Application Guide

How to Apply for Director of Member Services & Engagement

at Warren Whitney Management Consulting

🏢 About Warren Whitney Management Consulting

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) is one of the oldest and largest professional organizations serving industrial designers worldwide, uniquely positioned at the intersection of design advocacy, professional development, and global community building. Working here means contributing to elevating industrial design practice through research, advocacy, and excellence in design standards while serving a passionate global community.

About This Role

As Director of Member Services & Engagement at IDSA, you'll lead global membership engagement and volunteer network strategy, directly impacting community growth and design advocacy. This role involves designing member experiences, overseeing chapter/section support, and developing creative recruitment campaigns that align with IDSA's mission to create a better world through industrial design.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves coordinating with global chapter leaders to provide resources and support, analyzing member engagement data to identify opportunities, and developing creative campaigns to recruit and retain industrial design professionals. You might spend time designing volunteer experiences, strategizing with the advocacy team, and implementing improvements to member services processes.

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🎯 Who Warren Whitney Management Consulting Is Looking For

  • Has 8-10 years in membership/component relations with 5+ years leading a membership department, specifically in professional associations or design organizations
  • Demonstrates proven success in motivating staff and achieving membership growth goals in a remote or distributed environment
  • Possesses strong organizational skills with experience using Association Management Systems (AMS) alongside Microsoft Office and project management tools
  • Shows ability to work autonomously with initiative while aligning volunteer networks and chapters with strategic organizational goals

📝 Tips for Applying to Warren Whitney Management Consulting

1

Highlight specific experience with professional associations (not just general membership roles), emphasizing any work with design or creative professional communities

2

Quantify your membership growth achievements in previous roles, especially any experience with global or distributed membership bases

3

Demonstrate familiarity with IDSA's current initiatives by referencing specific programs, chapters, or advocacy efforts in your application materials

4

Show how you've designed member/volunteer experiences that reduced friction - provide concrete examples of process improvements you've implemented

5

Emphasize remote leadership experience, as this position requires managing teams and volunteers in a distributed environment

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience leading membership departments in professional associations, particularly any design-related organizations', "Examples of successful volunteer network management and chapter/section support you've provided in previous roles", "How you've aligned membership strategies with organizational missions similar to IDSA's focus on design advocacy and excellence", 'Your approach to designing member experiences that reduce friction while reinforcing service-oriented values']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → IDSA's current chapter structure, special interest sections, and volunteer leadership network
  • → Recent IDSA advocacy initiatives and position statements on industrial design issues
  • → IDSA's professional development programs and design standards work
  • → The organization's membership demographics and global reach across different design disciplines
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop engagement strategies for IDSA's global membership across different regions and design specialties?
2 Describe your experience managing volunteer leaders and providing resources to chapters/committees in a remote setting
3 What creative recruitment campaigns have you developed that align with a mission-driven organization's values?
4 How do you measure success in member engagement and what metrics would you prioritize for IDSA?
5 Share an example of how you've improved member/volunteer experiences by reducing friction in processes or communications
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with generic membership experience without highlighting association-specific or design community experience
  • Failing to demonstrate remote leadership capabilities for managing distributed teams and volunteers
  • Not showing understanding of IDSA's mission to elevate industrial design practice through advocacy and standards

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Warren Whitney Management Consulting!

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