$160,000 - $180,000 USD

How This Position Contributes to the Team

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations (MAs) representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. WEF and its global network of members and member associations provide water quality professionals around the world with the latest in water quality education, training, and business opportunities. WEF’s diverse membership includes scientists, engineers, regulators, academics, utility managers, plant operators, communications, and other professionals. WEF uses this collective knowledge to further a shared goal of improving water quality around the world.

Strengthening the volunteer-member experience and relationships with MAs, while ensuring a sense of belonging and inclusion is one of WEF's strategic priorities. Recruiting, orienting, training, and retaining volunteer members is critical to the success of our federation and the greater water and wastewater industry. Strong and supportive relationships with our MAs helps to build a resilient network that can share best practices, excel with technological and other advancements, and address changes in the natural and built environment. Additionally, WEF has over 20 technical communities, representing a broad range of themes within the water sector. Many WEF members are active participants in these communities, providing thousands of hours of volunteer service each year. It will be important to ensure these volunteers have a fulfilling experience, while focusing volunteer efforts on strategically aligned activities.

The Managing Director, Community Engagement will be responsible for a portfolio spanning membership recruitment and enrollment, orientation, training, and leadership development, as well as support within our House of Delegates (HOD), Community Leadership Council (CLC), and Association Engagement programs. This is a mission-centered position that also serves on the WEF Executive Team. This position will be responsible for the success of a department, which includes 10+ staff with varying levels of seniority and positional title. This position reports directly to the Executive Director.

Additionally, this position will lead the implementation of the Water Environment Federation's (WEF) goal within the WEF Strategic Goals: Cultivate a purpose-driven water community to sustainably solve water challenges for all. Specific initiatives under this goal include:

• Enhance WEF’s community infrastructure
• Enhance the volunteer leader experience
• Develop and launch a 365-day/360-degree engagement experience

Knowledge of the water sector is required for the position. The ideal candidate will have experience developing volunteer-led structures and initiatives within the water sector

NOTE: This position is open to remote or hybrid in-office work and requires travel (up to 15-20% of the year) across the U.S to participate in relevant meetings and conferences.

Key Responsibilities

General

• Actively participate on WEF’s Executive Team, and work to ensure vital communication pathways between the Executive Team and direct reports.
• Supervise and develop direct reports, including recruitment, hiring, retention, professional development, coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Oversee operations and budget for the department.

Membership

• Lead pathways to increased value for members in WEF and help to ensure their success by centering the experiences and ideas from volunteer members and staff to advance volunteer member programs and services.
• Lead efforts to onboard and train volunteer leaders.
• Evaluate and implement new membership models aligned to the mission and strategic plan.
• Lead regular assessments and monitor feedback systems to ensure overall high quality of WEF's member experience and relationship to WEF.
• Investigate and utilize partnerships as appropriate to effectively and efficiently advance member experiences.

HOD, CLC, MA Communities

• Oversee and help to refine and expand the reach and impact of WEF's portfolio of committees, communities, task forces, and programs within the HOD, CLC, and MA Engagement.
• Lead efforts to support technical communities and MAs, including the use of WEF’s online member engagement platform WEFunity.
• Increase usage and impact of WEF's portfolio within the HOD, CLC, and MA Engagement while maintaining a sustainable business model and alignment with WEF’s strategic plan.
• Lead user research to inform program design and development, with an emphasis on developing skills needed for successful workforce development as the industry transitions to address a changing environment and climate, and a circular water economy.
• Oversee cross-functional teams to ensure the timely and successful development and delivery of high-quality member experiences.
• Support timely response and problem solving by staff to volunteer concerns and issues.

Experience and Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in education, public policy, planning, political science, economics, communications, or other related discipline.
• 10 or more years of full-time experience within the water industry, associations, utilities, or related field(s).
• Demonstrated experience leading the development and implementation of professional volunteer member programs and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience successfully building and managing high-performing teams of equivalent or greater size.
• Experience with association membership acquisition and revenue models.
• Strong acumen for DEI&B related practices, processes, and engagement.
• Excellent program management abilities, including strong planning, time management, and budget management skills.
• Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively with board members, executives, and senior policymakers.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, delegate and manage staff, and track multiple programs and deadlines.
• Motivated to seek new challenges with a creative and learning mindset.
• Willingness to travel and present at conferences, meetings, and industry events.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. Experience using online collaboration and communication software (e.g., SharePoint, Teams).

WEF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This person will work primarily in an office environment using standard office equipment.

WEF reserves the right to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or other compliance with public health measures as a condition of employment. This is not mandatory at this time.

PI259545232