Director of Membership Development

Position Overview

The Director of Membership Development is a key leadership role driving membership growth and retention at the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. This position will lead efforts to define and communicate a compelling membership value proposition, develop and execute strategic membership sales, engagement and retention initiatives, and use technology and data to inform decision-making. Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Membership Development will play a critical role in achieving the NE Chamber’s mission to support businesses across Nebraska.

What You’ll Do

Lead membership growth through a clear membership strategy and value proposition

• Develop and implement a clearly defined membership value proposition that highlights the benefits and services of NE Chamber membership.
• Regularly assess and refine membership levels and sponsorship offerings based on member feedback, market trends, and organizational goals.
• Collaborate with internal teams to create resources, programs, and events that enhance member value.

Increase new membership and retention; increase sponsorship revenue

• Provide members a high-quality experience that meets, and exceeds, their expectation in being a NE Chamber member.
• Lead membership prospecting efforts, including identifying potential members, building relationships, and selling memberships and sponsorships.
• Identify revenue goals for membership, dues and sponsorships.
• Identify and lead sponsorship revenue growth planning and sponsorship sales.
• Understand the member journey and develop individual and team processes to support member conversion through each stage of member engagement.
• Track, analyze and report progress toward goals; develop and carry out contingency plans to assure goal attainment.
• Establish structured sales and prospect pipelines to track progress and achieve membership growth targets.
• Develop and oversee initiatives to retain existing members, including engagement programs, renewal campaigns, and member satisfaction surveys.
• Provide reports to members on the fulfillment of member benefits, demonstrating the ROI on their membership.

Manage member data

• Utilize the Chamber’s member relationship management system to ensure accurate tracking of membership data, sales activities, and engagement metrics.
• Identify data and reporting needs that are responsive to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide routine and special reports and analysis on membership growth, retention, and sales performance to the internal Chamber team, President, and Board of Directors.
• Collaborate on operational processes to update records and contacts, assuring a seamless experience across the membership journey.
• Use data-driven insights to inform strategies and improve membership outcomes.

Connect people and ideas

• Be members’ initial point of contact for all member engagement questions and be a trusted partner to members.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and teamwork to achieve results.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Events, Manufacturing, and Advocacy teams to align membership initiatives with broader organizational goals, fostering a high-performing and motivated team.
• Serve as a leadership representative of the Chamber, attending events, meetings, and conferences to promote membership opportunities.
• Navigate other duties as assigned related to the landscape of Chamber business, Chamber value propositions, and facilitating a top tier member experience.

What We’re Looking For

Qualifications

• Proven experience in membership development, sales, or business development.
• Demonstrated success in achieving sales and retention targets.
• Proficiency in CRM systems and data analysis tools. Preferred proficiency in advanced business analytics systems.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, with a track record of utilizing teams and multiple projects effectively.
• This position is officed in Lincoln and must be able to travel, mostly statewide.
• Preferred bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Preferred knowledge of statewide economic and business landscapes.

What Success Looks Like

Year 1

• Developed a membership operational plan identifying roles and responsibilities for team collaboration across the member lifecycle, including a sponsor conversion plan with membership and sponsorship goals.
• Established benchmarks for reviewing and reporting data, providing analysis and plans to remediate member barriers.
• Increased new members, member retention and sponsor conversion by established benchmarks that align with the strategic member growth plan.
• Working with the marketing and events team, increased participation and engagement in existing events and an additional 1-3 new events and activities, with attainable attendance/outcome goals.
• Increased satisfaction among members, as evidenced by attendance, engagement and renewal metrics.
• Created a plan to continue to increase the impact of the role in Year 2 and beyond

What We Provide

Compensation, Benefits and Growth Opportunities

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience, minimum base of $75,000.
• Opportunity for goal-based incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, and vacation/sick leave.
• A culture of teamwork and respect with a focus on policy over politics, civil discourse, collaborative problem-solving, and "disagreeing better" to move Nebraska forward.