Marketing and Communications Manager

Association Of British Orchestras

About the Organisation

Association of British Orchestras (ABO) is the national body representing the collective interest of professional orchestras, youth ensembles, and the wider classical music industry throughout the UK. Our mission is to enable and support an innovative, collaborative, and sustainable orchestral sector by providing advice, support, intelligence, and information to the people who make British orchestras a global success.

About the role

The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) is looking to appoint a Marketing & Communications Manager to join its small and busy team. This new role plays a crucial part in increasing the visibility of the ABO’s work, delivering clear and accessible communications, and driving engagement across the organisation’s campaigns and channels.

The role will ensure that members are informed, engaged, and mobilised, and that the ABO’s policy, advocacy, and sector-facing work is communicated clearly and consistently. It supports both internal member communications and external stakeholder engagement, including campaigns and public-facing messaging. The role also leads the promotion of member services, events, and projects, and supports partnerships and sponsorship generation for the ABO’s Annual Conference.

We are looking for an experienced marketing and communications professional with strong digital skills and a strategic approach to audience engagement. You will be an excellent writer and editor, confident in adapting tone and content for different audiences, and comfortable managing email communications, social media, and digital platforms. You will also be confident using CRM or database systems, with a strong understanding of data protection and best practice in handling member data.

Ideally, you will have experience working in the arts, cultural, charity, or membership sectors, and an interest in the UK orchestral or wider cultural landscape. Experience supporting advocacy, policy communications, or campaigns is desirable, but just as important is your ability to think clearly, prioritise effectively, and work collaboratively within a small team.

The Marketing & Communications Manager is responsible for delivering clear, effective, and strategic communications for the Association of British Orchestras. The role ensures that members are informed, engaged, and mobilised, and that the organisation’s policy, advocacy, and sector-facing work is communicated clearly and consistently. It supports both internal member communications and external stakeholder engagement, including campaigns and public-facing messaging.

Responsibilities

Member Communications:

• Overall responsibility for the regular communications with members across email, newsletter, and digital channels, collating clear and engaging updates on sector news, policy developments, and ABO activity
• Produce the ABO News, ABO Updates (monthly), and bulletins for members, with input from the ABO Team in line with their areas of expertise
• Work with the Membership & Operations Manager to ensure members are well-informed about services, benefits, and opportunities
• Overall responsibility for managing the info@ mailbox, working closely with the
• Membership & Operations Manager, and fielding queries to colleagues as appropriate

Events & Projects:

• Manage the promotion of all member events and opportunities, including the Annual Conference
• Manage the online booking process for all events, including the Annual Conference, working closely with the Membership & Operations Manager.

ABO Annual Conference:

• Secure advertising and related income from industry traders and exhibitors for the Annual Conference in line with agreed income targets
• Manage the Conference marketplace and sponsor relationships leading up to and during the event
• Manage the production of all promotional materials, resources, and the conference app
• Support the event management team as required

Public Affairs:

• Support the Head of Policy & Communications on disseminating policy updates and sector issues, assisting with stakeholder communications where required (funders, government, sector partners)
• Support the delivery of sector campaigns, ensuring members are informed and activated as appropriate
• Support the Membership & Operations Manager in coordinating member calls-to-action (consultations, surveys, advocacy actions)

Digital, CRM & Database Management:

• Maintain the organisation’s CRM/database, ensuring data accuracy and GDPR compliance, drawing on colleagues as necessary
• Segment audiences for targeted communications
• Oversee email marketing systems, ensuring alignment with membership records
• Use CRM insights to improve engagement and retention
• Produce basic reporting on engagement metrics and communications performance

Content & Channel Management:

• Manage website updates and ensure member-facing content is current and accessible, drawing on the ABO Team as required
• Manage the ABO’s social media platforms, driving engagement and increasing the visibility of the ABO’s work
• Compile and create digital visual marketing content to be shared across ABO’s social media platforms, website, and e-communications
• Monitor national and trade media, industry news, and social media channels
• Ensure tone, clarity, and consistency across all communications 

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Essential:

• Experience in communications, marketing, and membership engagement (ideally within arts, culture, and charity membership sectors)
• Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to simplify complex information
• Experience managing email marketing and digital communications
• Confident using CRM and membership database systems
• Social media management and creating social media content
• Understanding of audience segmentation and targeted communications
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a small team environment

Desirable:

• Experience in membership organisations or professional bodies
• Familiarity with public affairs, advocacy or policy communications
• Experience supporting campaigns or mobilisation activity
• Knowledge of the UK cultural or creative sector
• Experience promoting events or conferences

Working Relationships:

• Head of Policy & Communications: line manager, provides strategic direction; close
• collaboration on policy messaging, campaigns, and influencing activity
• Membership & Operations Manager: coordination on member communications,
• event delivery, CRM systems, and engagement strategies
• Chief Executive: support for organisational messaging and external stakeholder engagement

Compensation & Benefits

• Contribution of 5% of salary in accordance with Pensions Auto-Enrolment regulations.
• Probation & Notice: Six months will be a probationary period, during which time either party may terminate the contract on one week’s notice. The notice period will be three months.
• Holidays: 25 days per annum plus statutory public holidays (pro rata) and the period between Christmas and New Year when the office is normally closed.
• Season ticket loan is available, plus benefits as tenants of Somerset House.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• To apply, please email a CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for the role, with specific reference to the person specification, to Judith Webster, Chief Executive at [email protected]. Please put "Marketing & Communications Manager" in the subject line. 
• We would also ask that you complete our Equal Opportunities monitoring form to help us assess this recruitment process. The Panel will not see information on your monitoring form. If you would like to discuss the role in advance, please call Judith Webster on 07976 834676.
• If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments to the role in confidence, please email Judith Webster, Chief Executive at [email protected]
• For the full Job Description and details on how to apply, please download the Job Pack.

Interviews

• The interviews Monday 15th & Tuesday 16th June 2026

Policies

The ABO strives for an orchestral sector that is fully inclusive, representative and reflective of the communities that we serve. We believe that everyone deserves to have the same opportunities at every level in our industry. The ABO strives to be an equal opportunity employer. We will ensure that no individual receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, ethnic or national origin, religious beliefs, gender, sex, gender reassignment, marital status, sexual orientation, age or disability.

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