THE OPTICAL SOCIETY (OSA)

OSA

Advancing the Science and Technology of Light

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About OSA

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OSA Careers

OSA is a great place to work! With its attractive benefits package, community atmosphere and stimulating environment, the Society offers diverse and challenging opportunities for personal and professional growth. OSA fosters a productive environment in which all employees are valued as a vital part of the Society and deliver quality service to external and internal community, in compliance with all legal requirements.

View OSA's employee benefits summary; detailing workplace environment, benefits, holidays, and payroll information.

To apply for a position, please send resume and cover letter to resumes@osa.org or fax them to +1 202.223.1096.

Current Employment Opportunities

Chief Of Staff
Deputy Senior Director, Exhibits
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant/Program Assistant
Office Assistant, Part Time
Senior Director of Membership & Marketing
Senior Director of Publishing Sales & Marketing

Chief of Staff


The Optical Society (OSA) is recruiting for a Chief of Staff. This position will provide leadership to the Executive Office and operational oversight of Government Relations; Media and Communications (internal/external); Organizational Branding/Website/Marketing; Governance/Volunteer Relations; History/Anniversary programs; and Special Projects, to ensure efficient, smooth functioning and high quality, effective outcomes.  This position will support the CEO by translating goals into priorities and tasks, setting deadlines, monitoring the CEO’s agenda, and adjusting related work flow to match changing priorities, ensuring timely completion of projects.  This position will serve as an active member of the Executive Team.
 
Job Qualifications:
 
  1. Experience with communications, and government relations or advocacy required
  2. Experience working with a volunteer, governance-driven organization (i.e., professional & individual membership)
  3. Extensive project management and supervisory experience
  4. Experience with a fast-paced office environment and shifting priorities
  5. Strong track record of high integrity, good judgment, confidentiality, and discretion
  6. Proven ability to analyze, prioritize, and execute complex tasks under deadline, and dedicate extra effort when necessary to complete assignments and achieve desired results
  7. Ten years’ professional work experience in progressively more responsible roles
  8. Ability to travel domestically and internationally
  9. Bachelor's degree required; a Master’s degree a plus
 
Uniting more than 180,000 professionals from 175 countries, the Optical Society (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916, OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. OSA publications, events, technical groups and programs foster optics knowledge and scientific collaboration among all those with an interest in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.  The Society is located in the Dupont Circle, DC neighborhood.  We offer a competitive compensation package. Please send your cover letter and resume with salary requirements to Human Resources at resumes@osa.org.


 

Deputy Senior Director, Exhibits

The Optical Society (OSA) seeks an experienced Deputy Senior Director, Exhibits. This seasoned association industry exhibits professional will direct a staff of six and all aspects of exhibit sales, operations, logistics, and direct marketing for two large tradeshows, 8 smaller tabletop shows, and a medium sized annual meeting tradeshow.  The successful candidate will also oversee advertising sales functions for organization’s print and online magazine and several additional pieces of online and digital advertising and sponsorship inventory; plus several outside sales representatives.  The candidate will directly supervise two Director level staff and will work in close cooperation with other internal departments to ensure the overall success of events. The Deputy Sr. Director of Exhibits will also act as the principle external exhibit liaison with several volunteer organizing committees. This position holds primary responsibility for financial success and growth of association’s entire exhibit portfolio as well as all Advertising and Sponsorship sales.
 
Ideal candidate will have a college degree, with 8-10 years of experience in exhibit sales and operations at an engineering or scientific association, and will have significant staff and volunteer management experience. Ability to travel required and expertise with Expocad, Salesforce and MS Office applications, especially Power Point and Excel, preferred.
 
Located in Dupont Circle, OSA offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. Please send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to resumes@osa.org.
 

Executive Assistant
 

The Optical Society seeks a seasoned Executive Assistant to work closely with the CEO to provide a high level of administrative support to the Executive Office.  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: overseeing heavy scheduling and extensive calendar management; coordinate complex domestic and international travel; process detailed expense reports on a monthly basis; prepare and compile support documentation for meetings and conference calls; maintain extensive filing system; prepare correspondences; work on special projects as needed.
 

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five years’ experience acting as the primary support to a C level executive, bachelor’s degree preferred.  Requirements include: ability to work with minimal supervision; utilize excellent judgment to make independent decisions; unflappable in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment; polished and sophisticated with excellent verbal and written communication skills; team-oriented with the ability to work independently; excellent customer service skills; strong analytical, organizational and project management skills; possess a proactive instinct; top notch skills with Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

OSA offers a competitive salary and generous benefits. Send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to resumes@osa.org.


 

Executive Assistant/Program Assistant

The Optical Society (OSA) is seeking a high energy, motivated, self-starter to provide support to the Chief Industry Relations Officer and select Corporate Programs and Projects.  The candidate must be a detail-oriented, multi-tasker who thrives in a fast paced work environment.  The position is perfect for someone eager to learn and advance in the association world. 
 
 
Under the direction of the Chief Industry Relations Officer, some responsibilities include:
 

  1. Maintains calendar and assists with organizing meetings
  2. Provides support in creating presentations
  3. Assists Industry Programs Department with the entering of data for budgets and other budget tracking
  4. Coordinates the contract review process

 
 
Under the direction of the Director, Corporate Relations, some responsibilities include:
 

  1. Administers the OSA and OIDA Corporate Member renewal process
  2. Processes new OSA and OIDA Corporate Members
  3. Maintains Corporate Member accounts on OSA’s online job board,WORKinOPTICS.com
  4. Maintains OSA Corporate Member lists in databases and documents
  5. Responds promptly and professionally to inquiries from current and prospective corporate members.  Provides information about OSA products and services.
  6. Submits Corporate Programs promotional materials for OSA booth shipments.

 
The successful candidate will have a 4-year degree; 3-5 years work experience in a professional environment, preferably an office setting. Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to multi-task; knowledge of customer service practices; strong Excel software skills; Software:, and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word); & ability to learn databases (ACT, NetForum, Boxwood).
 
Located in Dupont Circle, OSA offers a competitive salary and benefits. Please send your resume and cover letter with salary requirements by email to resumes@osa.org. Resumes without salary requirements will not be considered.
 
 

 

Office Assistant, Part Time



The Optical Society seeks a part time Office Assistant to provide secretarial and administrative support to a variety of departments around the organization, Monday-Friday, 12 Noon - 5:00 pm. Duties include working on research projects, database maintenance, data entry, providing coverage to the Front Desk & mailroom, and other projects as assigned.
Candidate must be a high-energy, self-motivated problem solver who is detail oriented and able to juggle multiple priorities on a daily basis, in a fast paced environment.  Associate's degree required; Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as highly effective interpersonal skills required.  Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite required. Submit cover letter and resume with salary requirements to resumes@osa.org . 
 
 
The Optical Society seeks a part time Office Assistant to provide secretarial and administrative support to a variety of departments around the organization, Monday-Friday, 12 Noon - 5:00 pm. Duties include working on research projects, database maintenance, data entry, providing coverage to the Front Desk & mailroom, and other projects as assigned.

Candidate must be a high-energy, self-motivated problem solver who is detail oriented and able to juggle multiple priorities on a daily basis, in a fast paced environment.  Associate's degree required; Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as highly effective interpersonal skills required.  Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite required. Submit cover letter and resume with salary requirements to resumes@osa.org . 
 
 
 

Senior Director of Membership & Marketing

The Optical Society (OSA) is recruiting for a Senior Director of Membership and Marketing.  This position will be a key stakeholder in developing and implementing a strategic plan for membership and marketing services. The Senior Director leads the planning and management of OSA’s membership, marketing and education programming (including Student Services, Youth Education, and Grant Funding) in accordance with OSA mission and goals. Oversees Membership and Marketing staff and ensures functions are efficiently executed, high quality, and cost-effective, and that growth/development objectives are met or exceeded. Responsible for tracking membership and marketing programs, assessing program impacts, and making modifications as needed.  The Senior Director is also responsible for the management and coaching of direct reports, building and maintaining positive relationships with volunteers, peer societies and external organizations. This position will serve as part of the Senior Leadership Team.

  Job Qualifications:
 

  1. Experience with program planning, budgeting, execution and tracking
  2. Six to eight  years of  management-level association experience
  3. Proven ability to analyze, prioritize and execute complex tasks under deadline, and dedicate extra effort when necessary to complete assignments and achieve desired results
  4. Experience working with a volunteer, governance-driven organization (i.e., professional & individual membership)
  5. Extensive project management and supervisory experience
  6. Experience with a fast-paced office environment and shifting priorities
  7. Strong track record of high integrity, good judgment, confidentiality, and discretion
  8. Ten years’ of direct experience with individual/corporate membership and education outreach
  9. Ability to travel to meetings and events around the world; travel roughly 10% of the year
  10. Bachelor's degree required; a Master’s degree a plus

The Society is located in the Dupont Circle, DC neighborhood.  We offer a competitive compensation package. Please send your cover letter and resume with salary requirements to Human Resources at resumes@osa.org.
 

Senior Director of Publishing Sales & Marketing

The Optical Society (OSA) seeks a Senior Director of Publishing Sales & Marketing. This individual will play a critical role, and will be charged with the overall responsibility for growing the revenue targets for the Publishing division through the successful management of the sales and marketing function within the Publishing division. Key activities include:

  • Overseeing the activities of, and providing strategic direction for, a Sales & Marketing unit responsible for positioning and selling the OSA’s Publishing’s portfolio of products, including 15 journals, the OSA Digital Archive, the OSA ImageBank, and over 300 conference proceedings.
  • Providing strategic direction for Publishing’s Sales & Marketing team and ensuring managerial oversight for the day-to-day activities of the group, with particular emphasis on: analytics (i.e., annual marketing plans, territory plans, and sales dashboards); contract management of all licenses associated with products sold to libraries; new derivative product development; and the expansion of OSA’s international sales infrastructure.
  • Growing institutional and open access revenues and meeting or exceeding the annual revenue budget and expenses associated with the team and its activities (i.e., sales commissions, marketing budget, etc.).
  • Expanding the marketing program to include additional usage-based campaigns, increasing the number of targeted services to better meet librarians’ needs, and performing market research to better understand current constituents and new ones (i.e., corporates).
  • Managing all contracts associated with the licensing of OSA’s digital content. Particular emphasis to be paid on the business terms in client submitted contracts and ensuring that OSA’s best interests are taken into account.
  • Providing strong mentorship of the team so that they can achieve even greater success.

The successful candidate must have exemplary presentation, writing, and editing skills. Strong verbal communication skills, demonstrated success in growing institutional revenue, innovative product development, and international business development. S/he must have a minimum of 10 years’ expertise overseeing all aspects of sales and marketing for a scientific publisher, and 5 to 10 years’ experience in senior-level association or commercial publishing management.

Located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC, OSA offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. Please send cover letters and resumes with salary requirements to resumes@osa.org.