Director of Membership Strategy – Expand the Future of Culinary Excellence with ACF!

Responsibilities

• Develop Strategic Plans for Membership Growth : Lead the creation and execution of both short- and long-term strategies for expanding ACF membership, with an emphasis on reaching a more diverse and representative audience that aligns with the evolving culinary industry.
• Broaden Member Base : Create and implement innovative membership sales programs that target a broader range of potential members, particularly from commercial chain accounts, hotels and resorts, country clubs, and non-commercial service accounts.
• Drive Sales Cycle Initiatives : Identify and engage high-potential leads, initiating the sales cycle and promoting the value of ACF membership to strategic employers and key stakeholders in both traditional and non-traditional culinary sectors.
• Execute Targeted Marketing Campaigns : Develop and execute marketing plans aimed at chefs, employers, educators, students, and other relevant groups to enhance awareness and recruitment efforts.
• Forge Strategic Alliances : Negotiate and cultivate long-term strategic relationships with industry alliances to create opportunities for membership expansion and collaboration.
• Monitor Membership Sales, Growth, and Retention : Implement systems to track and analyze membership sales performance, growth rates, and retention metrics, with regular reporting on trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Report to Leadership : Provide detailed membership reports, including statistics, campaign updates, sales tracking, growth tracking, and retention insights to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and chapters.
• Oversee Membership Department Operations : Manage daily operations of the Membership department, including hiring, training, and supervising staff to ensure optimal performance and strategic alignment.
• Budget Management : Develop and manage the Membership department budget to ensure financial responsibility and alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate Across Departments : Work closely with other departments to support strategic planning, problem-solving, and cross-promotion, fostering a unified approach to membership growth.
• Enhance Member Value Proposition : Recommend, develop, and implement improvements to the member value proposition, including the introduction of affinity programs, to ensure ACF membership remains relevant and valuable to a diverse and growing audience.

Experience Requirements :

• Experience in sales with a proven track record of successfully closing deals and managing profit and loss.
• Minimum of 3 years in a mid-senior level management position.
• Preference for experience in member recruitment, group sales, or corporate relations within the nonprofit or culinary industry.
• Proficiency in executing multi-channel marketing strategies, including social media, electronic / web, direct mail, and telephone.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate sales cycles, nurture relationships, and secure corporate deals valued at tens of thousands of dollars.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Capacity to generate innovative ideas for membership growth.
• Excellent analytical, planning, and problem-solving abilities.

Skills and Traits :

• Excellent writing skills with innovation, analysis, planning, prioritizing, and problem-solving abilities.
• Collaborative and mathematical aptitude for analysis.
• Positive, empowering, and supportive leadership style.
• Proficiency in the Spanish language is an additional asset.

Administrative Requirements :

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Social media savvy.

Desired Traits :

Initiative taker; outgoing team player; proactive communicator; positive can-do attitude; customer-centric; sales-oriented;

patient; confident; enthusiastic; detail-oriented; organized; exhibits sound business judgment.