Director, Member Engagement

Society of American Foresters•Washington, DC

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, it is the largest professional society for foresters and other forest management professionals and academics in the world. SAF’s mission is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and to use our knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic to ensure the continued health, integrity, and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity. More information about SAF is available at www.eforester.org The Director of Member Engagement is responsible for developing and executing strategies that drive member recruitment, retention, and meaningful engagement across the full membership lifecycle. This role ensures SAF delivers a compelling and differentiated member experience that aligns with organizational priorities and supports long-term growth and sustainability. While not initially, this position may supervise in the future. The position reports to the Chief Strategy Officer and will be expected to lead through the prioritization of multiple projects, relationships, initiatives and maintenance of a contemporary understanding in the field forestry. This position works cross-functionally to align membership strategies with SAF’s programs, products, and services and ensures that member value is clearly defined, communicated, and realized.

Requirements

Knowledge of membership/recruitment strategies and persona development.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Experience as a supervisor.
Experience in volunteer management.
Experience with databases.
Excellent written and communication skills.
Personable and nimble with a desire and ability to contribute to the continued success of our organization.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Strong attention to detail, highly organized with excellent multi-tasking skills.
Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to take initiative and accomplish tasks on time and with minimum supervision.
Excellent customer service ethic; adept at developing and maintaining collaborative internal and external relationships; respects differing perspectives.
Able to produce organized and accurate materials quickly.
Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to travel 20% - 30% to events and conferences.
5+ years of overall professional experience in membership, recruitment, and/or communication.
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, non-profit management or similar.

Nice To Haves

Prior association or nonprofit experience (Highly desired).
Graduate degree or professional certificate a plus.
Experience with iMIS content management system a plus.
Knowledge and passion for forests and natural resources a plus.

Responsibilities

Create weekly and monthly program updates to provide to supervisor.
Develop annual budget for department and implement approved budget each year.
Attend up to 5 events per year on behalf of SAF, one being the SAF National Convention.
Collaborate with the Director of Data and Knowledge Management to determine data to be collected and outputs (tables and dashboards) to best inform outreach and recruitment strategies.
Manage external vendors supporting membership initiatives.
Cultivate and manage relationships with staff, volunteers, partners, and members.
Ensure communications processes and brand standards are being followed and implemented by staff, members, and partners.
Assist supervisor and CEO with other duties as assigned.
Develop and execute a comprehensive member engagement strategy aligned with SAF’s strategic priorities.
Identify opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and drive execution with limited direction.
Define and continuously refine SAF’s membership value propositions across key audience segments.
Partner with the CEO and other leaders to align member engagement with workforce development and future-facing initiatives.
Serve as a member of the leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and performance.
Develop informal advisory groups to inform more focused outreach.
Develop and implement annual recruitment and retention plans with measurable goals.
Identify target audiences and growth opportunities across career stages, sectors, and geographies.
Monitor membership trends and develop strategies to address declines or gaps.
Oversee membership campaigns, outreach efforts, and partnership opportunities.
Assess and evolve existing membership programs, systems, and processes to improve effectiveness and scalability.
Identify gaps in current member engagement approaches and implement new systems, tools, or frameworks as needed.
Design and implement a structured member lifecycle, including onboarding, engagement, and renewal strategies.
Oversee new member onboarding to ensure early connection and long-term retention at both the national and local level.
Collaborate with the fellow directors to increase member participation in SAF programs, events, committees, publications, certifications, grants, scholarships, and communities.
Identify and implement engagement opportunities that deepen member connection and value.
Oversee SAF’s partner member benefit relationships.
Conduct regular member needs assessments and satisfaction analyses.
Use data and analytics to inform decision-making and improve engagement strategies.
Develop dashboards and reporting to track membership performance, engagement metrics, and ROI.
Partner with Data/Knowledge Management to improve data integrity and usability.
Serve as staff liaison to the House of Society Delegates and other committees and volunteer groups as needed.
Strengthen pathways for member involvement and leadership development.
Ensure volunteer leaders are effectively engaged, supported, and aligned with organizational priorities.
Collaborate with Marketing/Communications to ensure consistent messaging and promotion of member value.
Partner with Events, Publications, Credentialing, Professional Development, Policy, and Partnerships to integrate member engagement across offerings.
Ensure membership strategy is embedded across SAF’s products and services.
Performs other duties as assigned by CEO and CSO.