POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title:                           Director, Membership Growth & Partnerships                       

Department:              Membership

Reports To:                Senior Director, Membership

Direct Report(s):       Manager, Recruitment and Outreach

                                    Manager, Membership Services

OVERVIEW

This senior level management position is responsible for membership growth and engagement, including developing strategies and tactical plans for attracting, retaining, and growing membership, as well as deepening and enhancing member value and engagement for the Academy.  The Director works with the Senior Director to refine and support the Academy’s membership value proposition by collaborating internally with peers, and externally with Academy volunteer leadership, and other relevant stakeholders to identify and anticipate members’ needs including employers, universities, students, educators, actuarial clubs, and other actuarial organizations to identify and anticipate members’ needs. Supports stakeholder engagement strategies that increase awareness of the Academy, the U.S. actuarial profession, and the value of Academy membership. Develops business plans for membership recruitment and retention, member engagement, and student programs. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development and execution of innovative membership and engagement strategies across areas of member growth and engagement, volunteer management and student programs.
• Manage cross-departmental effort across professionalism, public policy, membership, communications and other relevant departments to develop and deliver a multi-year awareness and branding strategy to broaden awareness of and exposure for the Academy and the value of membership.
• Lead stakeholder engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with employers, universities, students, educators, actuarial clubs, and other actuarial organizations to expand the membership pipeline and increase awareness of the Academy and the U.S. actuarial profession.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications team to guide the development, launch, and communication of a bi-annual member needs survey.
• Collaborate across business units to develop and deliver responsive products and services of value to members, including working closely with business units peers on existing opportunities and new programs. The success of existing and new opportunities is measured against the Academy mission and active participation in these activities by a wide range of members and related constituents. 
• Support, develop, and maintain services and programs including stakeholder representation, strategic market research, networking opportunities, and member support to achieve the Academy’s mission.
• Develop, monitor, and report on metrics for assessing the effectiveness of membership recruitment, engagement and retention programs and activities.
• Oversee the development, execution and analysis of the Member Value Survey conducted every 2-3 years.
• Support Senior Director in ensuring fiscal responsibility and financial management of departmental budget, including review of dues structure on an annual basis and collaboration with necessary committees.
• Travel to various Academy events and other organization and member outreach events throughout the year as needed.
• Assist the Senior Director with the successful execution of special projects as needed.
• Oversee all new member applications and reinstatements, escalating the review to senior staff and volunteer leadership and responding to prospective members inquiries, as necessary.
• Provide strategic staff leadership and coordination for the Committee on Membership and Employer Value Subcommittee, supporting priorities related to membership growth, employer engagement, and membership value.
• Provide staff oversight and support for membership-related volunteer groups including the Emerging Leaders Subcommittee and Membership Requirements Subcommittee.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Member Development & Growth

• Lead the development and execution of membership growth campaigns designed to increase awareness of the Academy, communicate the value of membership, and support recruitment and retention goals.
• Continually monitor member needs and evaluate current member services and activities across the organization for improvement and relativity to those member needs and satisfaction ratings gathered through intelligence-gathering methods.
• Partner with external constituencies to create value for Academy members. This may include initiating and coordinating surveys and studies that address specific issues of importance to members or provide benchmarking for members to measure their actions.
• Maintain an ongoing awareness of relevant association trends, developments, and issues and apply key findings to business practices. Maintain contacts within the association industry at all levels to benchmark best practices and be an advocate for sharing such intelligence with peers at the Academy.
• Execute the external outreach program, including partnership arrangements, promotional booth staffing, and strategic positioning in coordination with membership and partnership targets.
• Develop, maintain, and report on various membership trends using the organization’s AMS.

Member Engagement

• Support development and execution of a membership engagement strategic plan, which includes university programs, DEI efforts, and young professional initiatives. Work collaboratively to define external diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategy, action plans, goals and organizational benchmarks, design D&I initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with the Public Policy team in support of engagement activities and marketing efforts across council areas.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing to define actuarial club outreach strategy, action plans, goals and organizational benchmarks.
• Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies focused on employers, universities, educators, students, actuarial clubs, and other actuarial organizations to strengthen relationships with the profession and expand awareness of the Academy.

Leadership responsibilities

• Communicate with other functional/departmental managers to fully understand activities in support of the Academy’s agreed upon objectives, purposes, and achievements.
• Works with Academy senior staff to initiate and plan major projects and activities and assists in determining association priorities.
• Maintains a positive workplace environment and a highly motivated staff through effective leadership and empowerment of employees.
• Maintains effective financial controls for the Academy assigned areas of responsibility.

Supervisory Responsibilities                                                                                                                              

Manages 2-3 employees in the Membership Department who are responsible for membership recruitment and customer service and is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Supervises employee who manages new member applications, daily batches, and general member customer service and administrative tasks. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Leadership – Take charge individual with vision and the means to get there. Manage, motivate, challenge and delegate to others.
• Collaborative – Demonstrates a willingness and ability to work as a positive and constructive team member. Proven ability to build teams and coalitions.
• Consensus-building – Able to forge effective working relationships with various parties and encourage them to work together toward common goals.
• Credibility – Can command respect of Board members, staff, and business leaders.
• Ethical – Possess honesty, integrity, and the highest ethical and moral standards.
• Communication skills – Good listener, excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Results-oriented – Meets established goals and objectives; has the strategic ability to see ahead and create and articulate strategies and plans.
• Management - Strong management skills; naturally reaches across organizational boundaries to achieve results. Strong ability to lead by influence and consensus.
• Change agent – Proven ability to effectively manage change and transition.
• Executive presence – Polished, self-confident, has political savvy necessary to maneuver through complex situations effectively and quietly.
• Strategic thinker – Able to envision “the big picture” and lead an organization toward future goals.
• People skills – Relates well to all kinds of people. Builds constructive and effective Leads as an effective coach and mentor.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE                                                                                                                 

Bachelor’s degree; Master's degree (M.A.) desired; preferably in Management, Business related field. And a minimum of eight years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and leadership experience, leading and growing, is required.

Achievement of Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential a plus.

FLSA Classification: Exempt.