Vice President for Member Engagement

Council of Independent Colleges; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Life insurance

Disability insurance (short & long)

Tuition Exchange Program

11 paid holidays per year

20 days annual leave

Job summary

The Vice President for Member Engagement (VPME) at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) serves on the president’s senior leadership team, guiding major programs and member services. The role oversees the Presidents Institute, Spouses/Partners Program, and new On Campus Book series while managing recruitment, data analytics, and external communications.

Based in Washington, DC, the VPME collaborates with diverse stakeholders, travels as needed, and reports to the President.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of independent higher education landscape; commitment to CIC’s mission.
• Ability to nurture relationships with member presidents.
• Experience visioning, planning, and executing hallmark events.
• Ability to present CIC story to national/international audiences.
• Collaborative, cross-institutional initiative experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee presidential programs and senior leadership activities.
• Plan and manage annual programs central to CIC’s mission.
• Lead recruitment/retention strategy and data-informed member services.
• Develop budgets for programs and initiatives and coordinate with communications.
• Represent CIC in national/international higher education discussions.

Skills

Relationship building

Strategic leadership

Event planning

Public speaking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Terminal degree in related discipline

Job description

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vice President forMember Engagement (VPME) serves as a member of the president's senior leadership team, oversees presidential programs, and is the principal planner of annual programs central to CIC’s mission to advance educational excellence and academic leadership: the Presidents Institute, Presidential Spouses and Partners Program, Presidential Renewal program, and the newly launched On Campus Book series.

The VPME also oversees CIC's recruitment and retention strategy, internal data and internal data collection and analysis protocols, and external data-informed member services (Insights Tool), develops program and initiatives budgets, serves as liaison to CIC Board of Directors committees, and supports developing information and marketing materials in close collaboration with communications team members.

Key team members include the Senior Director of Research and Membership Strategy who reports directly to the VPME, the Membership Services and Tuition Exchange Program Manager, as well as staff members who provide project and executive support along with other organizational responsibilities. The position calls for close collaboration with staff colleagues and external program developers and subject matter experts, including an annually appointed president-in-residence to support the development of timely programming. As a senior leader, the VPME carries out a range of strategic and administrative organizational responsibilities and represents CIC in meetings of national and international organizations concerned with higher education. The position reports to the President and is located in Washington, DC.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates should be deeply knowledgeable about the full spectrum of current issues important to leaders of independent colleges and universities and should be demonstrably committed to advancing and promoting the distinctive characteristics, values, and contributions of member institutions. The ability to nurture relationships with member presidents is essential. Previous experience visioning, planning, and implementing hallmark events is highly desirable. The ability to effectively present the case for CIC’s mission to a national and international audience is important, as are the abilities to build and sustain networks of peers and meeting the needs of a diverse membership. Demonstrated success in advancing the ideals of fairness, access, and the democratic purpose of independent higher education is expected. Evidence of effective innovation, and impactful contributions to collaborative, cross-institutional initiatives all strengthen an application. The ideal candidate will have held increasingly responsible leadership positions at CIC member colleges and universities and/or national higher education associations. A terminal degree in a discipline commonly taught at CIC member institutions is expected.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

All CIC staff members are expected to excel at written and oral communication; demonstrate a proactive, positive, and member-focused disposition; handle competing priorities independently and effectively; organize and manage a wide range of activities with excellent control of detail; exercise creativity and initiative in developing ideas and solving problems; be familiar with office applications, virtual content delivery platforms, and other commonly-used applications and tools; and be inclined to thrive in a diverse, fast-paced, highly collaborative work environment.

This position requires overnight, weekend, and out-of-area travel several times a year. Performing the responsibilities of this position requires the ability to communicate, exchange information and express oneself with members and colleagues and as a presenter at conferences; working in a stationary position for extended periods of time; and being able to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds; operating standard office equipment such as keyboards and printers; and moving throughout an office or conference space.

WORKING AT CIC

CIC’s work culture is positive, friendly, and always focused on serving our members. We have an eclectic and diverse team that enjoys interacting and takes pride in quality work.

Full-time CIC staff are based in the Washington, DC, office, and currently have the option to work remotely on Thursdays and Fridays, including away from their DC residence. Work hours are flexible around designated “core hours” (10 am to 4 pm).

The expected salary range for this position is between $200,000 and $240,000.

• CIC offers competitive compensation and benefits that include significant health, vision, and dental insurance premium contributions.
• CIC offers a retirement plan with a generous employer contribution match;
• life insurance;
• short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Employees are eligible to participate in CIC’s Tuition Exchange Program.
• CIC recognizes 11 paid holidays per year
• provides 20 days of annual leave.

CIC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law in any term or condition of employment. CIC provides reasonable accommodation to allow employees with disabilities to perform their essential job functions unless doing so would result in undue hardship or a direct threat. All qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.