Director, Community Engagement - Membership - Military veterans preferred

$105,000 - $125,000

How This Position Contributes to the Team

The Director of Community Engagement for Membership works as part of a team focused on cultivating and supporting the Water Environment Federation's (WEF's) community engagement. This position is aimed at building and growing effective partnerships with volunteers and supporters in support of WEF’s mission and strategic objectives.

The Director is responsible for the oversight of membership functions, including the creation of detailed business plans, budgets and reports that are aimed at meeting organization and department goals. This position creates and develops communications and outreach, working across the organization and membership to showcase WEF communities.

The Director is responsible for coordinating and collaborating with other WEF departments for events and initiatives to further the membership strategy.

NOTE: This role is hybrid and requires working in the office (Alexandria, VA) 2 days every other week. Travel is required (up to 15% of the year) for meetings and events, including travel to WEF’s annual conference, WEFTEC.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee all aspects of service provided to members and potential members through the member services center including external service operations.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate membership recruitment and retention strategies and trends.
• Develop new member programs and services based on research of member needs and preferences. 
• Leads the development of a strategic marketing plan for WEF membership and recruitment of new members.
• Evaluate effectiveness of strategies, such as fee structure, member benefits, materials, recruitment, retention, and revenue development, recommending changes as appropriate to meet goals.
• Direct membership benefits, policies, programs, and related internal operations.
• Partners with other departments on membership retention and recruitment campaigns and to develop new business opportunities.
• Direct the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of membership reports and surveys.
• Analyze monthly statistical reports detailing membership activity and its relationship to goals, budgets and historical data. When trending data exist develops new solutions based on the data analysis.
• Responsible for the membership section of the WEF website.
• Oversee the identification and implementation of documentation of communication standards and policies & procedures for membership.
• Represent the association externally and at key WEF events.
• Manage and negotiate relationships with vendors to ensure appropriate products/services are delivered timely, successfully, and within budget.
• Develop annual budget recommendations consistent with membership department goals.
• Negotiate and manage vendor relationships and contracts to ensure appropriate products and services are delivered timely, successfully and within budget guidelines.
• Oversee volunteer groups related to the department.
• Innovates to improve team efficiency, productivity and engagement.
• Direct, supervise and motivate staff to successfully achieve goals as they relate to the strategic plan of the organization.
• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the role.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree and CAE designation preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience managing an association membership department.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience.
• Proven project management experience.
• Professional and articulate, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective problem solver.
• Excellent computer skills including solid association database knowledge.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Ability to work effectively at a fast pace, managing multiple priorities and an extensive level of reporting detail.
• Exceptional experience in member benefit development and promoting value of membership.
• Experience with Salesforce, ZenDesk preferred.
• Ability to travel, up to 15% of the year.

This person will work primarily in an office environment using standard office equipment. 

WEF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Us

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations (MAs) representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. WEF and its global network of members and member associations provide water quality professionals around the world with the latest in water quality education, training, and business opportunities. WEF’s diverse membership includes scientists, engineers, regulators, academics, utility managers, plant operators, and other professionals. WEF uses this collective knowledge to further a shared goal of improving water quality around the world.

WEF is operating under a new Strategic Plan built on the vision of a life free of water challenges. Our ultimate goal is a world where each person has access to clean water and sanitation, where communities prosper, and where nature thrives. The key strategic goals under the new Strategic Plan are: 1) to attract and develop a diverse and passionate workforce; 2) to cultivate a purpose-driven community to sustainably solve water challenges for all; and 3) to lead the transformation to the circular water economy.

The new Strategic Plan embodies WEF’s embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do. WEF is committed to equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, including within the governance structure and leadership, WEF partners, WEF staff, and the WEF membership. This commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion will guide our work and our programs, culminating in outcomes that improve public health for all.