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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead membership engagement, recruitment, and retention strategies for a dynamic trade association.
- Company: Join a leading trade association in Southwark, dedicated to supporting its members across various sectors.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 26 days annual leave, flexible working, and excellent company perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing member experiences and driving growth in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in membership services, strategic planning, and strong communication skills at executive levels.
- Other info: This role involves travel across England and Wales, offering a hybrid working model.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 ÂŁ per year.
Job Description
Head of Membership
National Membership Organisation
Hybrid, Hertfordshire | £68,000 – £72,000 dependent upon experience
A prominent national membership body is seeking an outstanding Head of Membership to lead its shift towards a truly member‑first, insight‑driven and digitally enabled future.
This is a strategic leadership role at the heart of organisational transformation – ideal for someone who combines commercial focus with empathy, data literacy and a deep understanding of what great member experience looks like.
The Role
You will:
- Lead the evolution of the membership strategy, ensuring every decision starts with member need.
- Build a modern insight and data capability that drives segmentation, personalisation and service improvement.
- Redesign member journeys and value propositions to reflect different business lifecycles and regional contexts.
- Strengthen national‑to‑local engagement, community building and structured member listening.
- Champion digital transformation, introducing AI and automation to enhance services and reduce manual workload.
- Drive growth, retention and engagement through clear KPIs, account management and continuous improvement.
- Lead and develop a high‑performing team, fostering a collaborative, member‑centred culture.
About You
You bring senior experience in membership, customer experience or engagement roles, ideally within an association or professional body. You’re skilled at turning insight into strategy, improving service models and leading transformation across people, processes and technology. You’re confident with CRM systems (ideally Salesforce), data, and modern digital tools. Above all, you’re collaborative, pragmatic and passionate about delivering meaningful value for members.
Experience supporting SMEs, leading consultancy-style services or working within healthcare or regulated sectors would be an advantage.
Why This Role Matters
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a respected national organisation and ensure members feel heard, supported and represented. If you’re a strategic, forward‑thinking leader with a strong member‑first ethos, this role offers the scope to make a significant impact.
Apply today!
Due to the volume of applications, we are only able to contact successful applicants. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within 10 working days please deem your application as unsuccessful on this occasion.
Membership Bespoke is acting as a recruitment business in relation to this role. Membership Bespoke positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
Membership Bespoke is the most experienced membership-focused recruitment firm in the UK, with 10+ years of experience delivering tailored permanent, temporary, interim, and Executive Search recruitment solutions to Trade Associations, Regulatory Bodies, Political Parties, and Professional Bodies.
Contact Detail:
Membership Bespoke Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Membership
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the trade association sector. Attend industry events, webinars, and conferences to meet potential colleagues and members. Building relationships can give you insights into the role and help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and challenges in membership organisations. Understanding the current landscape will allow you to speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to membership growth and engagement.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your previous successes in membership engagement and retention. Be ready to share specific examples of strategies you've implemented and the results achieved, as this will demonstrate your capability for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the organisation thoroughly. Understand their mission, values, and current membership offerings. Tailoring your approach to align with their goals will show your genuine interest and commitment to the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Membership
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in membership engagement, recruitment, and retention. Use specific examples from previous roles that demonstrate your ability to grow membership and improve services.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that clearly outlines your passion for the role and the organisation. Mention how your skills align with their needs, particularly in developing strategies for member engagement and retention.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, emphasise any experience you have working with similar organisations, such as trade associations or not-for-profits. Discuss your familiarity with CRM databases and strategic planning.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since the role requires excellent interpersonal skills, provide examples of how you've successfully communicated with senior-level stakeholders. This could include instances where you've influenced decisions or built strong relationships.
How to prepare for a job interview at Membership Bespoke
✨Showcase Your Membership Experience
Make sure to highlight your previous experience in membership engagement, recruitment, and retention. Be prepared to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in similar organisations and the results achieved.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
The role requires strong strategic planning skills. Prepare examples of how you've developed and executed successful membership growth strategies in the past, focusing on measurable outcomes.
✨Build Rapport with Interviewers
Since this position involves working closely with members at a senior level, practice building rapport during the interview. Use your interpersonal skills to connect with the interviewers and demonstrate your ability to engage effectively.
✨Prepare for Questions on CRM and IT Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience with CRM databases and any relevant IT skills. Consider how these tools have helped you improve membership processes and member experiences in your previous roles.
