Career Center

Research!America, an alliance that advocates for science, discovery, and innovation in order to achieve better health for all, is seeking an experienced Membership Director. This is a full-time/hybrid position, enabling the candidate to telework 2-3 days per week and collaborate with our team in our Washington, DC area office as well.

Reporting to the Vice President of Development and Membership, the Membership Director is an integral part of the organization, overseeing the strategic development of membership engagement, including prospecting, cultivation, stewardship, retention, and recruitment activities, and working closely with the Policy and Advocacy and Communications teams to advise and help coordinate activities central to the member experience.

With the Vice President’s support, the Membership Director will:

• Create an annual membership recruitment and retention plan and manage the plan’s implementation and associated activities.
• Manage the volunteer membership committee.
• Partner with the CEO, Board of Directors and staff leadership to engage current and prospective members.
• Serve as a membership and development liaison/solicitor to an assigned list of donors and prospects.
• Evaluate, document, and manage the membership renewal process and other associated membership business processes.
• Develop a segmented prospect list and recruitment strategy.
• Implement membership moves management program and strategies, leveraging the CRM / database (CharityEngine). Develop and oversee the implementation of best practices for department utilization of CharityEngine.
• Write compelling membership marketing and pitch materials for new and lapsed alliance members. Administer membership outreach to target constituencies.
• Write concise and compelling follow up and outreach communications including emails, formal letters, letters of agreement, etc.
• Compile and distribute monthly reports regarding alliance membership renewals, membership income and lapsed members. Plan and conduct monthly meetings with senior staff to review renewal strategies and cultivation activities. Actively participate in weekly team strategy meetings.
• Attend cultivation activities during, and, as needed, after business hours to network with member prospects; follow up and recruit potential members.
• Identify, understand and speak to policy and advocacy priorities and points of collaboration for member segments including industry, academia, scientific societies and patient organizations. 
• Guide and support the Development Associate in management and maintenance of the membership and donor database.
• In support of the organization’s goals and objectives, perform other duties and responsibilities assigned.

Research!America is an EEO and values diversity, equity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply. 

The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years’ experience in not-for-profit membership development, patient advocacy, or related positions. Knowledge of development processes is a plus. We are seeking a candidate who is organized and detail-oriented; has a proven track record of developing and cultivating relationships, successfully implementing membership recruitment and retention plans and managing all aspects of membership. The candidate should have excellent internal and external interpersonal communications skills, be comfortable with CRM (membership management) systems (preferably CharityEngine or Salesforce) and project management tools and practices. The candidate must demonstrate sound judgement, effective problem-solving skills, and excellent decision-making.