Job Announcement

• Vice President, Education and Research

• Job Type: Full-Time
• Location: Arlington, VA

• Job Description:

  The job responsibilities and duties of the Vice President, Education and Research are focused in two key mission critical areas:

  
  

  1) Education Program Development and Execution

  
  

  2) Research Development and Execution

  
  

  - Manage and facilitate effective engagement with the FMI Member Services Committee, FMI Associate Member Board and Council, FMI Private Brands Group,all FMI committees and industry trade associations to ensure alignment and effective resource allocation on key industry education events and research initiatives.

  
  

  - Work with the FMI Industry Relations Committee, Wholesaler Advisory Board and FMI Independent Operator Committee to ensure education and research requirements are identified and executed.

  
  

  - Work proactively with FMI Marketing Department to ensure programs, services and initiatives are effectively communicated, marketed and revenue targets are accomplished.

  
  

  - Provide support to the FMI membership department and other FMI functions to ensure the overall mission of the association is realized particularly leveraging education and research as a key member and prospective member benefit.

  
  

  - Identify new value creation and revenue generation opportunities to enhance the mission of the association.

  
  

  - Manage, develop and recruit talent to ensure education and research mission is accomplished.

  
  

  - Utilize fact based data such as member needs assessment, conference evaluation surveys and other key data analytics to evaluate and improve performance capabilities on education and research initiatives.

  
  

  - Actively build, develop and maintain professional and effective working relationships with FMI members, associate members, prospective members, service providers and academia to ensure they have access to engage with FMI so they can leverage FMI products and services and FMI can partner effectively with these groups to access and leverage their intellectual capital and capabilities.

  
  

  Education Program Development and Execution

  
  

  GOAL: Establish FMI as the preeminent source for food and consumer products industry education. Execute the nine key strategic pillars to accomplish long range plans:

  
  

  • Future Connect conference development

  
  

  • Innovation Network development

  
  

  • Establishment and extension of FMI education resources

  
  

  • Performance with a purpose

  
  

  • Develop and customize programs to meet the needs of our membership

  
  

  • Develop web-based and other non-traditional education programs using state-of-the-art technology

  
  

  • Conduct timely programs on current issues as they develop

  
  

  • Seek perspectives from thought leaders outside the industry

  
  

  • Develop system for enhanced identification of emerging issues

  
  

  - Provide leadership and focused execution in the evaluation and development of FMI education programs. Ensure that programming is relevant, innovative, fiscally sound and executed with excellence.

  
  

  - Provide leadership and direction for FMI’s signature events, i.e., Midwinter Executive Conference, Future Connect, and FMI May event.

  
  

  - Support education conference design, management and execution.

  
  

  - Manage and guide FMI’s education conference programs.

  
  

  - Develop and guide efforts in FMI Virtual On-Line Education programming.

  
  

  - Direct efforts of the FMI Associate Member Education/Research Committee and the Meetings/Conferences Committee.

  
  

  - Ensure education staff works cooperatively and pro-actively with meeting services department.

  
  

  - Proactively seek business process improvements in the areas of marketing, planning, registration, logistics, financial reporting/forecasting and program evaluation.

  
  

  Research Development and Execution

  
  

  GOAL: Evaluate the ways research can help FMI meet the needs of its members and the means through which to enhance this arena of activity. Execute the four key strategic pillars to accomplish long range plan:

  
  

  • On-Going Research Activity

  
  

  • Research Needs Assessment

  
  

  • Research and Education Alignment

  
  

  • Research Relevancy

  
  

  - Provide leadership and focused execution in the evaluation and development of FMI research initiatives. Ensure research initiatives are relevant, cutting edge and providing actionable insights.

  
  

  - Provide oversight in the development of FMI Speaks, Trends and the entire portfolio of research studies.

  
  

  - Identify internal and external resources to support research initiatives designed to improve the quality and delivery of FMI research.

  
  

  - Manage efforts of the FMI Associate Member Education/Research Committee.

  
  

  - Work proactively with the FMI Member Services Committee, the FMI Consumer Market Research Committee and the FMI Foundation to define research portfolio of projects and initiatives.

  
  

  - Expand efforts including the recruitment of research and consulting companies as knowledge partners and associate members of FMI.

  
  

  - Direct, manage and develop FMI research staff.

• Primary Purpose:

  Leads, develops, directs and manages the value creation, revenue generation and community management activities of the Food Marketing Institute in two mission critical areas:

  
  

  • Education

  
  

  • Research

  
  

  Primary focus is to stay abreast of current and emerging industry trends and issues to ensure member and industry stakeholder needs are addressed in the areas of education program design and development as well as actionable research initiatives.

  
  

  Leverage synergies and harmonize efforts to ensure education programming and research initiatives are synchronized thereby creating enhanced value through improved coordination of efforts.

  
  

  Engage industry leaders, trade associations and industry stakeholders to ensure cooperation is realized on joint industry efforts in education and research while ensuring that the duplication of efforts is eliminated wherever possible.

  
  

  Direct and manage the execution of the FMI Strategic Plan in the areas of education and research. Ensure the education and research team’s efforts are focused on the accomplishment of the FMI mission, goals, priorities and annual financial plan. Develop and build a culture of internal and external collaboration, innovation, fiscal responsibility, listening and responding to member needs.

• Other Job Functions:

  - Recruit and develop staff to support education and research activities. Prepare and conduct regular performance reviews. Initiate performance management procedures to address and correct performance deficiencies. Identify staff training needs and make arrangements through internal and/or external resources to address needs. Provide advice and guidance to managers as they undertake the same activities.

  
  

  - Serve as public speaker representing FMI at industry events.

  
  

  - Other duties and projects as assigned or directed.

• Physical Requirements:

  Normal office environment requiring use of typical business equipment (e.g., computer, telephone, fax and copier machines). Must be proficient in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Position may, at times, require long hours to accomplish key goals and objectives.

• Education, Skills and Experience:

  - Bachelor’s degree in education, research, business administration, marketing or food/consumer products related fields.

  
  

  - Minimum 10 years professional management experience, including strategic planning, financial management, staff management and development responsibilities.

  
  

  - Prefer 10 years of management experience in food retailing and fast-moving consumer goods industry to include expertise in training, development, research and/or general management.

  
  

  - Opportunity spotter, idea generator, concept creator and revenue developer.

  
  

  - Solid thinker with strong analytical skills.

  
  

  - Confident, communicative and reliable. Ability to inspire, lead and execute.

  
  

  - Ability to positively influence partner departments. 

  
  

  - Exceptional problem-solving, prioritization, communication and organizational skills. 

  
  

  - Ability to represent the association professionally to members, industry partners and FMI staff.

  
  

  - Personal qualities must include drive, determination, flexibility, open mindedness, and teamwork.

  
  

  - Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills designed to develop and establish relationships with a wide range of people, customers and organizations. 

  
  

  - Extensive public speaking experience and skills.

  
  

  - Strong customer service, facilitation and team building skills.

  
  

  - Ability to plan, prioritize and execute multiple tasks with attention to detail. 

  
  

  - Must be highly adaptable and able to respond to business circumstances as they arise.

  
  

  - An agent for constructive change.

FMI is an equal opportunity employer.