Executive Director

Bellefonte, PA
Full Time
American Philatelic Society
Executive


Executive Director

American Philatelic Society

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

 

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with the American Philatelic Society to recruit the organization's next Executive Director.

Organizational Background

With more than 24,000 members in more than 110 countries, the American Philatelic Society (APS) is the world’s largest non-profit organization for stamp collectors. Founded in 1886, the APS serves collectors, educators, postal historians, and the general public by providing various programs and services.

The mission of APS is as follows:

  • To promote stamp collecting for people of all ages
  • To offer services to its membership and philately in general, including knowledge and education, which enhance the pleasure and community of stamp collecting
  • To initiate and coordinate new programs for the benefit of stamp collecting and all collectors
  • To represent the United States of America in the world community of philately
  • To assist its members in acquiring and disposing of philatelic materials

The American Philatelic Research Library (APRL), APS’s sister organization, has one of the world’s largest and most accessible collections of philatelic literature. Located in Bellefonte, the APRL contains three miles of shelving, housing the most comprehensive collections of books, journals, exhibits, and other related research material. 

The APS and APRL are 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organizations governed by elected boards. Together, they have annual revenues of nearly $5 million and net assets of over $17 million. The organizations are managed by thirty full-time staff, three part-time staff, and many volunteers, locally and around the country.

The APS and APRL are in a restored nineteenth-century match factory complex totaling nearly 100,000 square feet. The building, owned by the APRL, also consists of 12 tenant-leased spaces generating additional income.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work with an excellent team in a town with Victorian charm, just eight miles from Penn State University. Not only does Penn State and State College draw significant cultural and entertainment events, but Bellefonte is also four hours away from New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and the Baltimore-Washington Corridor. 

Position Summary

This position is the chief executive officer, serving as both Executive Director of the American Philatelic Society (APS) and Administrator of the American Philatelic Research Library (APRL). The executive director reports to the APS Board of Directors and works with the APS and APRL boards to develop strategies, programs, and financing to support each organization's mission, its membership, and the philatelic community. 

The primary duties and responsibilities fall into the following four categories:

Organizational Leadership

  • Strategic Planning: Works with the boards to form and implement strategic plans.
  • Staff Leadership: Recruit and retain a team to manage programs and serve the membership. Define goals to implement plans and serve the membership. Lead a positive and motivating environment for staff, volunteers, and members.
  • Membership: Ensure effective member service programs to continue our historically high retention rate. Develop innovative programs and marketing to recruit new members annually. 
  • Operations: Maintain smooth operations of the Match Factory complex for guests and third-party tenants. Develop and maintain plans for upkeep, protection, and maintenance of the building.

Community Leadership

  • Membership Relations: Connect with and build relations with APS members and nearly 400 chapters to ensure their voice is heard.
  • Partnerships: Develop and maintain relationships with the more than 200 affiliated philatelic groups to collaborate on strategic initiatives for the good of philately and the philatelic community. 
  • Public Relations: Representing and promoting the interests and mission of the APS, APRL, and the philatelic community to other professional organizations, the media, and the public. 

Financial Sustainability

  • Financial Management: Manages the annual budget for the APS and APRL, working with the Treasurer and finance committee to ensure sustainable operations and compliance with state and federal laws and meet GAAP requirements.
  • Financial Transparency: Provides clear, transparent financial reports to the APS and APRL boards and the membership.
  • Fundraising: Implement successful annual fundraising campaigns, legacy donors, and large gifts to support the APS, APRL, and advance strategic initiatives.

Board Governance

  • Board Relations: Builds and maintains relationships with APS and APRL board members, fostering collaboration between the two organizations.
  • Board Governance: Maintain APS and APRL board policies and ensure compliance with policies and bylaws. Evaluate the need for changes or updates in policy. 
  • Communications: Maintain transparent communications with the APS and APRL boards to inform them of critical issues and engage in progress on strategic plans. 

Professional Qualifications & Personal Attributes

  • A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
  • At least seven years of professional experience in management. Leadership experience in a non-profit organization is preferred.
  • Strong organizational skills, including strategic planning, program development, and staff leadership.
  • Change management experience to implement changes and openly communicate with a board, membership, and other stakeholders to gain broad support.
  • Successful fundraising experience and an understanding of non-profit fundraising.
  • Strong personal ethics and understanding of ethics enforcement.
  • Able to embrace the philatelic community and its culture, representing a diverse group from all walks of life. Experience as a stamp collector and philatelic knowledge is a plus but not required for the position.
  • Demonstrated experience with budget planning and financial management.
  • Instilling a culture of entrepreneurship with the team.
  • Proven success working with a senior leadership team and a board of directors.
  • Ability to motivate, influence, and manage a diverse array of volunteers.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to manage conflict and adversity.
  • Knowledge of and success with customer/member service and satisfaction.
  • Ability to travel.

Compensation

The annual salary range for this position is $175,000 – $200,000. The role is accompanied by a comprehensive benefits package.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

The APS is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Application Process

The search for the APS Executive Director is being conducted by The Moran Company. Questions about the position can be directed to Mike English, The Moran Company; mike (at) morancompany.com.

To apply for this position, submit cover letter and resume to Mike English, The Moran Company, via the secure online portal. Resume should include all professional education and experience, dates of employment (month and year) and position/title and organization names. Cover letter should articulate relevant experience and fit with the stated preferences of the position.

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*