About National Speech & Debate Association

The Organization

The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) is the preeminent organization in the United States supporting speech and debate programs in K-12 education. We are guided by the belief that civil dialogue based on evidence-informed argumentation, active listening, and effective communication is critical to a healthy and prosperous society. This is true now more than ever. Speech and debate also has tremendous academic benefits. Multiple studies and thousands of alumni share that participation helped them improve grades and test scores and matriculate to college at higher levels. 

Founded as a speech and debate honor society to provide national recognition for local participation, the NSDA now provides programs and services to connect, support, and inspire young people to reach their potential through speech and debate. The NSDA currently supports more than 100,000 students at over 4,000 schools by providing competitive standards and topics and essential training materials for teachers, students, and judges. These programs and services throughout the year support student paths towards National Tournament participation at the conclusion of the season. 

We are excited to work towards our goal of a speech and debate program in every middle and high school in the country. To that end, we have launched the National Speech and Debate Initiative, our bold vision to double the number of students and schools participating in speech and debate across the country.

The Opportunity

The Membership Coordinator serves as a primary point of contact for current and prospective members of the organization, responding thoroughly to questions and concerns with professional courtesy and, when necessary, directing calls to other departments. The Coordinator plays a key role in student resources, school retention, and member onboarding.  

The Membership Coordinator maintains an extensive knowledge of all aspects of Association membership in order to actively support new and existing members as they develop, run, and participate in programs based on the guidance and regulations established by the Association. The Coordinator will work conscientiously to model and foster an inclusive speech and debate experience for all.

The Membership Coordinator reports to the Senior Director of Membership.

Key Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position.  These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Answers and/or appropriately triages phone calls and emails to provide customer service for student and coach members and Tabroom.com users, striving toward established goals for response time and member satisfaction.
• Oversees the NSDA Student Leadership Council, including student onboarding, regular meetings, goal setting, project management, member selection, and offboarding.  
• Coordinates the development of instructional speech and debate resources for students by managing external contractors and/or reviewing material.  
• Understands and plays a role in new member welcome and orientation, including the creation of new schools, and coach offboarding.
• Supports school retention and recruitment efforts via outreach to coaches and administrators. 

• Attends the National Tournament in June to support tournament customer service and other duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements

• Two or more years of experience in a progressively responsible customer service and/or program management role.
• Experience with speech and debate activities as a student or coach. 
• Demonstrates a professional and courteous demeanor.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets, as well as Microsoft Word 2008 or higher for Mac: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
• Ability to learn and become proficient in numerous technological applications in frequent use by Association staff, including but not limited to Asana for project management, ZenDesk and Dialpad for customer support, Google documents (Drive), Slack, and custom applications of the organization. 
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Preferred Requirements

• Associate's degree or higher.
• Practical experience with the National Speech & Debate Association (National Forensic League).
• Experience providing programming and customer service for multiple communities, including communities of color.

Pay and Benefits

• $24.00 - $32.00 hourly, commensurate with experience
• Competitive compensation and benefits package including high-quality health and dental insurance, 20 days of paid time off, and access to an employer-matched retirement plan. This is a full-time non-exempt position.