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Senior Director, Membership & Annual Giving Programs

New York City, New York (onsite)

About the Organization

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869 with a dual mission of scientific research and science education, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, galleries for temporary exhibitions, the Rose Center for Earth and Space including the Hayden Planetarium, and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The Museum’s scientists draw on a world-class permanent collection of more than 30 million specimens and objects, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum offers two of the only free-standing, degree-granting programs of their kind at any museum in the U.S.: the Ph.D. program in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Earth Science residency program. Visit amnh.org for more information.

Position Overview

AMNH is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking Senior Director, Membership & Annual Giving Programs to lead one of the largest and most dynamic membership programs in the cultural sector.

Reporting to the Vice President, Advancement, the Senior Director leads the day-to-day operations and long-term strategy of the Museum’s Membership and Annual Giving programs—which currently generate $10M annually—fueling growth, innovation, and exceptional member experiences.

The Senior Director will set the strategic direction for membership renewals, acquisitions, annual giving campaigns, and special member programming to build strong pipelines of loyal supporters and drive sustainable growth. They will spearhead digital innovation to expand reach and engagement, while leveraging data-driven insights and inspiring a talented team to achieve ambitious goals. Overseeing annual and multi-year goals, the Senior Director should bring a breadth of multichannel expertise and creativity to advance both Membership and Annual Giving initiatives for this preeminent scientific and cultural institution.   

Responsibilities

Membership & Annual Giving Strategy

  • Manage a $10M+ program through integrated campaigns (direct mail, email, digital, telemarketing, and onsite engagement) while delivering cost-effective results.
  • Design and implement comprehensive strategies, leveraging both traditional and emerging platforms for member acquisition, retention, upgrades, and reactivation to achieve ambitious annual revenue goals and fuel growth.
  • Drive digital innovation for the department with a keen understanding of how to advance and deepen member relationships through the use of technology and automation.
  • Manage expense budgets, project revenues, and analyze performance to ensure financial sustainability and continuous growth.

Team Leadership & Management

  • Manage, mentor, and coach a team of 13 via three direct reports, cultivating a collaborative and accountable culture.
  • Provide training and professional development opportunities to enhance team effectiveness.
  • Direct the work of external consultants and/or agencies, including those providing marketing and digital services support for the department.

Membership Engagement & Stewardship

  • Oversee the fulfillment of benefits, member services, on-site sales, and the Member Lounge to deliver high levels of stewardship and satisfaction and aid in achieving goals of increased membership revenue and households.
  • Direct the planning and execution of ~40 annual member programs and events, producing unique, mission-driven experiences that strengthen loyalty to the Museum.
  • Develop stewardship opportunities and recognition strategies that deepen engagement and elevate member giving.

Cross-functional Collaboration

  • Partner with colleagues in Advancement and across the institution, including Communications, Visitor Services, and IT, to align Membership and Annual Giving with institutional priorities.
  • Serve as a champion of Membership across the institution, giving voice to member interests with key internal stakeholders and promoting Membership and Annual Fund efforts as essential to the Museum’s success.
  • Stay current on industry standards, best practices, and benchmarking; represent the Museum at industry events and with pertinent membership organizations.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in membership, development, and/or marketing within a complex nonprofit or cultural institution (museum experience strongly preferred).
  • Minimum of six (6) years of leadership and management experience, including hiring staff and supervising robust teams.
  • Demonstrated success leading and managing large-scale Membership and/or Annual Giving programs, including growth and innovation.
  • Expertise in direct response fundraising, digital marketing, data analytics, and member engagement strategies.
  • Strong financial management skills to oversee million-dollar budgets and ensure cost-effective ROI.
  • Ability to leverage systems and technology to drive results including CRMs; experience with Tessitura and Blackbaud’s NxT preferred.
  • Highly organized, strategic, and entrepreneurial with the ability to balance competing priorities and stakeholder engagement within a complex institution.

Compensation & Benefits

  • Annual salary in the range of $180-195K. Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization and depth and scope of experience.
  • AMNH offers an extensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance, Retirement Plans, and PTO. Learn more at careers.amnh.org.

 Orr Group  

AMNH has retained the Orr Group to conduct this search. Please direct all inquiries and interest to the Orr Group search team.  

Jessica Shatzel

Senior Director & Head of Talent Strategy

Orr Group

jshatzel@orrgroup.com

 

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