Membership Coordinator

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) is a unique non-profit planning organization that provides planning and policy services, drives cross-agency and collaborative statewide planning initiatives and guides urban, rural, and regional planning and implementation in Louisiana. We provide best-practice planning models, innovative policy ideas, and technical assistance to communities that wish to create and enact a broad spectrum of plans, including master plans and those dealing with transportation and infrastructure needs, environmental issues, and healthy community design. CPEX brings together community members and leaders from across the state and provides guidance as they work toward a shared vision for future smart growth and sustainable development. CPEX continues to be on the cutting edge of climate, resilience, and healthy community design in Louisiana.

ABOUT THE ROLE

CPEX seeks a full- or part-time Membership Coordinator who will play a key role in executing and building upon CPEX’s Membership initiative and related activities, with significant responsibilities in supporting the Smart Growth Summit and communications. The ideal candidate is process- and detail-oriented and is energized by connecting with others to achieve meaningful impact. We are looking for a candidate that is an effective collaborator who is comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and also excels at diving into detail-oriented, independent work. The Membership Coordinator will help ensure that CPEX’s standards for quality are consistently met in all membership-related communications and interactions. And importantly, we are looking for someone who is aligned with and passionate about CPEX’s mission!

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Membership (~ 60% of effort)

CPEX’s membership initiative generates funding that supports CPEX’s efforts to craft policy, provide planning expertise, and drive inclusive engagement and education across Louisiana. The Membership Coordinator will play a key role in executing and building on CPEX’s membership initiative, supporting retention of longtime members and development of future members.

• With input from leadership, maintain and grow an annual membership plan and strategy with major milestones, timeline, and goals
• Organize annual campaign mailings, visits, events, and renewals
• Coordinate elements of the annual membership plan with appropriate CPEX staff, including communications, leadership, and operations staff
• Manage staff and board involvement in membership process, including interfacing with the board Membership Development Committee
• Establish and grow relationships with existing members, as well as develop new ones with individual donors and partner organizations, and explore potential for major gifts or planned giving programs
• Maintain security and quality controls during and after gift processing
• Maintain membership financial reporting/tracking – maintain accurate accounting of membership income and its sources; work with staff and finance department to fulfill information requests and maintain reporting accuracy
• Ensure accurate and timely acknowledgment of donations
• Track and report membership metrics internally and externally as appropriate
• Prepare membership invoices as necessary in coordination with finance department
• Help maintain online payment processing forms
• Maintain database of current and potential members and coordinate updates to communications database
• Lead the organization and execution of special membership-related events
• Write membership grant proposals to potential corporate partners; report to existing partners as necessary

Smart Growth Summit (approx. 20% of effort)

CPEX’s Louisiana Smart Growth Summit is the South’s premier planning event, and is supported by CPEX membership. The Summit invites practitioners, experts, officials, and the public to collaborate, learn, and connect to meet the challenges of the future. The Summit is also an opportunity to further connect with our members as they experience the renowned speakers and idea exchange that make the Summit so valuable. The Membership Coordinator will provide support for the planning, execution, and ongoing improvement of the Summit and associated events, all as they relate to Membership:

• Participate in Summit team, which meets year-round to plan and execute the Summit
• Assist in identifying and securing monetary and in-kind sponsorships, and coordinate Summit sponsorship timeline and activities with those of CPEX membership
• Coordinate Summit communications content and schedule with those of membership
• Identify and help design ways to capitalize on Summit offerings to benefit and engage members throughout the year, which could include revisiting Summit topics via in-person or online events, using Summit content for member communications, etc.
• Track and report Summit metrics internally and externally as they regard membership
• Assist leadership and staff in identifying themes, topics, additional events, potential sponsors, and speakers

Communications (approx. 10% of effort)

• Partner with CPEX’s communications department and/or CPEX leadership to produce written and visual materials to support communications

Other CPEX Duties (~10% of effort)

• Participate in regular staff meetings, events, and retreats
• Track and submit time and expenses
• Assist in preparing for, and occasionally attend, other CPEX events including public meetings
• Support and attend CPEX board meetings
• Provide support to other CPEX initiatives as needed

DESIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The following skills and qualifications represent our ideal candidate. We encourage potential candidates to apply even if they do not meet all below criteria.

• At least two years of experience in fundraising or a related field
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including staff, board, members, community partners, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong writing skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite, particularly Word/Docs and Excel/Sheets
• Ability to use membership databases
• Passion for CPEX's mission and a deep commitment to equity and sustainability.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Location: CPEX’s office is located in downtown Baton Rouge and offers a flexible work environment. After an initial fully in-office period, CPEX employees may work some days remotely as the role allows. As a CPEX employee, the successful candidate will be expected to participate in some CPEX workshops and events, occasionally on evenings and weekends with advance notice.
• Compensation: The Membership Coordinator can either be a part-time, hourly position, or a full-time, salaried position with a competitive benefits package. Salary for a full-time position ranges from $50,000 to $60,000, commensurate with the successful candidate’s level of experience. The hourly rate for a part-time position would be commensurate.
• Application Requirements: Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and portfolio
• if desired, to Liz Goad at lgoad@cpex.org, and must be authorized to work in the United States. Qualified candidates will be invited for virtual or in-person interviews on an ongoing basis and the position will remain open until filled.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AT CPEX

CPEX is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and we aspire to do so intentionally, in every aspect of our work. We recognize that sustainable prosperity and community resilience cannot be realized in the absence of equity and inclusion for all Louisiana residents, and we strive to lift up all voices in our efforts to ensure that all Louisianans are included in the decisions that impact their communities, region, and state. CPEX is committed to integrating DEI into the fabric of our organization and our work, from our internal culture to how we partner with communities to how we use our resources, and we are continually seeking ways to expand our impact and improve our performance on these measures. A successful candidate will be equally committed to these goals and values.