DIVISION: Membership POSITION TITLE: Team Lead of Membership Strategy REPORTS TO: ACF Executive Director DIRECT REPORTS: Multiple STATUS: Exempt LOCATION: In-Office – Jacksonville, FL
Interdepartmental Collaboration
Thriving relationships span across ACF Staff, ACF Board of Directors, American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) Board of Trustees, Chapter Presidents, Members, and Prospective/Corporate Decision-Makers.
Position Summary
Embodying a pivotal role, the Team Lead of Membership Strategy leads the way in the day-to-day operations of the Membership Department. With a passionate commitment to growth, this individual spearheads initiatives to expand membership through Corporate Memberships and provides unwavering support to over 150 local chapters in individual membership recruitment. The Director of Membership Strategy takes direct responsibility for formulating a comprehensive strategy designed for sustainable membership growth and retention. Success in these endeavors hinges on collaborative efforts within the team, entailing direct engagement with local chapters, corporations, clubs, hotels, and non-commercial spaces. This collaborative approach aims to amplify the influence of the American Culinary Federation on a national and international scale, fostering a rich and diverse membership profile.
Key Responsibilities
Develop Strategic Plans for Membership Growth: Lead the creation and execution of both short- and long-term strategies for expanding ACF membership, with an emphasis on reaching a more diverse and representative audience that aligns with the evolving culinary industry.
Broaden Member Base: Create and implement innovative membership sales programs that target a broader range of potential members, particularly from commercial chain accounts, hotels and resorts, country clubs, and non-commercial service accounts.
Drive Sales Cycle Initiatives: Identify and engage high-potential leads, initiating the sales cycle and promoting the value of ACF membership to strategic employers and key stakeholders in both traditional and non-traditional culinary sectors.
Execute Targeted Marketing Campaigns: Develop and execute marketing plans aimed at chefs, employers, educators, students, and other relevant groups to enhance awareness and recruitment efforts.
Forge Strategic Alliances: Negotiate and cultivate long-term strategic relationships with industry alliances to create opportunities for membership expansion and collaboration.
Monitor Membership Sales, Growth, and Retention: Implement systems to track and analyze membership sales performance, growth rates, and retention metrics, with regular reporting on trends and opportunities for improvement.
Report to Leadership: Provide detailed membership reports, including statistics, campaign updates, sales tracking, growth tracking, and retention insights to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and chapters.
Oversee Membership Department Operations: Manage daily operations of the Membership department, including hiring, training, and supervising staff to ensure optimal performance and strategic alignment.
Budget Management: Develop and manage the Membership department budget to ensure financial responsibility and alignment with organizational goals.
Collaborate Across Departments: Work closely with other departments to support strategic planning, problem-solving, and cross-promotion, fostering a unified approach to membership growth.
Enhance Member Value Proposition: Recommend, develop, and implement improvements to the member value proposition, including the introduction of affinity programs, to ensure ACF membership remains relevant and valuable to a diverse and growing audience.
Educational Requirements
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in business, marketing, or association management.
Experience Requirements
Experience in sales with a proven track record of successfully closing deals and managing profit and loss.
Minimum of 3 years in a mid-senior level management position.
Preference for experience in member recruitment, group sales, or corporate relations within the nonprofit or culinary industry.
Proficiency in executing multi-channel marketing strategies, including social media, electronic/web, direct mail, and telephone.
Demonstrated ability to initiate sales cycles, nurture relationships, and secure corporate deals valued at tens of thousands of dollars.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
Capacity to generate innovative ideas for membership growth.
Excellent analytical, planning, and problem-solving abilities.
Skills and Traits
Excellent writing skills with innovation, analysis, planning, prioritizing, and problem-solving abilities.
Collaborative and mathematical aptitude for analysis.
Positive, empowering, and supportive leadership style.
Proficiency in the Spanish language is an additional asset.
This is an in-office position, and the successful candidate will be based at our Jacksonville, FL office. Remote work or hybrid arrangements are not available for this role. Requires a valid Florida driver’s license and dependable transportation. Travel required. The ACF is not just a workplace; it's a drug-free and smoke-free community of culinary enthusiasts.
WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
ACF is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) COMMITMENT
We strive to foster an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. ACF is dedicated to ensuring that our workforce represents the diverse communities we serve. We encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply and join us in building a more inclusive culinary community.
Disclaimer
The above statements are not just job duties; they're your ticket to an exhilarating career at ACF/ACFEF, where additional responsibilities may come your way as we evolve and grow. Get ready for excitement, adventure, and making a real impact! Strap in, buckle up, and get ready to drive – this is not just a job; it's an ACF experience! Join us in creating culinary magic and memories that last a lifetime.
About the American Culinary Federation (ACF)
The American Culinary Federation (ACF), founded in 1929, is the premier professional organization for chefs and cooks in the United States. ACF has grown to become the largest chefs’ association in North America, with more than 14,000 members across over 170 chapters nationwide. The Federation is dedicated to promoting the professional image of American chefs worldwide through education, certification, apprenticeship, and accreditation at all levels. Members of ACF benefit from a wide range of programs and resources, including educational workshops, culinary competitions, networking events, and the industry’s most recognized certification programs, all designed to foster professional growth and culinary excellence. Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, ACF is committed to excellence, innovation, and the advancement of the culinary profession, offering a collaborative and mission-driven work environment for its employees and volunteers.
Experience in sales with a proven track record of successfully closing deals and managing profit and loss.
Minimum of 3 years in a mid-senior level management position.
Preference for experience in member recruitment, group sales, or corporate relations within the nonprofit or culinary industry.
Proficiency in executing multi-channel marketing strategies, including social media, electronic/web, direct mail, and telephone.
Demonstrated ability to initiate sales cycles, nurture relationships, and secure corporate deals valued at tens of thousands of dollars.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
Capacity to generate innovative ideas for membership growth.
Excellent analytical, planning, and problem-solving abilities.
Who We Are: The Standard of Excellence for Chefs
The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), a professional organization for chefs and cooks, was founded in 1929 in New York City by three chefs’ organizations: the Société Culinaire Philanthropique, the Vatel Club and the Chefs de Cuisine Association of America. Since our inception, little has changed in our principal goals. We are an organization based on promoting the professional image of American chefs worldwide through education of culinarians at all levels.
In 1976, ACF forever changed the culinary industry by elevating the position of the executive chef from service status to the professional category in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Dictionary of Official Titles. Since this change, the culinary industry and our organization have grown tremendously.
ACF is now the largest professional chefs’ organization in North America. We are made up of more than 14,000 members belonging to more than 170 chapters in four regions across the U.S. Today, ACF is the leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship, competitions and programmatic accreditation designed to enhance professional growth for all current an...d future chefs and pastry chefs. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive culinary certification program in the world. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international competitions.
We also offer regional and national events, print and digital publications and much more to help foster the growth of professional chefs and the foodservice industry. If you are not part of our organization, we invite you to join us and gain access to the best culinary resources available.
