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Membership Manager, IS-0301-12
Application Deadline: 3 August 2026
Department: National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Director of Program Management
Compensation: $102,415 - $133,142 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: 07/20/2026
CLOSING DATE: 08/03/2026 (This job will close once 200 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
SUPERVISORY: Yes
Position sensitivity and risk:Non-sensitive (NS)/Moderate Risk
Who May Apply:Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW
This position is located in the Office of Advancement, National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), NZCBI leads the Smithsonian's global effort to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Its scientists also work in field stations around the world. More than 200 scientists and their partners in more than 30 countries create and share knowledge to aid in the survival and recovery of species and their habitats. Findings from these studies provide critical data for the management of captive populations and valuable insights for the conservation and management of wild populations. Collectively, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute care for more than 2,000 animals representing more than 380 species.
The Membership Manager reports to the Director of Program Management and is located in the Office of Advancement at NZCBI. The primary responsibility of the Membership Manager is to develop, manage, and direct a nationwide direct-response membership and annual giving program, including both online and direct mail strategies. The incumbent serves as the primary liaison with direct mail consultants and other vendors, develops and monitors membership processing systems for efficiency and effectiveness, and oversees the database, acknowledgments, customer service, renewals, special appeals, and acquisitions.
The Membership Manager is also responsible for establishing and administering guidelines that promote strong customer relations within the membership base, including the planning and execution of membership events, as appropriate.
The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of relevant experience in membership management, direct-response fundraising, or a related field, with a strong ability to lead strategic initiatives and maintain effective vendor and member relationships.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Membership Strategy & Program Development

• Develops a comprehensive membership plan that encompasses all aspects of the program, including membership acquisitions, membership renewals, lapsed membership strategies, membership processing, membership communications, membership levels, and membership benefits.
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of best practices in the museum and non-profit industries membership programs and incorporates industry benchmarks as part of the strategic plan for membership for the NZCBI.
• Maximizes membership acquisition and retention opportunities in conjunction with building and maintaining the membership program; leverages opportunities presented through NZCBI's new and emerging schedule of activities, including new animal exhibits, ticketed events, and other special opportunities.
• Incumbent is a member of the Advancement team and plans, tests and evaluates strategies to encourage additional contributions from members, e.g. special giving appeals, corporate matching programs and gift memberships.

Fundraising & Direct Mail Management

• Develops strategy and guides execution of gift acknowledgments using knowledge of database system, fundraising principles and mailing operations.
• Develops a file of form letters by category and provides guidelines on the timing of mailings and approval of back-end materials.
• Possesses strong analytical abilities and uses knowledge of NZCBI's fundraising goals and strategies to manage the direct-mail program to review annual direct mail schedules, revenue projections, list brokerage recommendations and schedule changes based on external considerations and refers to supervisor for approval.

Membership Operations & Member Services

• Organizes the processing of memberships from direct mail and non-direct mail sources.
• Exercises in-depth knowledge of processing mailings, acknowledgments, planning and executing membership events, special events and handling membership service requests.
• Uses experience and knowledge of database structure and technology to access and monitor membership database and operations.
• Accesses database as a regular part of job activity in servicing membership requests.

Stakeholder, Vendor & Financial Coordination

• Coordinates with Smithsonian online fundraising unit and central Advancement Co-Op to work in concert with the systems and procedures developed for the Institution.
• Serves as liaison to a variety of consultants and vendors who work directly on the membership program, including direct mail consultants, caging services, in-bound telemarketing services, service bureaus, and others.
• Liaise with central finance and administration office to ensure accurate allocation of revenue funds through various sources.

Marketing & Communications

• Manages development of copy, design and production of all internally initiated membership materials, for approval by the Director of Program Management, e.g. solicitations, brochures, invitations and promotions.

Staff & Volunteer Support

• Provides work guidelines and orientation for volunteers and contractors responsible for membership operations, including data entry, response to mail and telephone inquiries, production, supply purchasing, etc.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS
Manages personnel functions including interviewing and recommending candidates for hire, promotion, or reassignment. Develops performance standards, assigns and evaluates work, and sets short-term priorities and schedules. Provides guidance on work and administrative matters, addresses employee concerns, and refers complex issues as needed. Oversees disciplinary actions, leave approvals, and identifies training and development needs.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of advanced marketing management and organizational principles and practices along with planning and budgeting abilities to prepare short and long-term planning guidance.
• Incumbent uses judgment, originality and discretion in determining intent, and in interpreting and revising existing policy and guidelines.
• Knowledge of the range of policies, regulations and standards within the fundraising industry, applicable to the administration of a direct-response membership program.
• Ability to develop detailed plans, goals and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration of the program, and/or developing criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
• Knowledge of and experience in facilitating all aspects of a direct response program, including collaborating with consultants to implement program planning and development recommendations, establishing procedures for membership processing, managing backend materials, enhancing customer service, and reporting membership information.
• The incumbent regularly interacts with professional staff of Office of Advancement and NZCBI staff of the Smithsonian Institution in related areas, contractors and representatives of consultant teams on direct mail, marketing, caging operations staff, et al. Strong interpersonal skills are vital to the effective interaction with membership, consultants, contractors, and staff to facilitate a direct mail program.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact LaDonnys Biagas (biagasl@si.edu) . Determinations on requests or reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian's Accommodation Procedures (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo