Chief Membership Officer

Institution of Civil Engineers

About the Organisation

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is a global membership organisation with over 200 years of history and 97,000 members in more than 160 countries. We are dedicated to improving lives by ensuring the world has the infrastructure it needs to thrive. Our members include engineers, technicians, and academics who are at the forefront of designing, constructing, and maintaining the infrastructure that forms the backbone of modern society.

About the role

This senior-level position is a key part of the Director General’s executive board and oversees a diverse team of 138 professionals. The Chief Membership Officer will inspire people to consider civil and infrastructure engineering, recruit members, and help them qualify and maintain their engagement throughout their careers. This Chief Membership Officer leads ICE’s activities to inspire people to consider civil and infrastructure engineering, recruit members, and help them to qualify and maintain their engagement throughout their career.

 Above all, the CMO will help maintain and develop a modern, vibrant, and engaged membership organisation, integrating the needs of multiple stakeholders of all ages and experience and harnessing the power and enthusiasm of our members. Significant intellectual capability and agility are required to ensure all members’ needs and wishes are met.  Growing our membership will play a significant part in the role and is as important as driving the retention and engagement of our existing members. 

Responsibilities

Customers and Stakeholders:

• Delivering engagement, inspiration, recruitment, and qualification strategies 
• Ensure the ICE Group has a member / customer-focused perspective in the strategy and delivery of products and services, with clear measures to support improvement
• Represent the Membership division in internal and external stakeholder groups to support business results and secure buy-in.
• Create and agree on targets with each business unit to deliver growth in business plans.
• Create and maintain relationships with key members/customers to support business development opportunities.
• Create and maintain relationships with external stakeholders to enhance the membership offer.
• Provide intellectual and practical support to the VP and Trustee Chairs to enable the
• Membership, International and UK Regional Affairs Committees to perform their roles of providing strategic direction on matters about the membership of the Institution.

Operational:

• Strategic engagement with ICE directors, VPs, the Trustee board, and the Council to develop and implement ICE's long-term plans.
• Establish, agree, and deliver strategic plans that will deliver sustainable growth and retention of members in line with business plans, both nationally and internationally.
• Lead the creation of partnerships with other organisations about the membership's strategic plans.
• Create a compelling membership offering to attract and retain members both in the UK and overseas, and continue to build a broad and diverse membership.
• Establish objectives to encourage innovation within all business units to drive growth and deliver improved member/customer satisfaction.
• Accountability to monitor and report on the delivery of membership services through KPIs.
• Ensure full compliance with the Engineering Council and Society for the Environment licensing requirements to maintain the ability to register members with both organisations.
• Business lead for the ICE’s new CRM system, due to be implemented in 2025.   Responsible for leading the implementation and training for divisional and other colleagues, and developing proposals for future enhancements. 
• Perform any other reasonable duties that may be requested to ensure the success of the ICE Group.

People:

• Inspire, develop, and lead the Divisional staff to deliver the Business Plan.
• Identify, encourage, and oversee staff training and development needs.
• Organise divisional resources to ensure that functions are delivered effectively.
• Ensure staff can carry out their respective tasks with coaching, training,  experience, and the required resources.
• Foster an open, trusting, and caring working culture across the organization.
• Encourage a culture of personal development and self-actualisation for your staff and members.
• Develop conditions in which staff are encouraged to be innovative and creative, offering ideas and being recognised for their achievements.
• Ensure performance review processes are carried out as required.
• Develop and maintain internal relationships as required to enable policy development and dissemination and production of marketing and communication materials.
• Create and maintain a professional network with key individuals in industry, professional bodies, academia & government

Financial:

• Ensure budgets (income and expenditure) are set and managed to enable the effective and efficient operation of the Membership Division and business plans.
• Contribute to strategic financial planning for the ICE Group.

Skills, Competencies, & Experience

Experience:

• Substantial experience at a leadership level in a comparable sized organization is essential.  Experience to include management of complex operations, people management and policy and process development and improvement.
• Significant leadership experience, including development and execution of strategy, in a complex organisation, e.g. membership body or a customer-oriented organisation, is essential
• Significant experience in education, learning, and professional Development is highly advantageous
• Significant experience of working in an international and 
• Matrix style organisation is highly advantageous

Technical Skills:

• Substantial leadership and management experience, ability to inspire and motivate large, diverse, and dispersed teams, and foster a positive working culture.
• Substantial experience in stakeholder engagement and management. Ability to bring diverse groups and opinions together and forge coalitions and consensus. 
• Significant experience in change leadership and project management, and delivery of improved performance.
• Intellectual capability, data analysis, report writing, and briefing skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and colleagues.
• Good financial planning and budget management skills

Behavioural Competencies:

• Excellent leadership and change management skills 
• Confidence and presence with an articulate and engaging delivery
• Strong focus on planning and execution, and attention to detail
• Enquiring mind with an interest in evidence-based decision making 
• Strong team player with a naturally collaborative style
• Resilient under pressure and able to demonstrate a flexible approach to dealing with issues

Required Qualifications

• Degree degree-level qualification is essential, Professional engineering qualification is desirable

Working locations

• Home-Based

How to apply

• To apply, please send an email to [email protected] with a CV and a cover letter by Sunday, 25th May 2025 at 23:45 (BST)
• For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Tom Ewen on [email protected]

Policies

• In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and/or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember not to mention anyone's information or details (referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.

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