Membership Manager (IS-1001-11)

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 84,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated professional to lead their membership program within a vibrant cultural institution. This role involves developing strategies that enhance member engagement and support fundraising initiatives. You will collaborate with various teams to execute marketing campaigns and manage vendor relations, ensuring the success of the membership program. Join a passionate team committed to preserving and promoting African American history and culture, and be part of a mission that inspires generations through knowledge and discovery.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental & Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Transit Benefits

Flexible Spending Account

403b Retirement Plan

Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships

Child Care Services

Annual and Sick Leave

Family Friendly Leave

Qualifications

• Experience in managing membership programs and fundraising strategies.
• Strong background in data analysis and vendor management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a comprehensive membership program.
• Coordinate marketing and operations for fundraising efforts.

Skills

Membership Program Management

Fundraising Strategy Development

Data Analysis

Vendor Coordination

Marketing Operations

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

3 years of graduate education

Tools

CRM Software

Data Analysis Tools

Job description

Application Deadline: 16 May 2025

Department: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Chief Advancement Officer

Compensation: $84,601 - $109,975 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: May 2, 2025

CLOSING DATE: May 16, 2025 (*This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Trust Indefinite with Promotion Potential to IS-1001-12

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to All Qualified Applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
  
  

Overview

This position is located in the Office of Advancement, National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI). The NMAAHC is the national museum for the study and exposition of African American history and culture. Its primary purposes are to acquire, maintain and preserve objects which document social, cultural, political, military, technological and scientific developments in the United States; to conduct scholarly research designed to make significant contributions to the body of knowledge in the field of African American history, to publish findings for both scholarly and general audiences; and to interpret historical developments through public exhibitions and programs.

The Advancement Program was established to engage individuals, foundations, corporations, and other organizations in furthering SI’s mission through philanthropic support. The Office of Advancement oversees and guides the fundraising efforts of the entire Smithsonian and is home to the central advancement organization for the Institution.

This position executes a membership program and operations; develops program strategy and messaging; manages program structure, marketing, and operations; oversees and deploys campaigns through multiple channels in partnership with vendors and internal staff; coordinates benefit fulfillment and cultivation mailings; and works with vendors for membership data analysis and reporting.

Duties And Responsibilities

In this position you will:

• Develop a comprehensive membership plan that encompasses all aspects of the program, including:
• membership acquisitions - membership renewals - lapsed membership strategies - membership processing - membership communications - membership levels - membership benefits.
• Develop and manage program structure, marketing, and operations to support the goals of the membership program.
• Develop program strategy and messaging to support the fundraising goals of advancement in building a philanthropy model for the museum.
• Work directly with museum advancement staff and Membership Cooperative to execute membership program and operations.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordinate with other marketing teams.
• Maintain the master direct response and member/donor contact schedule for the department and facilitates the integration of campaigns across channels.
• Serve as the primary liaison to vendors providing services in support of the entire direct response campaign life cycle, from planning and strategy formulation to budgeting, creative development, production, distribution, and results analysis.
• Coordinates activities on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Work closely with department managers, internal staff and vendors to ensure the success of each campaign through the distribution of relevant documents, content research, data coordination, document review and proactively making suggestions to improve quality and results.
• Coordinate the entire life cycle of benefit fulfillment and cultivation mailings which includes:
• concept development and planning - budgeting - vendor selection and procurement - creative development - distribution - results analysis.
• Cultivation mailings include newsletters with many articles and other components and mailings to membership segments that have no solicitations.
• Manage data segmentation and file provisions for each of these mailings.
• Serve as the primary relationship lead for the growing program and connects with members through correspondence and events as well as provides stewardship and cultivation for members.
• Regularly meet with the Advancement team to coordinate strategies to further engage beyond membership.
• Serve as the primary liaison to an external vendor that provides data analysis and reporting.
• Work with the department’s senior staff and this vendor in interpreting and applying performance analysis, developing and applying data models and defining optimal data segmentation strategies.
  
  

Qualification Requirements

Applicants will qualify with at least one year of experience with the application of a wide range of methods and practices for the assessment, operation and improvement of membership programs, including systems development, membership and customer service methods and direct response programs.

Or Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree if related to the position. Unofficial transcripts are required at the time of application submission.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet basic qualifications.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.