Director of Membership and Engagement

Role: Director of Membership & Engagement

Salary: £59,172-£68,567 (pay award due 1 August 2025)

Closing date: Wednesday 14th May at 12:00 noon

Candidate Pack:

MCS Group is delighted to be working in partnership with Ulster University Student's Union to recruit a Director of Membership & Engagement to join the senior management team, and lead on and continually improve the Ulster University student experience and its engagement with the Union by providing strategic direction and leadership across the membership and communication remit.

The Director of Membership & Engagement will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the Students' Union, ensuring strong leadership and fostering a positive student experience. You will act as a trusted advisor to the CEO, fellow Directors, Student Officers and Trustees, leading initiatives in Student Representation, Policy, Campaigns, Brand, and Communications. This role also includes overseeing a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team, driving student engagement, and ensuring the effective execution of cross-departmental strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Performance: Lead the strategic development of the organisation, ensuring robust monitoring of priorities, budgets, and performance indicators to maximise impact for the student membership.
• Advisory Role: Provide expert advice to the CEO, fellow Directors, Student Officers and Trustees on all matters related to student representation, policy, and advocacy.
• Team Leadership & Development: Inspire and lead a diverse Directorate team, fostering collaboration and ensuring alignment with the organisation's strategic objectives.
• Member Engagement: Build a diverse and engaged student membership, with a strong representative infrastructure to deliver an optimal member experience.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Drive collaboration across departments to deliver effective campaigns, projects, and engagement strategies, ensuring progress updates and milestone achievements.
• Advocacy & Campaign Strategies: Develop and lead advocacy initiatives that influence University policies and external stakeholders, ensuring a student-focused approach and building partnerships at all levels.
• Digital Engagement: Oversee digital engagement strategies, enhancing feedback channels and communication tools to shape future advocacy efforts and improve the student experience.
• Member Benefits & Engagement: Oversee the development of student benefits and a calendar of face-to-face engagement, gathering feedback to ensure effective representation.
• Training & Support: Manage the induction and ongoing support for elected officers and student representatives, enabling them to succeed in their roles.
• Stakeholder Relationships: Cultivate strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including University leaders, politicians, and the media, to expand the organisation's influence.
• Financial Oversight & Risk Management: Collaborate with the other managers to monitor departmental budget performance, manage risks, and ensure effective financial management and governance.
• Cultural Leadership: Act as a role model within the Senior Management Team, setting a high standard of leadership and promoting the organisation's values and culture.
• Additional Leadership Support: Provide leadership coverage as needed, supporting the CEO and other Directors when required.

Person Specification:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Marketing, Politics, Comms, PR or Business Studies). (A) AND 2 Year's demonstrable experience gained within a Digital Marketing, Membership based or a general Engagement focused role. (A)

OR

• 5 Years work experience gained within a Digital Marketing, Membership based or a general Engagement focused role. (A)

Engagement relates to a candidate being able to demonstrate projects and workstreams which evidence either (1) representing large volumes of people/groups to external stakeholders; (2) offering support and guidance through campaigns and service provision to a sizeable body of individuals; or (3) connecting significant groups of people using events, activities, or the digital landscape to ensure traction.

Knowledge / Experience

• At least 2 years of leadership experience, demonstrating successful people management and development of high-performing teams. (A/I)
• Expertise in multi-channel engagement strategies and leading organisations in their implementation. (A/I)
• Proven track record of building and managing strategic stakeholder relationships and driving change. (I)
• Strong understanding of digital strategy and B2C trends and their impact on engagement. (I)
• Experience measuring outcomes and aligning results with organisational mission and goals. (A/I)
• Demonstrable experience of developing and executing high impact digital marketing campaigns that align with brand strategy, engaging and influencing target audiences effectively. (A/I)

Leadership is defined by evidence of managing at least 3 staff members and pursuing strategic organisational priorities on an annual basis.

Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrable evidence of translating strategy into action, communicate effectively, and influence change. (I)
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and consultative skills for effective collaboration with stakeholders. (I)
• Proven experience managing and overseeing an organisation's digital presence and brand identity strategically. (I)
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to deliver objectives while identifying collaboration opportunities. (A/I)
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and manage budgets. (A/I)

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrable experience of working in a member-led organisation or the charitable sector. (A)

Note:

(A) Will be tested via application and short-listing.

(I) Will be tested at interview.

(A/I) Will initially be tested by application and subsequently at interview.

Salary and Benefits

• UUSU Single Pay Spine Grade 9, Points 45-50 £59,172 - £68,567 (pay award due 1 August 2025)
• Hybrid working available 2 days working from home and 3 days on campus.
• Ulster University has campuses in Belfast, Coleraine and Derry and any of these campuses can be the base campus.
• 25 days annual leave increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service.
• 15 additional days, that include statutory holidays and University closure days.
• Employer matched pension scheme.
• Death in Service benefit.

To view the Candidate Pack for the Director of Membership and Engagement role please follow the link

For any further questions or queries please email .

Applications close on Wednesday 14 th May at 12pm.