Manager of Membership Engagement

Forefront•Chicago, IL

1d•$65,000 - $68,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager of Membership Engagement owns Forefront’s membership growth, retention, and engagement strategy. This role informs membership policy decisions, allocates program resources within budget guardrails; authorizes campaigns and initiatives; and leads cross‑functional execution across Advancement, Communications, Programs, and Finance. The Manager acts as a strategic partner to organizational leadership—informing policy decisions, shaping engagement strategy, leading data and KPI frameworks, and driving relationship development that supports Forefront’s long‑term growth. This is an exempt salaried position.

Requirements

Must excel at virtual and in-person meetings, being a strong ambassador, and conversing with prospective members about the value of Forefront. Must be able to build trust with prospective members and secure Membership renewals with tact and professionalism.
Three to five years of experience in membership or donor services, with a proven record of sales success, including cultivation and follow-up, both virtually and in person.
Demonstrated experience with digital marketing platforms and email marketing tools to advance membership engagement, recruitment, and retention initiatives.
Proficiency in CRM data management (Salesforce experience preferred), including member database upkeep, renewal processing, account maintenance, and data integrity best practices to support stewardship and program evaluation.
Ability to analyze and report on membership data and engagement trends, using metrics to inform strategy, optimize campaigns, and demonstrate organizational impact to key stakeholders, philanthropic partners, and community members.
Strong and current knowledge of Illinois’ philanthropic community.
Strong skills in project + process management, database management, customer service and project management with ability to work independently and as part of a team. Strong ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, and oral/written communication skills are essential; a high degree of initiative, with a creative approach to problem-solving and inclusive teamwork across philanthropic, nonprofit, and advisory sectors.
Energy to achieve ambitious goals, meet deadlines, and stage multiple projects efficiently is also crucial, as is the ability to work transparently, respectfully, and collaboratively with others.
Working knowledge of and comfort working with: Microsoft Office 365 suite of products, including Teams, Virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet, etc, Prospect research databases

Nice To Haves

Expertise specific to an association membership organization, specializing in sales and membership recruitment is preferred.
Salesforce experience strongly preferred
CRM expertise – Salesforce experience strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Set strategic standards for CRM data governance, lifecycle tracking, renewal automation, and benefit‑delivery workflows in partnership with Finance and Program teams, ensuring systems support accurate reporting and high‑quality member experiences.
Lead the interpretation of membership performance metrics—including recruitment, retention, churn, and campaign effectiveness—to generate insights that inform budgeting, grant strategy, Board reporting, and community engagement planning.
Establish insight‑driven frameworks for member follow‑up, documentation practices, and engagement workflows, using CRM analytics to continuously refine engagement strategies and optimize the overall member experience.
Integrate Forefront’s mission, values, and impact priorities into membership strategy, ensuring that initiatives strengthen organizational identity and deepen community connection.
Analyze philanthropic, nonprofit, social impact, and advisory‑sector trends to identify new membership growth opportunities and recommend strategic pathways to expand Forefront’s reach.
Define strategic approaches to member recruitment, retention, and orientation; shape engagement pathways, messaging architecture, and value‑delivery standards while overseeing operational execution by support staff.
Set standards for member service quality and guide the escalation process for complex member needs; ensure service operations support strategic membership goals.
Provide strategic direction for membership communications, collateral, and promotional campaigns, ensuring alignment with market positioning and organizational priorities while establishing evaluation criteria and success metrics.
Lead cross‑functional integration of membership strategy across Development, Communications, Finance, and Program teams, ensuring alignment with donor strategy, program offerings, and organizational priorities.
Serve as a strategic ambassador for Forefront in member engagements, Board meetings, community events, and sector convenings; partner with Advancement leadership to identify, cultivate, and convert prospective members.
Design insight‑driven membership conversion strategies for on‑site, virtual, and post‑engagement environments, establishing frameworks for follow‑up, qualification, and value communication.
Define governance standards for CRM workflows, renewal processes, account management, and invoicing in collaboration with Finance; oversee staff executing these processes to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Guide strategic resource allocation and financial planning within the membership program to meet annual budget goals; analyze revenue performance and adjust strategies to optimize sustainability.
Provide strategic leadership on special projects and organization‑wide initiatives, ensuring membership insights inform planning and execution as Forefront evolves.