Application Guide
How to Apply for Sr. Associate, Member Experience & Retention
at International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
🏢 About International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the leading nonprofit membership organization for economic development professionals, with nearly 100 years of impact and a global network of 4,500+ members. Its mission-driven focus on supporting communities and professionals through training, advocacy, and resources makes it a unique place to drive meaningful change. Working at IEDC means contributing to the growth of local economies while being part of a collaborative, remote-first team.
About This Role
As Sr. Associate, Member Experience & Retention, you will lead initiatives to ensure members see continuous value in their IEDC membership, directly impacting retention rates and long-term organizational growth. You'll design and execute retention campaigns, analyze membership data in iMIS, and collaborate across departments to align strategies, making this role pivotal to sustaining IEDC's membership base.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start by reviewing renewal reports in iMIS to identify members approaching expiration, then reaching out with personalized check-in emails. You could spend the afternoon preparing materials for an upcoming MEAC committee meeting, collaborating with the marketing team on a retention campaign, and analyzing engagement data to present insights to the membership director. The role offers variety, blending strategic planning with hands-on member outreach.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Is Looking For
- Has 3–5 years of experience in membership management or association/client services with a proven track record in retention or engagement strategies, ideally in a nonprofit or membership organization.
- Possesses strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to juggle multiple retention campaigns, renewal cycles, and data tracking simultaneously.
- Is proficient with membership databases, especially iMIS, and can extract and analyze data to provide actionable insights for decision-making.
- Excels in communication and interpersonal skills, enabling them to serve as a liaison to the Membership Engagement Advisory Committee (MEAC) and collaborate effectively with diverse internal teams.
📝 Tips for Applying to International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Highlight specific retention or engagement campaigns you've led, including metrics on renewal rates or member satisfaction improvements, to demonstrate direct impact.
Showcase your experience with iMIS or similar CRM systems by mentioning data management tasks you've performed, such as segmenting members or tracking engagement scores.
Tailor your resume to emphasize cross-departmental collaboration, as the role works closely with marketing, programs, and other teams to align retention strategies.
In your cover letter, explicitly connect your experience to IEDC's mission of supporting economic development professionals, showing you understand their member base.
Prepare a brief example of how you've used member feedback or data insights to pivot a retention strategy, as the job values actionable insights.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your passion for member engagement and retention, with concrete examples of how you've increased renewal rates or deepened member involvement in past roles.", 'Your familiarity with membership databases (especially iMIS) and your ability to turn data into strategic recommendations for leadership.', 'Your experience serving on committees or working with advisory boards, as the role liaises with the MEAC committee.', "Your understanding of IEDC's mission and how your skills can help retain economic development professionals who rely on the organization for resources and networking."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore IEDC's website to understand its member benefits, such as conferences, training programs, and publications, to speak knowledgeably about value propositions.
- → Review IEDC's annual report or recent blog posts to learn about current initiatives and challenges in economic development that might affect member needs.
- → Look up the Membership Engagement Advisory Committee (MEAC) to understand its purpose and how you might support it.
- → Familiarize yourself with IEDC's membership tiers and pricing to discuss targeted retention strategies.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention IEDC or the specific role of Member Experience & Retention.
- Failing to provide quantifiable results from past retention efforts, as the job requires data-driven decision-making.
- Ignoring the remote work aspect—ensure you address your ability to work independently and communicate effectively in a virtual environment.
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to International Economic Development Council (IEDC)!