the organization
- Strategic vision with ability to propose, analyze, and articulate short-, medium- and long-term scenarios for CET standardization and growth opportunities
- Experience in one or more CETs and related fields will be a plus.
This job description is not intended to provide an all-inclusive listing of related job activities. Associates may be requested by management to perform other related activities in place of or in addition to those representative activities noted in this job description.
ASTM International is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Females/Disable/Veteran
