Membership Systems Director [Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC]

Description

Smithsonian Institution

Membership Systems Director

Washington, DC

The Smithsonian Institution seeks a mature, talented, forward-thinking, and highly collaborative leader for the role of Membership Systems Director.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest and most respected provider of museum experiences, supported by authoritative scholarship that connects Americans to their cultural heritage, and also acts as an international leader in scientific research and exploration. The Smithsonian’s curators support some of the world’s largest collections of art, natural specimens, and items of preeminent historical and cultural significance. Its scientists are among the leaders in their fields internationally, many focused on pressing issues such as biodiversity and endangered species. Founded in 1846 by a generous bequest from English scientist James Smithson, the Smithsonian now has 19 museums and galleries; 20 libraries; the National Zoological Park; and nine research centers located in seven states, the Republic of Panama, and Belize. All except two of the museums are located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and the George Gustav Heye Center of the National Museum of the American Indian are located in New York City.

The Smithsonian maintains an advancement program characterized by a comprehensive central Office of Advancement working collaboratively with unit-based teams representing the museums and galleries, libraries, the National Zoological Park, and research centers. This model is comparable to those found in many large university settings. The Advancement Information Systems Services Team provides business analysis and production support for the Smithsonian’s major membership programs, reporting for the fundraising community, and programming support for the advancement information system. The Smithsonian is now embarking on its first Institution-wide campaign, with a $1.5 billion goal. The campaign is the largest ever for a cultural institution. As an institution with one of the best name recognitions in the country, the Smithsonian is engaging individuals, corporations, and foundations across the country with interests that span arts, sciences, history, and culture.

A senior member of the Advancement Information Systems (AIS) Services Team, the Membership Systems Director leads all aspects of system support for Smithsonian membership programs, including supervision of the programing and production support team, providing technical and business process leadership to membership staff, and maximizing the utility of the advancement systems to the membership community. The Membership Systems Director (Director) is responsible for functional and technical work products in support of the Smithsonian’s membership and donor programs and for all areas of membership functionality in the Smithsonian’s Pan-Institutional Database for Advancement (PANDA). Four Smithsonian membership programs with a total of 190,000 members and over $20 million in annual revenue are currently being supported by the AIS Services Team and the membership programs of other Smithsonian units could be added in the future. The Director uses advanced business analysis concepts and a comprehensive knowledge of membership fundraising management principles to resolve highly complex operational issues and meet the philanthropic objectives of the Smithsonian. The Director is responsible for:

• Leading cross-functional teams to create applications that support complex membership and systems issues.
• Supporting membership programs in the use of the Smithsonian membership platform and partnering with program managers in recommending best practices in marketing, segmentation, reporting, and operations.
• Managing delivery of membership reports, data extracts, and interfaces to the production schedule.
• Identifying, evaluating, defining, developing, and enhancing complex systems and procedures through research, application of technical and membership expertise and business analysis concepts, and an understanding of applicable business systems and industry requirements.
• Leading the development of functional and technical specifications.
• Designing and developing reports and related analytics to support operations and programmatic data needs.
• Planning and executing testing associated with systems and data support.

The work of the position directly impacts the Smithsonian’s relationships with current and prospective members and donors, management decision making, and the ability of membership programs to meet their fundraising goals. The Director ensures the accuracy of membership data in the PANDA system through conversion of legacy data and ongoing membership data management; timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of membership and giving data; and compliance of Smithsonian membership programs with external and internal data and reporting requirements.

Reporting to the AIS Services director, the Membership Systems Director supervises a staff of two full-time personnel, a staff which may grow over time as additional membership programs from Smithsonian units are integrated with the PANDA system. The Membership Systems Director is expected to be a thought leader in the area of membership marketing, segmentation, reporting, and operations. The Director will function at a high level in three ways: as an individual contributor, as a team leader/supervisor, and as a collaborative colleague who can guide groups to decisions with the most benefit for all.

Implementation of the Smithsonian’s new comprehensive strategic plan, expansion of the programming, educational, and scholarly activity of its museums and research centers, undertaking of its very first Institution-wide fundraising campaign, and integration of the new PANDA system provide the very favorable context for a mature, talented, forward-thinking, and highly collaborative leader to join the organization as the Membership Systems Director. As the Institution seeks to realize its bold vision, it is adopting best practices across functional areas and is becoming a significantly more cohesive, efficient organization. The Membership Systems Director will play a central role in building the Smithsonian as a model membership and fundraising organization.

Qualified candidates will have experience in fundraising and membership, including: membership, fulfillment, individual giving, online giving, and annual giving; membership databases, data management, and reporting; and direct marketing techniques used in acquisition, renewal, and appeals. Technical skills required are: demonstrated application of the system development life cycle and quality assurance, knowledge of SQL, relational database structure, and complex membership databases. Viable candidates will have strong interpersonal and communications skills necessary to work with technical and nontechnical staff; experience leading work groups; critical thinking, data analysis, and design skills; attention to detail; strong Microsoft Office skills; and outstanding organizational skills, with the ability to complete projects on a timely basis and to manage multiple priorities. A bachelor’s degree and at least six years of progressively responsible and applicable experience, preferably within a large, complex nonprofit organization, is required. At least three years of staff supervisory experience over information systems-related functions is required, with the demonstrated ability to provide effective strategic leadership and direction of staff and budgets.

The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Smithsonian Institution has retained Diversified Search to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations and applications (current resumes and cover letters) should be directed electronically to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.

Managing Director

Practice Leader – Development & Philanthropy

Diversified Search

275 Madison Avenue, 39^th Floor

New York, NY 10016

gerard.cattie@divsearch.com

212.542.2587

PI92393956

Requirements