Director, Industry Membership

About The Paley Center for Media

The Paley Center for Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. Drawing upon its curatorial expertise, renowned programming archive, and close relationships with the leaders of the media community, the Paley Center examines the intersections between media and society. The general public can access the Paley Archive – including special African-American, Hispanic, and LGBT collections – and participate in programs that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape.

Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information, please visit paleycenter.org.

SCOPE

Reporting to the Vice President, Industry Programming, the Director of Membership, Industry Programming, will be responsible for the recruitment and sales strategy and managing Paley Media Council and Paley International Council memberships. The ideal candidate has the strategic thinking, persuasiveness, and persistence to identify and recruit prospective members, as well as the organization and communication skills to engage members consistently and provide the highest level of service excellence in all interactions. They are experienced in working with C Suite executives and their teams and possess a demonstrated track record of meeting ambitious revenue goals and growing robust membership communities.

The Paley Media Council and Paley International Councils are exclusive, invitation-only membership communities for top industry leaders from across the global media landscape. Membership includes access to year-round programming in New York and Los Angeles, and a complimentary ticket to the annual Paley International Council Summit. Co-chaired by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger and Frank A. Bennack, Jr., the Summit is regarded as one of the most influential gatherings in the industry and has been held in New York and around the world, including Italy, China, South Africa, German, Austria, India, Monaco, Spain, France, Turkey, Mexico, and the UK.

Working closely with colleagues in Development, Marketing, and Finance, the Director will serve a crucial role in positioning Paley as the foremost convener of the best minds in the industry.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create and manage recruitment and sales strategy to meet annual Media Council and International Council membership goal (mid to high six figures)
• Prospect, develop, and secure memberships in a fast-paced sales environment
• Onboard new members, including welcome letters, tax receipts, registration, and member portfolios
• Engage and develop deeper relationships with current members by sending appropriate white-glove correspondence, scheduling meet and greets, and welcoming members and VIPs at events
• Manage database to ensure that all members, prospects, and event attendance details are entered properly and updated regularly
• Lead the full life-cycle of audience correspondence for industry events, including invitations, reminders, and thank you notes
• Develop and grow event audiences, both from within the existing membership base, as well as leveraging events to prospect, develop, and secure new members
• Lead audience-related event production, including face sheets, name badges, registration, and seat assignment for members and VIP guests
• With Development, align with and collaborate on institutional development priorities and strategies
• With Marketing and Creative Services, develop membership brochures and marketing materials and design and deliver strategies to enhance engagement and increase memberships
• With Finance, create annual budgets and ensure proper fiscal reporting
• Handle any special projects or tasks as assigned

CORE COMPETENCIES

Our successful employees meet the following criteria:

• Highly organized with proven ability to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Outstanding leadership skills and ability to lead cross functional teams.
• Ability to take ownership of all tasks and manage simultaneously.
• Outstanding verbal communication and superior business writing skills.
• Positive and professional demeanor with excellent interpersonal, administrative and managerial skills.
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
• Resourcefulness, creativity and strong problem-solving and research skills.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 8 years of experience in membership sales. Existing network of contacts in the media industry (broadcast, cable, music, digital, tech, gaming, media agencies, brands, investors) strongly preferred, but not required.
• Proven track record to grow membership communities and meet annual goal (mid to high six figures)
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and immediately respond to internal and external key stakeholders in a professional and organized manner
• Strong, proactive leadership presence with a positive demeanor
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills
• Strong work ethic and self-starter
• Extremely comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Highly proficient and technically savvy; proficiency with Airtable, Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Splash strongly preferred
• Ability to work flexible hours for early morning and evening events (internally and externally)
• Ability to travel as needed
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required
• Bilingual in Spanish, a plus
• Completed COVID vaccination & booster

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

The Paley Center for Media maintains a strong policy of equal opportunity in employment. It is our objective to recruit, hire, and retain the most qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Our equal employment philosophy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, job benefits, and terminations.