Job Description

Grade: Grade 11
Location: Washington, DC
Closing: Closing Date: May 22, 2025

Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian. In 2024, we launched the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future, the largest fundraising campaign in the institution's history. The campaign, which runs through 2026, aims to raise $2.5 billion to support all Smithsonian museums and centers—each with a vision to achieve a better future for all. The Smithsonian is also raising support for a series of signature programs, events, and exhibitions to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026. This position offers exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future of the Smithsonian. There is no better time to join this amazing Institution.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans.

Key Responsibilities

Successful candidates will demonstrate proven ability to develop 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.

• Develop and manage program structure, marketing, and operations to support the goals of the membership program.

• Develop program strategy and messaging to support the fundraising goals of advancement in building a philanthropy model for the museum.

• Work directly with museum advancement staff and Membership Cooperative to execute membership program and operations.

• Facilitate collaboration and coordinate with other marketing teams.

• Maintain the master direct response and member/donor contact schedule for the department and facilitates the integration of campaigns across channels.

• Serve as the primary liaison to vendors providing services in support of the entire direct response campaign life cycle, from planning and strategy formulation to budgeting, creative development, production, distribution, and results analysis.

• Coordinates activities on multiple projects simultaneously.

• Work closely with department managers, internal staff and vendors to ensure the success of each campaign through the distribution of relevant documents, content research, data coordination, document review and proactively making suggestions to improve quality and results.

• Coordinate the entire life cycle of benefit fulfillment and cultivation mailings which includes:

• concept development and planning, budgeting, vendor selection and procurement, creative development, distribution and results analysis.

• Cultivation mailings include newsletters with many articles and other components and mailings to membership segments that have no solicitations.

• Manage data segmentation and file provisions for each of these mailings. • Serve as the primary relationship lead for the growing program and connects with members through correspondence and events as well as provides stewardship and cultivation for members.

• Regularly meet with the Advancement team to coordinate strategies to further engage beyond membership.

• Serve as the primary liaison to an external vendor that provides data analysis and reporting.

• Work with the department's senior staff and this vendor in interpreting and applying performance analysis, developing and applying data models and defining optimal data segmentation strategies.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Successful candidates will demonstrate experience with the application of a wide range of methods and practices for the assessment, operation and improvement of membership programs, including systems development, membership and customer service methods and direct response programs.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter to this link by May 22, 2025. 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. Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins. Relocation expenses are not paid. 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.