Director of Membership & Communities

Role Purpose

The Director of Membership & Communities will be responsible for leading the three core functions of membership, communities and events to drive growth, increase engagement and improve value for our members and stakeholders. You will be a part of the Senior leadership team and play a fundamental role in delivering initiatives to support our strategic direction, working closely with SLT, Board, Members, Stakeholders and colleagues.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Chief Executive and Leadership Team

• Board and Committees

• Head Office departments

• Volunteers, Branches, and Member Networks

External

• Individual and Corporate members

• Prospects and partners

• Professional bodies and industry stakeholders

• Accredited Providers

• International governments and organisations

Key Responsibilities

A. Strategy & Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for Membership, Communities, and Events to drive growth, value, and member engagement.

• Actively contribute to the SLT, fostering a high-performing, inclusive culture.

• Shape and deliver strategies that enhance CILT(UK)’s reputation and support its chartered mission.

• Collaborate across departments to ensure integrated delivery of organisational strategy.

• Influence the development and execution of the CILT(UK) Strategic Plan.

B. Income, Budgets & Commercial Growth

• Set and deliver income targets working with the CEO and COO.

• Develop compelling product and membership propositions aligned to business needs.

• Strengthen the value and adoption of Chartership pathways.

• Create a coherent end-to-end member journey that drives acquisition, retention, and satisfaction.

• Expand into new sectors to raise brand awareness and generate new revenue streams.

• Manage departmental budgets and take corrective action where required.

C. General Leadership & Governance

• Represent CILT(UK) at events, conferences, and key stakeholder meetings.

• Provide accurate, timely reporting to the SLT, Board, and Committees.

• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams aligned to organisational values.

• Ensure teams have the information, tools, and guidance needed to meet goals.

• Promote the effective use of CRM systems to inform decision-making and track performance.

D. Communities & Events

• Develop business plans that position CILT(UK) communities and events as thought-leaders aligned with organisational strategy.

• Oversee financial performance and reporting for both departments.

• Lead the Communities Team to deliver meaningful engagement, CPD, and networking opportunities.

• Lead the Events Team to deliver impactful, commercially successful sector events.

Key Performance Indicators

• Contribution to delivery of organisational strategy

• Achievement of income and growth targets

• Effective budget management

• Increased uptake of Chartership and recognised assessments

• Expansion into new markets/sectors

• Strong stakeholder reputation and influence

• Effective use of CRM for pipeline and performance management

• Team performance, goal achievement, and completed appraisals.

• Success of community and event programmes

Person Specification

1. Qualifications

   • Essential:

     • Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience

2. Experience

   • Essential:

     • Senior leadership experience in membership, business development, or a professional body

     • Proven track record of delivering commercial growth and developing strategic plans.

     • Experience presenting to or working with Boards.

     • Demonstrable success in opening new markets or sectors.

     • Evidence of using customer insights to drive improvement

   • Desirable:

     • Experience within a chartered body or charity.

     • Experience working effectively with volunteer networks.

     • International business development or sales leadership, especially in start-up or growth environments

3. Knowledge

   • Essential:

     • Strong commercial, financial, and pricing acumen

     • Understanding of sales proposition development

     • Knowledge of stakeholder needs across relevant sectors

     • Knowledge of market trends, competitors, and best practices

     • Proficient in CRM usage and digital systems

   • Desirable

     • Understanding of the role of professional standards and accreditation

     • Knowledge of Salesforce

4. Skills

   • Excellent written and verbal communication

   • Confident presenter and public speaker across varied audiences

   • Ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders.

   • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make evidence-based recommendations.

   • Ability to produce compelling business cases and proposals.

5. Behaviours & Competencies

   • Adaptability and decisive leadership

   • Analytical thinker

   • Strong communicator

   • Creative and innovative

   • Customer-focused mindset

   • Coaching and people development

   • Influential and persuasive

   • Resilient leadership style

   • Results-driven approach

Closing Date: Wednesday 22 April 2026