Director of Membership, Community, and Events

The Director of Membership, Community, and Events is a senior leadership role responsible for driving global membership growth and engagement as well as shaping the strategy for TESOL’s events portfolio. This position plays a central role in how TESOL engages its global community and generates value for members.

This role is ideal for a leader who has successfully grown international membership and understands how events, especially large-scale conferences and conventions, serve as a significant driver of engagement, value, and revenue.

The director leads a team of three: Membership & Engagement Associate, Events Associate, and the Member Services Associate.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director leads an integrated portfolio spanning membership, community, and events, ensuring these areas work together to deliver a cohesive and compelling member experience aligned with TESOL’s mission and long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Membership Growth and Strategy

• Lead and execute a comprehensive global membership strategy, including recruitment, retention, engagement, and value proposition
• Define and implement segmentation strategies tailored to diverse international audiences
• Use data and performance insights to guide strategy, identify growth opportunities, and drive measurable outcomes
• Partner with marketing and operations to ensure alignment between strategy, systems, and execution
• Provide regular reporting and analysis of membership performance

Event Strategy and Portfolio Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for TESOL’s events portfolio, including the annual convention and other in-person, hybrid, and virtual events
• Develop and implement strategies to increase attendance, engagement, and revenue
• Align event strategy with membership, professional learning, and organizational goals
• Oversee financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and post-event analysis
• Manage external vendor relationships and ensure operational excellence

Community Engagement

• Lead a cohesive community engagement strategy that supports member connection and retention
• Oversee volunteer engagement, affiliate relationships, and recognition programs
• Ensure community initiatives reflect TESOL’s global reach and commitment to equity and inclusion
• Use engagement data and insights to inform broader membership strategy

Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead and develop a collaborative, high-performing team
• Foster cross-functional alignment and shared ownership across departments
• Contribute to organizational strategy and decision-making as a member of the senior leadership team
• Manage departmental budget and ensure financial accountability

The qualifications listed below are preferred but not required. We recognize that candidates may bring other experiences that are well-aligned with this role and encourage those with relevant, transferable skills to apply.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in associations, nonprofits, or membership-based organizations
• Demonstrated success in growing international membership, including specific examples of expansion, retention, or engagement across global markets
• Proven experience leading event strategy and execution, particularly for large-scale conferences or conventions, with responsibility for attendance and financial performance
• Experience aligning membership and event strategies to drive engagement and revenue
• Demonstrated ability to work across teams to align strategy, marketing, programs, and operations

Leadership Approach

• Collaborative and partnership-oriented leadership style
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute and deliver results
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to engage effectively with diverse, global stakeholders

Additional Strengths

• Experience building and sustaining professional communities or member networks
• Experience working in global or culturally diverse environments
• Familiarity with CRM, AMS, and community platforms

Working Environment

TESOL operates in a primarily remote environment, with an office in Alexandria, VA available for use as needed. Travel is required for the annual convention and occasional meetings.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter to ed@tesol.org .

In your cover letter, please respond to one of the following questions. Include a specific example and a brief reflection or lesson learned from the experience.

• Describe how you aligned a membership growth strategy with an engagement activity (event, community platform, or other activity) to drive both engagement and revenue.
• Describe how you adapted a membership value proposition for a specific international market.
• Describe how you evolved the strategy for a recurring event or conference to improve performance over time.

Use of AI Tools

TESOL recognizes that AI tools can be helpful in drafting application materials. Candidates may use these tools as part of their process. However, submitted materials should clearly reflect your own experience, judgment, and voice.

We are particularly interested in how your background and approach align with TESOL’s mission, global membership, events portfolio, and engagement activities. Applications that are overly generic or not clearly tailored to this role may not be considered.