Membership and Operations Senior Manager

Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, with primary offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., is looking for a Senior Operations Manager for the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) to join our Association Management in our Chicago office. The Senior Operations Manager plays a significant role in the management of NCS’s programs, will hold a key leadership role with the Board and staff team, and supports the NCS Executive Director in all areas of association management.

At Smithbucklin, we embody a culture driven by optimism, ambition, expertise, and thoughtfulness, where every team member is empowered to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Join us in shaping the future of association management, where our values serve as the cornerstone of our success.

What You Will Do:

• Drive operational oversight for all client activities, ensuring seamless coordination, efficiency, and measurable impact across the team.
• Develop the annual budget, quarterly financial reports and periodic forecasts in collaboration with Executive Director and finance/accounting staff team—contributing to sound financial stewardship and forward-looking planning.
• Lead the development, drafting, and ongoing maintenance of governance and organizational documents, ensuring clarity, compliance, and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate in-person and virtual governance meetings, enabling leaders to make informed, strategic decisions.
• Ensure timely preparation and strategic packaging of board and governance materials, elevating the quality and effectiveness of leadership communications.
• Orchestrate, draft, and disseminate governance and operational updates, including insights related to membership, financial performance, and strategic-plan progress.
• Provide direct leadership, coaching, and oversight to the membership, operations, and education staff teams to ensure development, engagement, and performance excellence.
• Champion customer and member experience, partnering with cross-functional teams to optimize service, responsiveness, and value delivery.
• Oversee operational expenses with a focus on maximizing efficiency, cost savings, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Cultivate trusted, productive relationships between client volunteer leaders and staff, reinforcing collaboration and shared accountability.
• Lead and manage strategic or emerging initiatives, including ad hoc projects and committees related to membership, operations, finance, or organizational priorities.

This Role Might Be for You If You…

• Are comfortable working with highly credentialed, engaged and intellectual medical practitioners
• Understand and effectively support volunteer leaders who operate in a fast-paced, high-stakes critical care environment
• Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners.
• Bring strategic agility, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence to every project and partnership.
• Thrive when managing a diverse, complex portfolio of initiatives and are energized by cross-team collaboration and innovation.
• Excel at prioritizing, delegating, and driving projects from idea to execution, even in fast-moving or ambiguous environments.
• Have experience with performance management and a passion for developing talent, strengthening engagement, and building high-performing teams.
• Possess refined written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to frame information for executive and governance audiences.
• Demonstrate exceptional time-management, organizational strength, and attention to detail.
• Bring a continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to learn quickly, diagnose issues, and propose solutions.
• Make sound, balanced decisions, especially related to conflict resolution, team dynamics, and operational priorities.