Manager of Member and Community Recognition

The Opportunity

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), founded in 1965, is one of the oldest and largest professional organizations for industrial designers. IDSA is a national professional society for industrial designers who create and develop concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of the user and manufacturer.

The Manager of Member & Community Recognition plays a key role in the execution of department strategies, as well as assisting with the operational components of an expansive global organization's award programs. Additional components of this role include providing essential support to the Senior Manager of Member & Community Recognition, assisting in the management of day-to-day operations of the IDSA Awards, IDSA Student Merit Awards, IDSA Academic Papers, IDSA Design Foundation Scholarships, and International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) programs, and focusing on providing excellent customer service to applicants and candidates while successfully implementing strategies for continuous improvement.

This is a fully remote position, reporting to the Senior Manager of Member and Community Recognition. This position can expect travel for IDSA events as well as staff gatherings throughout the year.

The Manager is a highly organized, communicative, detail-oriented individual with impeccable written and verbal communication skills, and thrives in fast-paced, high-performance environments. Further, they accomplish short and long-term objectives through meticulous planning, and hands-on execution, ensuring their approach is based upon extensive knowledge of best practices in the awards, association, design, and technology professions.

Interested candidates should submit their resume outlining their qualifications and experience with a cover letter.

Key Responsibilities

Program Execution and Management

• Ensure award strategies align with organizational goals, leading to increased member engagement and recognition as outlined by the Senior Manager of Member & Community Recognition.
• Assist with the coordination of the organization of various award offerings by delivering award programs seamlessly, enhancing the reputation and credibility of the organization.
• Manage multiple award timelines, deadlines, and schedules to ensure timely execution of awards programs, resulting in high participant satisfaction and smooth operations.
• Assist with the configuration, testing, and administration of awards programs in the OpenWater system for efficient award management, reducing administrative burden, while improving accuracy and stakeholder satisfaction.

Administrative Support

• Provide high-level administrative support, enabling the Senior Manager to focus on strategic initiatives.
• Create comprehensive and insightful reports and presentations, aiding in informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Project Management

• Develop and maintain project plans ensuring projects are well-organized and progress is tracked effectively, leading to successful completion of all milestones.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing competing priorities to ensure all projects are delivered on time and within scope.
• Foster teamwork and alignment across departments, enhancing overall project success.

Communication and Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with award applicants, jurors, and stakeholders, ensuring clear and professional communication.
• Maintain high standards in all communications, reinforcing the organization's brand, mission and values.
• Manage volunteer committees to facilitate effective committee activities, ensuring volunteers are engaged and productive.
• Support and guide committee members by providing necessary support and guidance, fostering collaboration and achieving committee goals.
• Ensure volunteer committees are well-informed and equipped to fulfill their roles in the awards process.

Support for Award Juries

• Assist in the recruitment and coordination of high-profile, distinguished design professionals, enhancing the credibility and prestige of the awards.
• Provide logistical and administrative support to award juries, ensuring a seamless and efficient judging process.
• Maintain strong relationships with jurors, fostering a positive and professional experience for all participants.

Process Improvement

• Collect, evaluate and improve processes to continuously enhance award program efficiency and effectiveness, leading to better outcomes and participant experiences.
• Identify and introduce innovative practices in awards management, positioning the organization as a leader in the field.

Data Management and Reporting

• Ensure all award-related data is meticulously recorded and managed, providing a reliable basis for analysis and reporting.
• Deliver insightful reports on program performance and impact, supporting continuous improvement and strategic planning.

Event Coordination

• Ensure high-quality event execution, enhancing the prestige and impact of the awards at the IDEA Ceremony and Gala at the International Design Conference and other related events.
• Coordinate with Meetings & Events team to seamlessly manage event logistics, catering and audiovisual needs, ensuring a memorable experience for attendees.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher
• Minimum of five years awards management and recognition programs
• Minimum of three years association or nonprofit experience
• Experience managing jurors and volunteers
• Exceptional customer service experience and capabilities
• Proficient in OpenWater awards platform software system
• Proficient in Excel, including creating and managing spreadsheets, using formulas and functions (e.g. VLOOKUP, SUMIF, IF statements), and generating pivot tables and charts for data entry, sorting and filtering data, and leveraging conditional formatting to highlight key trends and insights.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• CAE certification
• "Best in Class" customer service training (e.g. Zendesk, Dale Carnegie, Coursea/Udemy)

Personal Attributes

• Enjoys working in a collaborative team environment, while also demonstrating the ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Passionate about excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and manage competing demands effectively.
• Physical Requirements
• Must be able to lift and move boxes and equipment up to 25 lbs.

Compensation Package Includes:

• Starting annual salary range of $70,000 - $80,000
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer paid life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid vacation and sick time policy
• IDSA recognizes 12 standard holidays and 1 flexible holiday per year
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) accounts

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their resume outlining their qualifications and experience with a cover letter.

For questions, please contact ERIC WANN at ericw@idsa.org.

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive virtual environment for all employees.

This comprehensive job description ensures that potential candidates understand the scope of responsibilities and the skills required for the role of Manager of Member and Community Recognition.

We encourage candidates to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.