Overview: The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Association, re-sponsible for executing the mandates and policies set forth by the Association and the Executive Committee. This role oversees the management and administration of the national headquarters, ensuring operational efficiency and strategic alignment with the Association’s mission. Additionally, the Executive Director acts as the publisher of all Association communications, maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of its messaging.

Reports to: ROA National President

Supervises: The Executive Director oversees the entire staff of six team members, providing strategic leadership and direction. This includes the direct supervision of the Director of Administration, Director of Operations, and Director of Legislation and Military Policy, ensuring alignment with the Association’s goals and operational excellence.

Qualifications:

• Seasoned leader who can fill the role of chief executive officer.
• Significant conversance in national security and in particular the roles, trends, and issues pertaining to the reserve components, their families, and veterans of the reserve force.
• Private-sector “P&L”-type experience in business and revenue development, budgeting, risk management, planning, and project administration.
• Experience in fundraising or working with development officers.
• Skilled in public speaking and written communications.
• High in “emotional intelligence.”
• Team player, who is politically savvy, can make decisions on partial information, has drive and ability to deliver in a fast-paced environment.
• Willing and able to do his or her own writing and operate collaboratively as part of a lean staff, without assistants, secretaries, etc.
• Comfortable in conduct and conversation with the most senior officials domestic and foreign in government, the military, and the private sector.
• Energetic, forward-thinking and creative with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
• Strategic capability with vision and a strong operational focus.
• Demonstrate the ability to think, reason, assess, decide, direct, and behave at the “executive level” is essential.
• Elementary familiarity with association operations and programs.
• Proven success in forming and sustaining complex business relationships.
• Completion of graduate level education in public policy, a U.S. military staff college at the MEL-1 level, graduate of senior NCO military academy.
• Certified or eligible for certification as a Non-Profit Professional (CNP).

Qualifications (Desirable):

• Former holder of a federal commission in a uniformed reserve component or be separated or retired from such under honorable conditions (to fulfil ROA membership requirements) or former service in the Senior Executive Service (SES)
• Commit to join ROA if eligible and if not already a member.

Competencies: The candidate should be…

• Analytical – able to synthesize complex or diverse information; can read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Communication – able to effectively represent ROA in public forums, make effective and persuasive presentations on controversial or complex topics, and publish clear explanations of policy and procedural issues that are useful to both internal and external audiences.
• Delegation – able to delegate work assignments, give authority to work independently, set expectations and monitor delegated activities.
• Judgment – able to exhibit sound and accurate judgment and make timely decisions.
• Leadership – able to inspire and motivate others to perform well and accept feedback from others; able to pitch in personally at any level when the team needs help; and willing to forgo use of current or former military rank on a discretionary basis to preserve perception of the staff’s subordination to national leadership.
• Management skills – able to include staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; make oneself available to staff; provide regular performance feedback; and develop subordinates’ skills and encourages growth.
• Planning/Organizing – well organized and self-directed, with the ability to develop and exe-cute strong plans, manage projects of varying sizes, and implement appropriate policies/practices.
• Problem solving – decisive and possess a “big picture” perspective; identify and promptly re-solve problems; gather and analyze information skillfully; and can decide yet is able to revise decisions when the context changes.
• Quality management – able to seek and employ ways to improve and promote quality, and demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness.

General Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Chief Executive Officer, overseeing and directing all activities of the national staff and contractors in alignment with ROA’s national strategic plan, budget, resolutions, and programs. Ensure the maintenance and enhancement of the Minute Man Memorial Building and its grounds while implementing guidance and directives from the Association’s elected leadership.
• Serve as chief legislative spokesperson, interacting with Congress and the Executive Branch.
• Perform duties in any subordinate director role as necessary, ensuring operational continuity and effective leadership across all functions of the Association.
• Actively support fundraising and capital-raising efforts to advance the Association’s objectives.
• Provide executive oversight and hands-on direction for ROA’s Top of the Hill Banquet and Conference Center.
• Serve as the executive liaison for all tenants of the Minute Man Memorial Building, fostering strong relationships and ensuring effective facility management.

Related References in ROA Constitution/Bylaws (October 6, 2024):

• Article A-7: Officers, Section 5: Appointed Officers, (b) Executive Director – An executive di-rector shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
• Article B-3: Duties of Officers, Section 5: Executive Director – The executive director shall be the chief executive officer of the Association, charged with implementation of the mandates and policies adopted by the Association and Executive Committee, management and administration of national headquarters, and shall be publisher of all Association communications. Subject to the policy direction by the national president and budgetary and fiscal controls and fiscal report formats adopted by the National Executive Committee, he shall mange National Headquarters; supervise administration of all non-trust assets of the Association; cause regu-lar accounts to be made of all assets of the Association; execute authorized contracts; em-ploy, supervise and terminate administrative personnel; keep a record of all proceedings and matters essential to administration of National Headquarters and the Association; submit an annual progress report (“Annual Report”) as of 31 December each year and perform such du-ties as are usually incident to the office, as may be provided in the national constitution or in the bylaws adopted thereunder or as may be directed by the National Convention, the National Council, the National Executive Committee or the national president.
• Article B-7: National Headquarters and Staff, Section 2: Executive Director – The executive director shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and supervised by the president.

About Reserve Organization of America (ROA)

Since 1922, The Reserve Officers Association of the United States, now known as the Reserve Organization of America to reflect its all-ranks membership, has championed the cause of the Reserve Components at home and in war. For 100 years ROA has been the only organization solely dedicated to supporting the Reserve Components and their critical role in national defense. ROA is America’s only exclusive advocate for the Reserve and National Guard – all ranks, all services. With a sole focus on support of the Reserve and Guard, ROA promotes the interests of Reserve Component members, their families, and veterans of Reserve service; and conducts a legislative campaign that ensures the readiness of our Reserve force. Together, ROA’s members sound off in one voice for one mission. With its unequaled credibility on America’s Reserve Components, ROA is a powerful advocate in Congress, the Pentagon and VA, and policymaker offices throughout Washington. ROA leads the nation’s efforts to ensure the Reserve Components are strong and ready, and Reserve Component families are well cared for. Since 1922, The Reserve Officers Association of the United States, now known as the Reserve Organi...zation of America to reflect its all-ranks membership, has championed the cause of the Reserve Components at home and in war. The evolution of that mission has helped protect the rights and benefits of individual members of the Reserve force and their families, while preserving a strong and capable Reserve force as a critical component to our national security. ROA continues to serve the Reserve and National Guard in an era where the need is greater than ever before.

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