Manager of Membership Development

Why This Role Matters

The Manager of Membership Development plays a key role in expanding the organization’s membership and supporting revenue growth by identifying, cultivating, and converting new member opportunities across the regional technology ecosystem. By managing outreach, onboarding, CRM data, and retention efforts, this role helps ensure new members quickly realize value from their participation while strengthening the organization’s community of technology and business leaders.

Basic Function of the Position

The Manager of Membership Development is responsible for driving new membership growth and supporting the organization’s mission by attracting and engaging technology and business leaders across Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. region. Reporting to the Director of Membership Development, this individual will execute direct sales efforts—identifying, cultivating, and closing new member opportunities—while ensuring a seamless onboarding experience for every new member.

The Manager will actively manage the membership database (CRM), support reporting and analytics, and coordinate member orientation sessions to ensure sustained engagement and value realization.

Critical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Membership Revenue Generation: Drive membership expansion by executing growth initiatives and staying actively engaged throughout the full business development cycle.
2. Acquisition Strategy: Support and implement targeted outreach plans to attract key prospects within the regional tech ecosystem.
3. Outreach and Conversion: Lead all outreach and conversion activities, including target list development, outbound sales, and seamless onboarding of new members. Leverage multiple communication channels—personal calls, in-person/virtual meetings, email, social media, and in-person networking—often at events in evenings and/or outside of traditional business hours—to convey the organization’s membership value proposition.
4. Relationship Building: Build strong relationships with potential members through personalized outreach across multiple channels, including calls, LinkedIn, meetings, email, and networking.
5. CRM & Reporting: Maintain an accurate, up‑to‑date sales pipeline in the CRM (e.g., Monday, Salesforce), ensure data integrity, and generate reliable forecasts and reports for leadership.
6. Retention Strategy: Implement a coordinated retention strategy, including a touchpoint calendar and automated email campaigns, to demonstrate the organization’s value and improve renewal rates.
7. Performance Reporting: Track and report membership and revenue metrics to the CEO, COO, Executive Board, and Finance Committee on a monthly basis.
8. Marketing Collaboration: Collaborate with the marketing team to design and activate/automate marketing, content, and social media initiatives that highlight the value of membership and generate qualified leads. Leverage digital marketing tools.
9. Member Onboarding: Coordinate new member onboarding activities, including orientation events, communications, and follow-up to ensure a positive and informative experience

Work Experience

• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in membership sales, business development, or client relationship management, ideally within a trade association, chamber of commerce, membership organization, or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated record of meeting sales targets and managing a member or client pipeline.
• Experience using CRM platforms to manage relationships and report results.
• Experience representing an organization at external events and building relationships with business professionals; exposure to senior-level executives preferred.
• Familiarity with the Northern Virginia and greater Washington, D.C. technology ecosystem preferred.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong sales and negotiation skills with the ability to close deals and meet revenue goals.
• Excellent relationship management and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Skilled in CRM database management and reporting (Salesforce, Monday, or similar tools).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and follow-up.
• Self-motivated, goal-driven, and comfortable working independently within a collaborative team environment.
• Knowledge of the technology industry, especially emerging technologies such as AI, is a plus.
• Understanding of the regional technology landscape and the organization’s role as a convener and advocate for the innovation community preferred.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, communications, or a related field required.
• Professional development or certification in sales, business development, or association management preferred.

Preferred Experience

• Highly knowledgeable about current trends and news shaping the technology industry and the Virginia technology ecosystem, with particular insight into Northern Virginia’s innovation landscape.
• Strong familiarity with, or demonstrated interest in, emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI)—and their impact on business, government, and the regional economy.

 Location

• Northern Virginia
• Hybrid, mostly remote

Willingness to travel: 25%

Additional Information

Our client offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including a 401(k) match, affordable healthcare premiums, and eligibility for an annual performance bonus, including:

• 401(k) match up to 4%
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Medical insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Paid vacation days
• Paid sick leave
• Flex days
• Paid company holidays