Vice President, Member Innovation

International Bottled Water Association

Position Description

Reports To: President & CEO

Location: Alexandria, Va. (Headquarters) / Hybrid Eligible

Company Description

Founded in 1958, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the leading voice for the bottled water industry, which supports more than 617,000 jobs that generate $42.5 billion in wages and $163 billion in overall U.S. economic impact. IBWA provides members with professional services focused on advocacy, communications, technical services, networking and education to advance safe, healthy hydration and sustainable business practices. IBWA’s membership consists of bottlers, distributors, and suppliers across the U.S. and around the world working to deliver the #1 packaged beverage to consumers everywhere.

Summary of Position Responsibilities

The Vice President of Member Innovation is a newly created, forward-looking executive leadership role designed to reimagine and elevate the complete member experience at IBWA. This leader will ensure IBWA services, events, sponsorships, and educational offerings are modern, robust, and indispensable to the association’s members. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, this role oversees Member Engagement, Events and Sponsorships, and Programming and Education under one cohesive strategy. The VP will be tasked with driving membership and non-dues revenue growth, industry education, cultivating strategic regional and industry partnerships, and building innovative programs that continuously demonstrate ROI to our diverse membership of bottlers, distributors, and suppliers.

Education Requirements

Minimum bachelor’s degree required. An advanced degree is preferable, particularly in business or marketing.

General Qualifications

Experience: 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in association management, business development, or member services. Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential preferred.
Revenue Driver: Proven track record of generating dues and non-dues revenue, restructuring sponsorship models, and running profitable, high-impact events with multiple partners and vendors.
Educator Mindset: An innovator who is equally comfortable launching new education and programming initiatives for in-person events and online training to meet the evolving needs of a $163 billion beverage manufacturing industry.
Executive Presence: Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, capable of commanding a room, engaging regional partners, and managing high-level volunteer boards and committees
Manager of Talent and Resources: Strong staff and team management skills and experience, contract negotiation, overseeing independent consultants, staff administration, and consensus building and motivation are necessary skills.

Position Responsibilities

Membership Strategy & Growth

Strategic Recruitment & Retention: Design and execute comprehensive recruitment strategies to grow the membership base while maintaining high retention rates.
Revenue Model Innovation: Partner with the CEO to implement modernized dues and non-dues revenue models, shifting the association toward a highly diversified financial structure.
Member Experience: Oversee the end-to-end member journey, from implementing the member dues schedule each year, to robust onboarding sessions, to continuous engagement initiatives, ensuring members at all tiers feel recognized and valued.
Committee Leadership: Serve as the strategic staff liaison to the several committees, guiding volunteer leaders to achieve recruitment and engagement targets.

Events, Sponsorships & Non-Dues Revenue

Event Re-imagination: Oversee the strategy and execution of IBWA’s portfolio of events, including the Annual Conference and Trade Show, June Board and Policy Summit, Capitol Hill Fly-Ins, and targeted regional engagements.
Partnership & Sponsorship Monetization: Build a comprehensive sponsorship prospectus and aggressively pursue new non-dues revenue streams, including event sponsorships, digital advertising, and strategic vendor partnerships.

Programming & Education

Curriculum Development: Oversee the creation and delivery of high-value educational programming, ensuring members are equipped with the latest insights on technical compliance, environmental sustainability, and business operations.
Digital & Hybrid Delivery: Innovate how IBWA delivers content, deploying webinars, certification tracks, and resource hubs that provide year-round, on-demand value to members.

Team Leadership & Management

Leadership and Management: This position manages three direct reports, overseeing the development of annual goals and work plans, providing guidance and direction, and ensuring accountability to IBWA’s vision, strategy, and values.
Budget & Finance: This position manages the budgets for IBWA’s membership dues process, conferences and events, and education, audit, and certification programs.

Travel

10-20% domestic travel is required.

Salary

Commensurate with experience, 150,000-190,000.

Reporting

Reports to the IBWA President and CEO.

Evaluation

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to ***email_hidden***.