Membership Specialist

Position Summary:The Membership & Events Specialist plays a key role in strengthening HACIA's community through membership recruitment, retention, & engagement, while also planning & delivering events that foster valuable networking opportunities for HACIA members. Success in this role requires excellent organizational, communication, & interpersonal skills to effectively connect with current & prospective members, plan impactful events & coordinate technical assistance. A key focus of this position is educating businesses"”particularly small, minority- & women-owned firms"”in public & private contracting opportunities helping members navigate public contracting opportunities & certification processes. The specialist will play a vital role in outreach, technical assistance coordination, & relationship management.Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesThis position will require you to be able to complete the following essential duties, though this is not an exhaustive list & HACIA may amend this job description at any time & at its discretion:Membership ManagementSupport the development & implementation of strategies to recruit, retain, & grow HACIA's membership base. Manage & maintain accurate & up-to-date records in membership database (Salesforce). Respond to membership inquiries via phone, email, & in-person. Process membership applications, renewals, & cancellations. Prepare & distribute membership materials, including welcome packets, renewal notices, & newsletters. Member EngagementIn collaboration with the Membership Manager plan & execute member engagement activities & programs. Collect & analyze member surveys to inform events, services & program offering. Develop & maintain relationships with members to foster a sense of community & belonging. Support with organizing networking opportunities & facilitate member-to-member connections. Track membership engagement in Salesforce. Keep members informed of upcoming events & training opportunities that will help scale their business. Public & Private Contracting SupportCollaborate with internal teams & external consultants to identify & address member training needs (e.g., navigating e-procurement portals, proposal development, subcontracting strategies). Research & track private & public procurement opportunities Stay informed on policy changes that affect the industry & diverse businesses at all levels of government Assist with maintaining partnerships with public agencies & procurement officials to identify member-facing opportunities. Coordinate members' access to bid opening & contractor events, agency expos, & agency-led training sessions. Develop & promote programming that helps members pursue government contracts, including workshops, matchmaking events, & bid preparation support. Assist members in understanding & navigating certification requirements (MBE/WBE/DBE/BEP/SBE) & connect them to certification assistance & resources. Event CoordinationCollaborate & assist Events Manager with planning & execute various events, including conferences, seminars, workshops, & social gatherings with the Membership & Event's Team. Coordinate with vendors, speakers, sponsors, and/or community partners for various events. Handle on-site event coordination, including registration, setup, & teardown. Assist with post event surveys/evaluations. Marketing & CommunicationsIn collaboration with the marketing team, create & distribute marketing materials, promotional campaigns, & communications to promote membership & events. Support storytelling by collecting success stories & member impact highligts Administrative SupportMaintain organized documentation related to member activity, program participation, & engagement outcomes. Support membership reporting with accurate reporting & collecting success/impact stories. Assist with budget preparation & expense tracking for membership & events. Collect & update related data as needed. Competencies:To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following. Achievement Focus Demonstrates persistence & overcomes obstacles. Measures self against standard of excellence. Recognizes & acts on opportunities. Sets & achieves challenging goals. Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals. Communications Exhibits good listening & comprehension. Expresses ideas & thoughts in written form. Expresses ideas & thoughts verbally. Keeps others adequately informed. Selects & uses appropriate communication methods. Planning & Organization Integrates changes smoothly. Plans for additional resources. Prioritizes & plans work activities. Sets goals & objectives. Uses time efficiently & is well organized. Problem Solving Develops alternative solutions. Gathers & analyzes information skillfully. Identifies problems in a timely manner. Resolves problems in early stages. Works well in group problem solving situations. QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. HACIA is committed to accommodating applicants & employees with qualifying disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation to the extent possible. HACIA will follow all applicable federal, state, & local laws as they relate to reasonable accommodation of individuals with disabilities & their capabilities to perform essential job duties. Education/Experience:Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university; or two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education & experience. At least three years of experience in membership development or related roles within a nonprofit organization; or equivalent combination of education & experience. Minimum of two years of experience in procurement processes & providing technical assistance. Language Ability:Read, analyze & interpret business, professional, technical or governmental documents. Write reports & business correspondence. Effectively present information & respond to questions from managers, customers & the public. Computer Skills:Proficient in MS Office, particularly (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Teams). Salesforce is a plus but not required.Other Required Qualifications include the following: Outstanding oral & written communication skills.General understanding of the construction industry is a plus.Experience working with minority-owned contractors is preferred.Exceptional attention to detail.Ability to cultivate & maintain professional relationships with members, participants, colleagues, & other organizations.Self-directed, organized, & innovative with a well-developed sense of customer service & professionalism. Sensitivity to & ability to work with socially & ethnically diverse communities. Highly developed analytical, problem solving, & decision-making skills. Compassionate, with an ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, & tact. Excellent independent time management skills & the ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks within deadlines.Ability to travel to various networking, outreach & event locations. Must be able to work independently (as well as on a team) & prioritize in a multi-tasked fast-paced environment.Work Environment:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is generally a normal office environment but there may be occasions that require travel throughout the city & greater Chicagoland area. Employees are expected to work during the Company's core business hours between 9:00am - 5:00pm. Employees will be given work schedules depending on department & project. The position will require occasional evening work to member events or activities.Physical Demands:Must be able to sit for long periods, use a computer, lift up to 15 lbs, & move around event spaces to set up & engage with attendees. Reasonable accommodations may be made.Disclaimer: The above job description is intended to describe the general nature of the position & should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of duties, skills, & standards required for the position. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed or as assigned by their supervisor.Terms:This position includes a competitive salary ($62,000 - $70,000 per year) with a comprehensive benefits package. Please email cover letter, resume & 3 references to: jobs@. Please reference job position Membership & Events Specialist in your cover letter & email subject line. No telephone calls please.Equal Employment Opportunity:HACIA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. HACIA hires individuals on the basis of their qualifications & ability to complete the essential requirements & responsibilities of the job to be filled. It is HACIA's policy to grant equal employment opportunities to qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, religion, pregnancy, parental status, marital status, age, veterans' or military status, regardless of how discharged, source of income, credit history, arrest records, or physical or mental handicap or disability, genetic information, or other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. HACIA will provide equal opportunities in all aspects of the employment relationship, including without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, working conditions, benefits & all other privileges, terms, & conditions of employment. All employment decisions are made based on availability, qualifications, ability, merit and/or other legitimate factors consistent with principles of equal employment.

Created: 2025-10-01