Assistant Director, Governance and Affiliate Relations

About the Role

You are a strategic, relationship-driven governance professional who knows how to bring clarity, momentum, and purpose to complex work. You thrive in a role where leadership, collaboration, and thoughtful execution come together to support high-impact committees, trusted volunteer leaders, and initiatives that help move the Academy’s mission forward. In this role, you’ll help keep AAOS governance work organized, thoughtful, and moving forward. You’ll support Board-related processes and key volunteer committees, manage confidential projects, and partner closely with leaders, staff, and volunteers to turn important priorities into action.

Responsibilities

• Board and Board Committees Support
  • Support AAOS Board committees, including the Nominating Committee and Committee on Ethics and Outside Interests, by preparing materials, timelines, minutes, reports, and follow-up items.
  • Manage the confidential Board nominations process, including nominee submissions, background materials, final reports, and related Fellowship communications.
  • Support disclosure and conflict of interest processes, including the Convey program, Fellowship communications, and ethics tools and resources.
• International Strategy and Programs
  • Oversee international strategy, education programs, exhibits, and Annual Meeting activities across key business areas.
  • Serve as lead staff liaison to the International Committee, including committee planning, agendas, materials, updates, and alignment with the AAOS Strategic Plan and International Strategy.
  • Build strong working relationships with international orthopaedic societies, humanitarian organizations, and other global partners.
• Resident Assembly and Community Engagement Advisory Board
  • Support the Resident Assembly by advising on strategy, documenting policies and procedures, and coordinating with staff liaisons on committee initiatives.
  • Serve as lead staff to the Community Engagement Advisory Board, including meeting planning, agendas, materials, minutes, action items, and follow-up.
  • Oversee diversity-related governance initiatives, the Diversity Dashboard, and CAEB support for the Medical Student Program at the Annual Meeting.
• General Responsibilities
  • Manage budgets, tracking, forecasts, research, and special projects for assigned governance and committee areas.
  • Handle detailed and confidential work with minimal guidance while supporting senior governance leaders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least five years of progressive program or project coordination/management experience.
• Strong communication, writing, editing, organization, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage a high volume of detailed work.
• Sound judgment, discretion, integrity, and the ability to handle confidential information with professionalism.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, databases, and spreadsheets.

Qualifications

• Desired degree in business, communications, marketing, international relations, or a related field; association experience preferred.
• Experience with governance best practices and nonprofit or member-focused operations.
• Collaborative, emotionally intelligent leadership style with strong judgment, integrity, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to support complex initiatives and build strong relationships.
• Conversational proficiency in a second language preferred; Spanish a plus.

Pay

Salary Range: $102,000–$105,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

Schedule

This hybrid position is based in Rosemont, Illinois and requires the ability to commute to the office at least twice per week.