Vice President, Membership Community

SHRM•Alexandria, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The VP of Membership Community leads the organization's entire Membership business, with full ownership over the strategy, growth, and engagement of the Membership Community — the complete base of members, both dues-paying and non-dues-paying. This executive leads the teams and directors responsible for membership acquisition, retention, lifetime value growth, and community engagement, and serves as the senior voice for the Membership business within the C-suite and to the Board. The role carries P&L accountability for membership revenue, sets multi-year targets for growth, retention, and member lifetime value (LTV), and directs investment across the full membership lifecycle: acquisition, onboarding, community platforms, peer networks, and renewal — for the entire Membership Community. A core focus of the role is deepening member value over time, driving increased engagement, upsell/upgrade pathways, and long-term LTV growth across all member segments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, association management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 12 years of progressively responsible experience in membership, association management, community-led growth, subscription-based businesses, or a related field, including significant executive leadership experience.
Proven senior executive experience running a membership business end-to-end, including full P&L ownership.
Demonstrated track record of driving member lifetime value (LTV) growth.
Experience leading through other leaders and building high-performing, multidisciplinary teams.
Strong data fluency and experience using analytics to guide strategic decisions.
Experience advising executive leadership and presenting business strategy and performance to a Board or comparable governance body.
Deep understanding of membership, subscription, or community-based business models and the drivers of acquisition, conversion, retention, engagement, and lifetime value.
Strong business and financial acumen, including P&L management, forecasting, investment prioritization, and performance analysis.
Ability to translate member data, behavioral insights, and market trends into business decisions and measurable actions.
Executive-level communication and presentation skills, including the ability to make clear recommendations to senior leaders and governing bodies.
Demonstrated ability to influence across functions and align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities.
Strong people leadership skills, including experience developing senior leaders, building capabilities, and creating accountability.
Ability to lead innovation and organizational change while maintaining focus on execution and business performance.
Sound judgment in balancing revenue objectives, member value, community trust, and the organization’s mission.
Ability to effectively leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and improve overall work quality.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or CAE (Certified Association Executive) credential preferred.
CAE (Certified Association Executive) credential preferred.

Responsibilities

Set and lead the overall strategy for growth, retention, and lifetime value (LTV) across the full Membership Community — inclusive of both dues-paying and non-dues-paying members.
Own full P&L accountability for the Membership business, including budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning.
Lead and develop directors and teams responsible for membership acquisition, retention, community engagement, and LTV growth initiatives.
Drive member lifetime value growth through deeper engagement, upsell/upgrade pathways, and expanded community offerings across all member segments.
Oversee community platforms, peer networks, and engagement programs serving the entire Membership Community.
Serve as the senior executive voice for the Membership business to the C-suite and Board of Directors.
Translate membership strategy, performance, risks, and opportunities into clear executive- and Board-level reporting and recommendations.
Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, Technology, and Finance to align membership strategy with broader organizational goals.
Lead innovation and change management efforts to evolve membership models and community engagement approaches.
Build alignment among internal and external stakeholders around membership and community priorities.