Head of Membership

Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Based in the heart of Covent Garden, Society of London Theatre (SOLT) & UK Theatre are the membership bodies for the theatre sector, representing theatre producers, managers, owners and operators. We have a shared staff team working together to deliver our joint vision and mission for our two organisations. Our vision for the world we want to see is a dynamic, sustainable and world-class theatre sector. Our mission, what we do as an organisation, is to champion theatre and support our members to thrive.

In order to deliver on our vision and mission, we have three joint priority areas for both organisations. These bring together our membership services, advocacy campaigns, audience initiatives and major events and awards. Our three joint priority areas are:

• Membership: Developing a growing, engaged and united membership
• Audiences: Increasing engagement with theatre
• Advocacy: Create the conditions for theatres to thrive

About the role

The Head of Membership is responsible for the leadership, development and delivery of SOLT & UK Theatre’s membership offer, ensuring members are engaged, supported and able to thrive. Working closely with the Director of Membership & External Affairs, the role leads the organisation’s member engagement, services and programme activity, translating member insight and organisational priorities into high-quality, joined-up experiences.

The postholder plays a critical role in connecting membership, advocacy and operational delivery, ensuring member needs are understood, addressed and reflected across the organisation’s work while building strong relationships with members, stakeholders and partners across the UK theatre sector.

This role sits within the Membership and External Affairs team, whose focus is to ensure we have a growing, engaged and united membership, including a skilled, diverse and productive workforce for now and the future. Our team plays a key role in helping to retain and recruit members and develop high-quality member benefits and services.

We actively engage with members regularly and build relationships to nurture member insights and activities. Reporting to your line manager: Director of Membership & External Affairs. Direct Line Report: Member Engagement Manager, Programme Manager and the Risk & Sustainability Manager.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Development and delivery of a high-quality and strategic member programme – i.e. forums, training, other events, resources and activities that support members to thrive – ensuring key themes and conversations continue and evolve throughout the year 
• Curate the annual Theatre Conference content, ensuring a diversity of relevant and engaging speakers and sessions that tie into our wider member programme.  
• Lead sales strategy for the conference and other paid-for events to ensure the opportunity reaches a wide audience.  
• Coordinate across the org to deliver a cohesive member experience, including working with Events, Ticket/Commercial and Advocacy teams to set standards for member engagement and ensure a seamless experience for members  
• Development of membership structures and strategies that evolve and adapt to the modern theatre and performing arts sector  
• Oversight of member onboarding and offboarding, including leading the annual membership review process  
• Deep understanding of SOLT & UK Theatre members and their intersectionality – actively engaging with members on a regular basis, including travel to venues around the country  
• Lead development of a membership engagement plan which ensures we understand and are seen as a value to the full breadth of SOLT & UK Theatre’s collective membership, including how we engage with existing collections of theatre organisations (e.g. Independent Theatre Council, Mid-scales, etc.)  
• Manage and develop collaborative relationships with aligned organisations, identifying ways to work in partnership to the benefit of our members, including but not limited to the Theatre Green Book, the Independent Theatre Council, FST, Crue Cymru, Theatre NI, Association of British Orchestras and others.  
• Manage the member complaints process and handle sensitive membership matters with discretion as required.  
• Work closely with the Director of Membership & External Affairs and the Advocacy team to identify key issues for members, now and in the future, including collaborating on member surveys to gain insights into member challenges, opportunities and opinions.  
• Coordinate responses to new and emerging issues, ensuring the organisation remains on the front foot, including providing rapid responses to sudden or unexpected changes or events.  
• Manage and develop collaborative relationships across the organisation to help shape, align, and deliver the proactive storytelling of the industry and its members. 
• Oversight of delivery of services, working closely with colleagues to ensure high quality and consistent delivery of ER, HR and Risk and Sustainability services, and exploring the potential for AI to improve efficiency and breadth of services.  
• Lead responsibility for our CRM system, how it is used and how it is developed to ensure we are managing members and maximising the value of our data.  
• Provide oversight of governance and the management of the membership budget to ensure the effective and timely collection of membership fees. 
• Provide strategic oversight of the preparation of relevant Board and committee papers, and lead presentations to the Board and senior forums as required. 
• Lead and oversee the governance, effectiveness, and impact of membership subcommittees, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and member priorities. 
• Build and sustain strong, influential relationships with key stakeholders, including Board members and senior leaders, acting as a trusted adviser on membership matters. 
• Responsibility for ensuring relevant and timely information is provided to members, including curating content for the monthly member newsletter, identifying monthly key messages for members, and developing and delivering a content plan for the SOLT & UK Theatre websites.  
• Represent SOLT & UK Theatre at our own events and external events as needed, which may include some evenings and weekends (for example, the UK Theatre Awards, West End LIVE, press nights across the UK). 
• Any other duties as required within the scope of the role.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Technical Knowledge & Skills Required:

• Proven experience in coordinating complex projects, with responsibility for developing and delivering clear workplans, timelines and outputs. 
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve and use initiative, identifying practical solutions and making sound decisions using available resources. 
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a team, contributing positively to shared goals while managing individual responsibilities. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, well-structured reports, briefings and papers for senior audiences. 
• A clear understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion, with the ability to apply inclusive practices in day-to-day work. 
• A strong interest in, and broad understanding of, the theatre industry and wider creative sector, including the challenges and opportunities it faces.

Desirable:

• An understanding of current thinking around skills, workforce development and talent pipelines, particularly within the creative or cultural sectors. 
• Knowledge of best practice in people and organisational culture, including equity, diversity and inclusion, wellbeing and inclusive leadership. 
• Experience of working within a membership organisation or a similar environment, or experience of engaging with such organisations as a member or stakeholder.

Impact:

• As part of the Senior Management Team, you are accountable for the strategy and overall management of a significant function of the organisation.  
• Lead the function within SOLT/ UKT to the highest possible standards. You will determine how to allocate and deploy resources within your function to achieve the organisation's strategic and business delivery, and evaluate your function’s performance continuously. 
• Determine and execute what activities will be delivered to meet KPIs and organisational goals.
• Lead cross-organisational and cross-sector projects and plans to a high standard and on time.

Communication:

• Excellent communicator, able to manage relationships with stakeholders and members within your functional expertise to achieve positive outcomes.

Innovation:

• Set direction and champion innovation within your function. 
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement within your function and continuously seek best practices from our sector and others to ensure that your function delivers impact and innovation.  
• Make business decisions and problem solve within your function, and contribute to strategic and business decisions at both an organisational and sector level.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual leave is 25 days, rising to 27 days after five years.
• Non-contractual time off: your Birthday off or a day off within two weeks of your birthday. Company Closure Day is normally on a day next to a Christmas bank holiday.
• Digital Wellbeing. A complete solution across Physical &
• Mental Health, Finance and Legal support. Advice from qualified professionals tailored to the individual.
• My Strength: One-to-one support with a qualified Wellbeing guide, a person there to help and support on your wellbeing journey. Support built around the individual.
• Toothfairy, Smart dental App, Your personal dentist.
• Paid annual eye test
• Paid annual flu vaccine
• Finances & protection
• Contributory pension scheme
• Employer Contribution: 5% of gross pay
• Employee Contribution: Minimum 3% of gross pay
• Personal circumstances
• Death-in-Service Insurance Cover – 3 x annual salary.
• Personal development
• We invest and believe in continuous professional development and training opportunities for all.
• Where appropriate, we suggest and arrange professional mentors to offer additional external guidance.
• Work travel: Many of our staff walk, use public transport or cycle to work or a combination of the above.
• Interest-free Travel Season Ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• All staff can buy Theatre Tokens with a 10% discount.
• Local retail discounts through Heart of London Club and Love Covent Garden.
• 20% off at Trevor Sorbie hair salon in Covent Garden.

Conditions of employment

• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Please note that SOLT & UK Theatre is unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely
• Some evening work and weekend work may be required.

How to apply

• To apply for this role, please provide the following documents:
  • An up-to-date CV.
  • A supporting statement (maximum two pages) that outlines your interest in this particular organisation and role, and your fit against the information provided on this microsite.
  • A completed diversity monitoring form on the application.
  • To apply for this role, please submit your CV and supporting statement by 11:59 pm Sunday, 29th March 2026.
• If you want to know more about the role or selection process, please contact Paddy Pamment on [email protected]

Interviews

• Green Park Interviews w/c 13th & w/c 20th April 2026
• Informal Conversations & Psychometric Assessments w/c 4th May 2026
• Final Panel Interviews w/c 11th May 2026

Policies

SOLT/UK Theatre are equal opportunity employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business, and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

Please submit your application with your personal email address to ensure you receive an acknowledgement of receipt. Please note that, to ensure confidentiality, applications submitted under a work email address will not receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

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