KPBS Membership Acquisition Manager

San Diego State University Research Foundation


KPBS Membership Acquisition Manager

US-CA-San Diego

Job ID: 2026-20658
# of Openings: 1
Category: Radio/TV/Multimedia
KPBS

Overview

The salary range for this position is $6,000 - $8,000 per month ($72,000 - $96,000 per year) depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable.

This position is scheduled to close on 8/10/2026 at 4:00pm (PST).

Flexibility to work hours, including days, nights, weekends and holidays is a must, when required.

 

Under the general direction of the Director of Membership, the Membership Acquisition Manager leads KPBS membership acquisition efforts designed to grow new member revenue and audience conversion across multiple channels. The Manager is responsible for the planning, development, and execution of the organization’s membership acquisition strategy.

 

This position is responsible for developing annual and campaign-specific acquisition strategies, leading cross-functional planning discussions, managing external acquisition vendors, supervising staff, and using data to inform decision making to achieve acquisition goals. The position collaborates with departments across the organization to drive sustainable member growth.

The Membership Acquisition Manager directly supervises fundraising producer, freelance talent, and student assistants,  as well as manages vendor relationships and performance.

 

Perks you'll enjoy as a member of #teamKPBS

• Working on a college campus & in public media: Access to campus facilities and staff perks, weekly farmer's market, tons of eateries, community events, entertainment, etc.

• Hybrid schedule/ remote work flexibility options (varies by position)
• 10 vacation days, 1 personal day & 13 holidays off (4+ days off over winter break)
• Enjoy a 'beautiful day in the neighborhood' with local employee discounts
• Opportunity drawings to attend SDSU basketball games, local concerts and events
• Discounts on local attractions (theme parks, entertainment, restaurants, memberships)
• Free wellness classes & programs
• Staff pop-up events
• Full benefits packages that are unmatched (medical, dental, vision, life)
• Sick leave accruals and paid leave options
• On-site childcare at a discounted rate (based on availability)
• Opportunities for continued learning and professional development
• Flexible spending account(s)
• Employee assistance program
• Matching and voluntary retirement savings plan

Responsibilities

The following information is intended to be representative of the work performed by incumbents in this position and is not all-inclusive.  The omission of a specific duty or responsibility will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of position responsibilities. Job descriptions may be changed at any time based on the needs of the department.

 

Strategic Member Acquisition (50%)

• Lead the development and execution of KPBS’s annual membership acquisition strategy focused on new member growth, revenue generation, and donor pipeline development.
• Lead cross-functional planning meetings to develop integrated acquisition campaigns across television, radio, digital, direct response, canvassing, and emerging channels.
• Establish campaign goals, budgets, KPIs, and benchmarks; monitor results and adjust tactics to improve ROI and conversion rates.
• In partnership with the department’s Business Analyst, analyze acquisition funnel performance, donor behavior, audience trends, and campaign outcomes to inform future strategy and demonstrate continuous improvement. 
• Identify and test new acquisition opportunities, channels, offers, messaging strategies, and audience segments.
• Partner with Marketing and Communications to promote campaigns across owned and paid channels.
• Prepare regular performance reports, recommendations, and strategic updates for leadership.
• Stay informed on industry trends and best practices in public media fundraising and membership growth.
• Participate in CRM, technology, and process improvement initiatives supporting donor acquisition and lifecycle management.

 

Leadership & Supervision (25%)

• Directly supervise assigned staff, contractors, students, and temporary employees supporting acquisition programs.
• Set priorities, assign work, monitor progress, and ensure accountability for campaign deliverables and timelines.
• Coach, develop, and evaluate team performance while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented culture.
• Foster an environment of belonging where different identities and perspectives are respected 
• Serve as a  member of the KPBS Leadership Team and engage with departments throughout the organization
• Identify and address conflicts of interest and potential concerns promptly
• Ensure proper administrative processes including scheduling and required personnel paperwork.
• Assist with budget monitoring, invoice approvals, and financial forecasting related to acquisition programs.
  
  

Vendor Management (20%)

• Manage relationships with external acquisition vendors, including canvassing, fulfillment, production, and other service providers.
• Negotiate scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, and performance expectations in partnership with leadership.
• Hold vendors accountable to KPIs, quality standards, donor experience expectations, and budget parameters.
• Review vendor reporting and recommend optimizations to improve results and efficiency.
  
  

Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned (5%)

• Represent KPBS internally and externally on membership acquisition initiatives as assigned.
• Attend and represent KPBS at community and station events, with flexibility to attend and/or host events that during evenings and weekends, as needed

Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience leading successful customer/member acquisition, fundraising growth, subscription growth, or direct response marketing programs.
• Advanced knowledge of strategic planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated experience developing campaign goals, budgets, KPIs, and performance reporting.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing external vendors.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively manage projects, prioritize time and stay organized.
• Ability to interpret data and make informed business decisions.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and CRM/reporting systems.
• Ability to work evenings/weekends during priority campaign periods as needed.

Minimum Experience

• Three years of progressively responsible and related professional experience.
  
  

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field or additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.
  

 

Preferred Qualifications and Special Skills

• Five years of progressively responsible experience in membership acquisition, fundraising, marketing, revenue generation, or business development.
• Three years of management experience in a supervisory or team leadership role.
• Experience leading multi-channel campaigns.
• Experience in nonprofit, media, subscription, higher education, or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience with donor journey mapping, conversion funnels, and lifecycle marketing strategy preferred.
• Knowledge of public media organizations including PBS, NPR, APT, and related systems.
• Experience with broadcast fundraising environments.
• Familiarity with FCC fundraising and underwriting guidelines.
• Experience with live or recorded production workflows, editing environments, traffic systems, or media asset systems.
• Experience working with and analyzing data to support informed decision-making

 

Additional Applicant Information:

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire. 
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check). 
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices. 
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.  

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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