Manager, Membership Operations

The Marine Technology Society (MTS) believes that advancements in the development and use of marine technologies are essential to support responsible and sustainable use of the ocean. Founded in 1963, we are an international professional society that provides members of academia, government, and industry a common forum for the exchange of information and ideas. Our members are engineers, scientists, technologists, policy makers, and educators who work within the full spectrum of ocean and subsea technologies, ranging from offshore energy to dynamic positioning, ocean robotics to buoys, and many more. Under the framework of the newly-released MTS Strategic Plan, and in order to support workforce development within the global blue economy, the MTS portfolio now includes the MATE Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Competition and the Ocean Enterprise Initiative.

The Role

MTS seeks a full-time Membership Operations Manager to join our growing headquarters team. Reporting to the Senior Director of Engagement & Member Relations, this role is part of a highly visible and collaborative team including communications and member-serving programs to deliver a top-of-class MTS member experience. The Manager often represents the Society and must have excellent people skills, a customer service mindset, and a high degree of professionalism. The successful incumbent should have demonstrated success with membership organizations, development, operations, and/or donor relations. The Manager must be based in the US, with a preference for contiguous time zones.

The Manager will focus on membership development, stewardship, and retention to support revenue growth and expand opportunities to deliver value to both individual and organizational members. This role will be tasked with the cultivation of new members, implementation of tailored strategies to expand recruitment and increase retention, data ownership and reporting, and management of the day-to-day processing of all membership records. The successful incumbent will have proven project management experience, keen attention to detail, and a comfort level with telling the story behind an organization’s mission.

This role will support the following key areas:

Member Stewardship and Recruitment

• Serve as the front-line membership representative on the MTS headquarters team, fielding member inquiries and support requests promptly. Develop and execute proactive initiatives to drive membership growth and deepen engagement with existing members and partners. Lead new member onboarding by creating tailored onboarding processes, building relationships with individuals and organizations, and providing appropriate follow-up resources.

Member Experience

• Manage and refine communications and resources across the membership lifecycle, striking a balance between automation and personalized outreach.
• Collect and compile member feedback through various channels, including regular surveys, to inform strategy and meet member needs.
• Implement strategies to improve retention, upgrade memberships, and encourage referrals.

Project Management and Program Execution

• Oversee the MTS Awards Program, managing all logistics, communications, recognition piece ordering; serve as staff liaison to four volunteer panels.
• Administer scholarship applications, collect and sort applications, recruit/support reviewers, and ensure funds are distributed to successful scholarship recipients.
• Serve as primary contact for the MTS Career Center with an understanding of how this initiative fits in with other workforce development programs and initiatives at MTS.
• Coordinate all aspects of MTS Board elections, including candidate nominations, ballot preparation, voting logistics, and communication with stakeholders.

Database and Administrative Support

• Support administrative functions of MTS Sections and Student Sections through records maintenance, regular reporting, onboarding new officers, and elections facilitation, working with the Manager, Member Engagement to develop strategies to connect and engage MTS communities.
• Develop and implement protocols for accurate data entry, ensuring consistency and reliability of member/prospect information; conduct regular data audits to identify and correct discrepancies and maintain data integrity; regularly track and report on key membership metrics.
• Provide varied administrative support to colleagues on an as-needed basis; create standard operating procedures and training for colleagues on database (currently MemberClicks) utilization/functionality.

What you bring to the role

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution and at least three years of full-time experience in membership management, fundraising, or alumni relations.
• Superior communication skills (both written and verbal) with the ability to create concise, compelling messages while adhering to brand guidelines and established talking points.
• Proficiency in using database management software, MS and Adobe products, and project management platforms.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and exercise good judgment in prioritization.
• Ability to display a team player mentality while maintaining strong personal accountability and ownership in an independent and fully remote environment.
• Excitement at the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with partners and to engage with colleagues, prospective/current members, and other supporters of the MTS mission.
• Pride in your attention to detail, ability to solve problems (sometimes with incomplete information), and desire to inform decisions with the best available data.
• An interest in the oceans and a desire/curiosity to learn about innovations in marine technology.
• Ability to travel up to 2-3 weeks per year to manage MTS exhibit presence at trade shows and conferences, to meet with prospective or existing members, and to attend staff meetings.

What we have to offer

• Salary commensurate with experience and negotiable, expected to be between $65K-70K per year base, with annual bonus opportunities.
• MTS staff work flexible hours and are fully remote.
• 403(b) retirement match up to 5%, vested immediately.
• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision for you (80% employer paid for dependents).
• 2 weeks paid annual leave, 2 weeks paid sick leave, 13 paid holidays, and company closure days.
• $200 per month work from home stipend to help you succeed in a remote environment.

To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to claire.idell@mtsociety.org.
Application review will begin December 13, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.