Specialist or Senior Coordinator, Learning & Community Engagement — International District Energy Association, Westborough, MA

Department: Community & Communications

Reports To: Vice President, Community & Communications

Location: Hybrid – Westborough, Massachusetts

Job Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

The International District Energy Association (IDEA) is seeking a creative, collaborative, and member-focused professional to support existing members, strengthen community engagement, and expand our global reach through enhancing educational programs and resources.

A central responsibility will be managing and growing IDEA's Learning Center, an online learning management system (LMS) featuring conference presentations, webinars, technical resources, and professional education. The position will focus on enhancing the user experience, improving accessibility and visibility, driving greater engagement and utilization, and expanding opportunities for revenue generation.

Equally important, this individual will help strengthen and grow IDEA’s already active and connected professional community, fostering meaningful relationships through our online forums, delivering a personalized and engaging experience, and identifying opportunities to introduce new audiences to IDEA’s programs, resources, and network.

This individual will help strengthen and grow IDEA’s already active and connected professional community, fostering meaningful relationships in our online forums, helping to deliver a personalized and engaging experience, and help identify opportunities to introduce new audiences to IDEA’s programs, resources, and network.

The ideal candidate brings experience working with professional or trade associations, understands the importance of member relationships, and combines strong communication and organizational skills with an entrepreneurial approach to engagement and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Learning Center Management & Development

• Help manage, maintain, and enhance IDEA's Learning Center, ensuring a positive, intuitive user experience.

• Help develop strategies to increase Learning Center usage, awareness, and engagement among members and nonmembers.

• Assist in developing new revenue opportunities, including paid educational offerings, professional development, continuing education credits, and training programs.

• Leverage analytics, user feedback, and emerging technologies, including AI, to improve content discovery and platform effectiveness.

• Collaborate with IDEA staff to transform content from conferences, webinars, and other initiatives into accessible, valuable online learning resources

Member Experience & Community Engagement

• Help develop and implement strategies that strengthen relationships with IDEA members and encourage active participation in the association.

• Support member onboarding, engagement, and retention initiatives that help members understand and realize the value of IDEA.

• Foster connections among members, industry professionals, volunteers, and other stakeholders through online communities, events, and educational programs.

• Support the growth and engagement of IDEA's professional communities, including its Young Professionals Group, District Energy Women’s Initiative, and other special interest groups.

• Identify opportunities to encourage member participation, knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer learning, and volunteer involvement.

• Work collaboratively with staff to create welcoming, responsive, and meaningful experiences for members and other IDEA stakeholders.

• Gather member feedback and use engagement data to recommend improvements to programs, communications, and services.

Audience Development & Community Growth

• Help introduce new professionals, organizations, students, and industry stakeholders to IDEA and its resources.

• Work with Business Development to develop engagement strategies that turn initial interactions—including webinar attendance, event participation, and Learning Center usage—into sustained relationships with IDEA.

• Collaborate with communications and membership staff on outreach campaigns designed to grow IDEA's audience and increase participation.

• Help develop pathways that encourage nonmembers to become more actively involved in IDEA and explore membership.

• Track engagement trends, participation, and conversion opportunities to help assess the effectiveness of community-building initiatives.

Program & Event Support

• Collaborate with IDEA staff on the planning and execution of in-person and virtual events.

• Support the integration of conference and webinar content into the Learning Center.

• Identify ways to extend engagement beyond individual events and encourage ongoing participation in IDEA's community.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

• 3-5 years of experience in a professional association, trade association, membership organization, or similar community-focused environment.

• Demonstrated experience in member engagement, relationship management, community building, or audience development.

• Experience managing or supporting an LMS, online learning platform, digital content library, or comparable technology.

• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to develop positive relationships with members, volunteers, colleagues, and external partners.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Comfort working with CRM systems, digital engagement platforms, and reporting tools.

• A proactive, service-oriented approach combined with an interest in identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with association management systems, membership databases, and online community platforms, including Re:Members (formerly Impexium), Higher Logic, HubSpot, or comparable systems.

• Experience with LMS administration, educational content development, continuing education programs, or professional training. IDEA currently uses the Cadmium platform, although prior experience with Cadmium is not required

• Familiarity with membership recruitment, retention, onboarding, and engagement strategies.

• Experience with digital marketing, email campaigns, and audience segmentation.

• Familiarity with event and webinar platforms such as Zoom and Cadmium.

• Experience using analytics and AI tools to improve engagement, content organization, and operational efficiency.

• Interest in energy, sustainability, infrastructure, or related industries.

Key Competencies

• Relationship Building & Member Service

• Community Engagement & Audience Growth

• Learning Platform Management

• Strategic Thinking & Initiative

• Strong Communication & Collaboration

• Data-Informed Decision Making

• Project Management & Follow-Through