Job Description

For 92 years, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) has helped individual sportfishing-related businesses succeed by lifting up the entire industry—advancing conservation, protecting access to clean water and abundant fisheries, leading legislative efforts, strengthening trade and commerce, and defending the rights of recreational anglers in the U.S. As Executive Vice President and designated successor to the President & CEO, who will retire in 2028, you will lead the next chapter of this work, ensuring future generations can experience the tradition, connection, and economic opportunity that sportfishing brings to communities nationwide.

Reporting to and partnering closely with the current President & CEO, you will transition into leading a team of four Vice Presidents with a total staff of 22, oversee an operating budget of $8 million with substantial reserves, and support the organization through a planned leadership transition. Under the careful stewardship of the outgoing executive, ASA has grown into a respected and financially stable organization, powered largely by member engagement and the success of ICAST, the world’s most successful fishing trade show. ASA advances this mission through the FishAmerica Foundation, the ASA Summit (which convenes industry leaders to align on the future of sportfishing), and Keep America Fishing’s federal advocacy work—including SportfishingPAC. You will build on that foundation to create a more diversified revenue structure––preserving what works while developing new revenue sources that meet real needs within the sportfishing community and support ASA’s future sustainability amid changing member and customer expectations.

This is an outward-facing and relationship-driven role. You will engage directly with manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, media, conservation partners, and adjacent outdoor businesses to understand their strategic priorities and competitive pressures. From there, you will align ASA’s advocacy platforms, communications channels, industry data, events, and other resources to deliver offerings that generate revenue while advancing the health of the industry.

As you transition to the President & CEO role, you will serve as the association’s primary spokesperson and represent the sportfishing industry nationally. A core part of your work will be supporting ASA’s highly effective government affairs function, ensuring the association remains a leading voice before Congress, federal and state agencies, and regulatory bodies on issues affecting conservation, access, trade, and fisheries management. While you will rely on an experienced government affairs team for subject-matter expertise, you must understand the legislative and regulatory landscape well enough to engage credibly with policymakers on both sides of the aisle and with industry leaders across the country.

How You’ll Make an Impact

This role is ideal for a leader who understands sportfishing not only as an industry but also as a livelihood, a community, and a shared responsibility. Your business acumen, industry relationships, and long-term strategic vision will guide ASA into its next chapter without losing sight of the mission and community that have defined it for almost a century. Key focus areas (in alphabetical order):

• Board Governance. Work closely with a highly engaged and supportive Board to advance innovation while honoring the association’s legacy. Present data-informed business cases that support sound decision-making and facilitate productive dialogue.
• Government Affairs & External Representation. Support ASA’s expert government affairs team with sound political judgment and an understanding of the legislative and regulatory environment. Partner closely with the Vice President of Government Affairs to protect industry interests against increased regulation and advance mission-aligned policies. Build and sustain bipartisan relationships with policymakers and regulators at the federal, state, and local levels, ensuring ASA remains a credible voice for the sportfishing industry.
• Industry Relations & Member Engagement. Deepen relationships with current members while driving recruitment across all membership categories. Establish a strategy to expand dues-paying membership while also engaging and generating value from the broader sportfishing ecosystem, including partners and stakeholders who may not fit traditional categories. Maintain an active presence at trade shows, regional meetings, and industry convenings. Develop a value proposition for private equity companies that keeps them actively involved with ASA and the trade show.
• Revenue Diversification & Business Model Innovation. Strengthen existing income streams while building new sources of revenue to create a more balanced model. Identify unmet needs across the sportfishing ecosystem and translate them into partnerships, products, services, or sponsorship models that generate sustainable income while delivering value to members and the broader industry. Bring disciplined financial oversight to revenue forecasting, investment decisions, and resource allocation.
• Staff Leadership & Operations. Lead a high-performing and experienced staff to execute the strategic plan according to the Board’s direction. Allocate staff resources appropriately to support new initiatives, establish clear performance expectations, guide team priorities, and ensure accountability for results. Provide opportunities for professional growth.
• Strategic Communications & Marketing. Communicate ASA’s value proposition to members, prospective stakeholders, and policymakers, ensuring messaging reflects an understanding of each audience’s priorities. Develop compelling narratives that drive engagement, attract new members, influence policy outcomes, and reinforce ASA’s mission. Provide executive oversight of integrated, multi-channel communications strategies to ensure consistency and alignment with organizational priorities.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• This role offers a hybrid work environment and requires significant travel to engage industry stakeholders nationwide, along with regular in-office presence at our Alexandria, VA, headquarters.
• The budgeted base salary for this position is $225K - $275K with bonus potential and an outstanding benefits package including 100%-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, 6 weeks of PTO (20 vacation days and 10 sick days), plus 12 federal holidays, a retirement contribution up to 10%, tuition assistance, and more.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of executive leadership experience, preferably in the outdoors industry or a trade association, with successful oversight of membership growth and/or business development.
• A passion for sportfishing, conservation, and outdoor recreation.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and public speaking skills with the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and communicate with diverse audiences.
• Experience working with a board of directors and comfort engaging with high-level government and business leaders.
• A working understanding of public policy, government relations, and advocacy and familiarity with issues related to fisheries management, conservation, and public lands.

About the American Sportfishing Association

Since 1933, the American Sportfishing Association, a U.S.-based trade organization, has maintained its mission to look out for the interests of the sportfishing industry and the entire recreational fishing community. Its pillars are to ensure clean water, abundant fisheries, access to those fish, support trade and commerce, and increase participation in fishing. The association’s membership consists of manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, outdoor media, and organizations involved with recreational fishing and conservation. The association supports the long-term sustainability of the industry through community engagement and its advocacy platforms––including FishAmerica Foundation and Keep America Fishing––and education of its members and stakeholders.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.

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