The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is seeking a Sr. Manager, Member Engagement

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents over 300 electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers that make safe, reliable, and efficient products and systems. Together, our members contribute 1% of U.S. GDP and directly provide nearly 580,000 American jobs, contributing more than $334 billion to the U.S. economy.

NEMA is committed to expanding market opportunities and removing business barriers by developing industry standards, advocating on behalf of the industry at the international, federal, and state level, and delivering world-class market intelligence.   NEMA serves its members by living our core values in every aspect of our work: respect, integrity, teamwork, and leadership.

Position Overview

The Sr. Manager, Member Engagement will be responsible for strengthening relationships across NEMA’s membership, driving engagement, and ensuring members experience tangible value from their participation in the Association. This role leads strategies to retain current members, increase engagement, and support targeted recruitment efforts in collaboration with the Strategic Growth & Membership team.

A central responsibility will be directing NEMA’s engagement with its Council for Small Businesses—a C-Suite committee representing more than 100 small and medium-sized manufacturers—as well as the Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturers (SMM) Network. The Sr. Manager will also manage the Associate and Affiliate Membership programs, developing new offerings that expand value for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing members.

Key Responsibilities

Member Engagement & Retention

• Develop and implement a comprehensive member retention strategy that enhances member value and supports NEMA’s long-term vision.
• Identify and proactively engage new members and at-risk members through data analysis, staff insights, and industry research; implement tailored plans to strengthen connections.
• Assess member relations communication methods; make recommendations to strengthen to ensure members are receiving quality, timely and appropriate messages to reinforce value.
• Establish and track annual retention and engagement goals, delivering regular progress reports with metrics, insights, and recommended actions to NEMA leadership.
• Plan and coordinate NEMA visits to member facilities and host member visits at NEMA headquarters.
• Actively monitor member company developments (new business lines, mergers, divestments) to anticipate needs and reinforce value.

Committee & Program Leadership

• Serve as staff lead for the Council for Small Businesses, ensuring meaningful dialogue and actionable outcomes for smaller members.
• Oversee the Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturers (SMM) Network, creating programming and engagement opportunities tailored to this segment.
• Manage the Associate and Affiliate Membership programs, developing recruitment strategies, retention initiatives, and new value-add offerings.

Cross-Organizational Collaboration

• Partner with NEMA’s Technical & Industry Affairs team and Sector Committees to strengthen industry engagement and deliver measurable member value.
• Collaborate with Finance on membership invoicing and with Marketing to produce compelling retention campaigns and engagement materials.
• Support the migration to and ongoing use of NEMA’s new CRM system, ensuring accuracy of member data and tracking of engagement activities.

Member Value Delivery

• Develop a deep understanding of member companies’ business operations and challenges to effectively communicate NEMA’s value proposition.
• Respond to member questions and concerns with timeliness, problem-solving, and creativity, leveraging NEMA resources to enhance satisfaction.
• Recommend and help launch new programs, services, and initiatives that expand the relevance and impact of NEMA membership.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, public affairs, or related field; advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years of experience in membership engagement, client relations, or stakeholder management—preferably in an association, trade group, or business-to-business environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills with C-Suite executives and technical experts.
• Proven ability to design and execute retention and engagement strategies with measurable results.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate technical or policy issues into compelling member value.
• Experience managing programs, committees, or networks of business leaders.
• Comfort with CRM systems, data analytics, and reporting.

Interested candidates should apply at NEMA CAREERS

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents over 300 electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers that make safe, reliable, and efficient products and systems serving major markets including the Grid, Mobility, the Built Environment, and Industrial Core. NEMA crafts and executes advocacy campaigns and provides analytical products to assist member companies with business decisions. NEMA serves its members by living our core values in every aspect of our work: respect, integrity, teamwork, and leadership.

The Managing Director of Regulatory and Industry Affairs, The Grid leads NEMA’s regulatory agency engagement and issue management relative to NEMA members with products and integrated technologies for the grid, including transmission equipment, energy storage, distributed energy resources, and renewable energy generation. The Managing Director engages with agency officials at the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) and other relevant federal and state agencies on rulemakings and other programs of interest to NEMA members. The Managing Director leads teams of members to develop positions and strategies that advance member interests. The Managing Director also works with NEMA members to develop strategies to advance NEMA members interests in the grid space, by bringing to bear other NEMA competencies such as federal and state legislative affairs, internal and external communications, standards development, and market insights.

The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Legal Affairs. NEMA delivers values to members using a matrixed, multi-faceted model, supported, and facilitated by the Managing Director. The position is located in Arlington, Virginia, allows for a hybrid work schedule, and may include up to 30 percent time on travel, including both domestic and international.

Key Responsibilities

1. Oversees NEMA’s engagement with regulatory agencies of jurisdiction in the grid, including DOE, EPA, FERC, PUCs, and relevant state agencies, among others. Maintains constructive working relationships with senior officials within relevant agencies. Develops regulatory comments, inputs, and engagement strategies. Oversees activities within member committees and teams on relevant regulatory engagements.
   
2. Leadership of matrix staff team with NEMA Technical and Public Affairs Departments to develop strategy and advance NEMA’s policy positions and desired regulatory outcomes, leveraging full scope of NEMA’s capabilities and demonstrating value to members.
3. Oversees member leadership committee dedicated to the grid to develop and implement NEMA’s strategy for activities across the sector. Coordinates efforts across NEMA functions to ensure alignment of activities in support of the sector strategy.
   
4. Serves as subject matter expert and spokesperson on the grid and products for internal and external audiences. Builds NEMA reputation, capabilities, services, and value for NEMA members with grid applications.
   
5. Acts as membership growth catalyst. Coordinates with the NEMA Membership Department to provide excellent customer service to retain existing members, while seeking opportunities for to grow NEMA’s membership and the industry’s profile in the grid.
   
6. Regulatory agency engagement on programs and rulemaking. Develops constructive, respectful, and effective relationships with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, both domestic and international, to deliver value-add strategies.
7. Serves as subject matter expert on sector issues and priorities based on depth and breadth of experience. Communicator and evangelist of NEMA value to constituents. Trusted NEMA spokesperson with an ability to provide press interviews, thought leadership pieces, present at conferences and events, and serve on external committees to advance NEMA objectives. Cultivates relationships with coalition partners, regulators, NGO’s, key allies, member companies.

Competencies and Attributes

• Excellent market and industry knowledge
• Exemplary communications and relationship management skills
• Issue and member leadership track record
• Ability to thrive in a matrix environment, while modeling NEMA's core values: respect, integrity, teamwork, leadership
• Persuasive written and oral skills
• Executive presence
• Diplomacy and effective conflict management capabilities
• Creativity and learning mindset
• Deep knowledge of existing and emerging grid technologies/systems desired
• Past experience analyzing, influencing, implementing, or adapting regulatory issues affecting grid technologies preferred

   

  Experience and Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree required, advanced technical or business degree a plus
• Ten or more years full-time experience in related field(s)

NEMA offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package including paid holidays and personal time, flexible working hours, 401(k) plan, health/dental insurance, and partial pre-tax parking/Metro subsidy.

Interested individuals should apply directly to NEMA at: NEMA Careers