Director of Membership

We Are

Headquartered in downtown Washington, DC, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is an organization comprised of nearly 17,000 individual attorney members who practice and teach immigration law. For our members, we provide continuing legal education, information, advocacy, professional services, and expertise. Founded in 1946, AILA's mission is to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.

The Membership department is focused on enhancing AILA’s membership experience by providing outstanding service and ensuring the continued value of membership. This team drives member recruitment, retention, and engagement, collaborating across departments to align membership offerings with the organization’s strategic goals. By offering tailored support, resources, and fostering a vibrant community, the team works to enhance member value and contribute to the organization’s success.

We are seeking a strategic and experienced Director of Membership to lead and strengthen our national membership strategy. This role is central to advancing member recruitment, retention, and engagement across AILA’s nationwide community, including 39 regional Chapters and five Regions.

The Director of Membership is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, data-informed membership strategy aligned with AILA’s organizational and revenue goals. This role ensures that the value of membership remains relevant, meaningful, and responsive to member needs.

This is not a marketing role; however, it works in close partnership with Marketing, IT, Finance, and other departments to ensure a consistent, high-quality member experience across the organization.

If you are a seasoned association leader who understands the full membership lifecycle — and who values thoughtful, data-informed strategy paired with strong operational execution — we invite you to apply.

• Develop and refine AILA’s membership and affiliated groups strategy
• Lead recruitment, retention, and engagement initiatives
• Monitor retention metrics and implement proactive improvement efforts
• Evaluate and evolve member benefits and services
• Strengthen outreach to new and diverse member markets
• Oversee the biennial Member Survey and integrate findings into strategy

• Partner with IT and internal teams to evolve AILA’s community platform
• Support the growth and management of AILA’s Affiliated Paralegals
• Ensure consistent member experience across national and chapter levels

• Oversee statistical and financial reporting related to membership performance
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership and the Board
• Develop and manage the department’s annual budget and goals

• Supervise the Member Engagement Manager and Member Services Manager
• Lead performance management, professional development, and team operations
• Maintain high standards for member services and data integrity within the association management system

• Undergraduate degree required (CAE designation a plus)
• Minimum six (6) years of progressive association membership experience
• At least three (3) years in a strategic leadership role
• Prior supervisory experience required
• Demonstrated success in recruitment and retention strategy
• Strong budget management and financial oversight experience
• Advanced familiarity with Association Management Systems
• Excellent communication, relationship‑building, and volunteer engagement skills

The ideal candidate brings both strategic vision and practical execution experience, understands trends in association membership, and is comfortable leading through collaboration in a fully remote environment.

This is a fully remote position. Candidates must have reliable technology, internet access, and a professional home workspace.

Our Remote Work Strategy is designed to ensure connection while minimizing costs and inconvenience. Talent…