Executive Vice President & CEO

Texas Society of Architects; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and holidays

Employer-paid health, dental, and eye

5% retirement contribution

Tuition assistance

Job summary

The Texas Society of Architects (TxA) is seeking an Executive Vice President & CEO to lead advocacy, governance, and strategic growth across Texas. You will manage a 10‑person team, a $4.2MM operating budget, and a reserves portfolio while expanding member engagement and public policy impact.

This role is hybrid with our Austin, TX headquarters, offering a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities to shape the future of the architectural profession in Texas.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of executive leadership experience within an association, professional society, or membership-driven organization.
• Experience with public policy, government relations, and advocacy with legislators, regulators, and other stakeholders.
• Experience working with a board of directors and engaging with high-level government and business leaders.
• An interest in architecture or related AEC professions and curiosity about the future of practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead advocacy strategy and advance legislative priorities with the Board, staff, and components.
• Oversee communications to strengthen visibility of advocacy impact and member value.
• Build productive relationships with chapter leaders and strengthen resource sharing across the network.
• Provide financial stewardship for assets, including the Legacy Fund, and guide investments.
• Support governance processes and prepare data-driven materials for robust board debate.
• Expand member engagement across demographics and career stages statewide.
• Guide operational improvements and empower staff to deliver on strategic priorities.

Skills

Executive leadership

Public policy

Governance

Board engagement

Strategic planning

Job description

With 7,800 members, the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) is the voice for Texas architecture, protecting and advancing a profession that plays an essential role in strengthening communities and addressing complex challenges in housing affordability, sustainability, resiliency, and public safety. TxA is in a strong financial and operational position with an influential advocacy voice, an established event portfolio, one of the most respected regional architectural periodicals in the nation, and an engaged network of 18 local components throughout the state. As Executive Vice President & CEO, you will build on these strengths to amplify and scale what's working while identifying opportunities for TxA to better serve its members and the profession. Your leadership will help TxA embrace the same spirit of continuous improvement that defines the practice of architecture itself.

With a new strategic plan in place, TxA's future direction centers on furthering advocacy impact; strengthening the value proposition for members across demographics and career stages; modernizing how TxA communicates its value and the value of the profession; and helping architects navigate significant changes related to technology advancement, workforce challenges, and licensure. To lead TxA into this next phase, you will oversee a capable staff of 10 across conferences and events, membership, advocacy and government affairs, communications and marketing, education, operations, and finance. You will manage a $4.2MM operating budget with $6.9MM in reserves, including the recently established TxA Legacy Fund, an endowment-like asset designed to support operations and new initiatives that benefit members and the profession.

How You'll Make an Impact: Key Focus Areas

• Advancing the Profession. Anticipate emerging challenges and opportunities affecting the profession and help TxA focus its attention and resources where they can have the most impact. Convene members and key stakeholders to build consensus, strengthen partnerships, and guide TxA's response to evolving issues, including changes in technology, practice, and licensure.
• Advocacy. Oversee TxA's advocacy strategy by partnering with the Board, staff, and component leaders to advance legislative priorities. Support staff and volunteers in building relationships with legislators, regulators, members, and allied organizations. Ensure advocacy, communications, and member engagement strategies work together to build support for advocacy efforts, including contributions to the Texas Architects Committee (TAC).
• Communications. Provide strategic direction for coordinated communications that strengthen the visibility and understanding of TxA's advocacy impact and member value. Ensure the strategy is designed to reach target audiences who consume information in different ways, while continuing to strengthen the relevance of Texas Architect.
• Component Relations and Alignment. Build productive relationships with chapter and section leaders throughout Texas. Strengthen resource sharing across the network and provide support for and/or amplify local efforts as appropriate. Solidify TxA's role as a connector between AIA and local components, identifying where TxA can provide the greatest value.
• Financial Stewardship. Ensure responsible management of TxA's assets, including the Legacy Fund, and recommend investments that support TxA's growth while preserving resources for future generations. Assess key revenue drivers, including the annual conference, and present data-based recommendations to improve financial performance.
• Governance. Serve as a trusted advisor to the Board by providing data-rich materials to support robust debate, fostering discussion that welcomes diverse perspectives, helping volunteers focus on the issues where they can provide the most insight and direction, and guiding conversations toward decisions and action.
• Member Engagement and Relevance. Expand opportunities for members from all career stages, firm sizes, and geographic regions to participate in statewide programs and events (including volunteering, mentoring, etc.). Develop strategies to attract new members while increasing engagement among the core membership.
• Operational Leadership. Build positive relationships with staff by listening first, then recommending operational improvements that help an already strong team deliver on strategic priorities. Empower staff by leveraging their expertise, providing the resources they need to do their best work, and supporting their professional growth.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• TxA currently follows a hybrid work schedule in our Austin, TX headquarters, located in a beautiful, member-designed building.
• The budgeted salary for this position is $250K with an outstanding benefits package including generous PTO and holidays, 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision plans, a 5% retirement contribution, tuition assistance, and more.
• You will work alongside staff and volunteer leaders who embrace and welcome different viewpoints, are deeply passionate about the profession, and are committed to expanding the positive impact of architecture on communities throughout Texas.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of executive leadership experience within an association, professional society, or membership-driven organization, ideally one that serves licensed professionals or operates in a regulated environment.
• Experience with public policy, government relations, and advocacy with an understanding of how to engage with legislators, regulators, and other external stakeholders.
• Experience working with a board of directors and comfort engaging with high-level government and business leaders.
• An interest in architecture or related AEC professions, along with curiosity about the issues affecting the future of practice.

About the Texas Society of Architects

The Texas Society of Architects (TxA) was founded in 1939 and is the 3rd largest state component of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). As a 501(c)(6) professional membership organization of approximately 7,800 architects, TxA advocates for the architecture profession, empowering our members and serving as the voice of Texas architecture. Our vision is a thriving architecture profession, empowered to create a beautiful and sustainable Texas.

TxA works for Texas architects to ensure they are broadly represented and are recognized as creative and innovative leaders for the built environment. Headquartered in Austin, TxA is the third-largest state component of AIA and works in collaboration with 18 local AIA components in the state.

TxA is also the organizational home of the Texas Architects Committee political action organization and the Texas Architectural Foundation, which provides scholarships to students at Texas schools of architecture, and the publisher of Texas Architect, a bimonthly magazine.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.