CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management)
Head of Engagement
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Head of Engagement
Permanent | Full-time | UK-based, Remote with regular UK travel
CIWEM is looking for a relational, commercially aware Head of Engagement to lead and develop our branch and community network, turning our 14 regional communities into a key driver of member growth, professional engagement and the visibility and impact of our members’ work.
CIWEM is a professional membership organisation supporting more than 10,000 environmental professionals working across government, business, academia and charities. Through professional development, events, training, publications, policy and our member communities, we help environmental professionals develop their careers and tackle some of the most pressing water, climate and environmental challenges.
The opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity to take an established network and shape it into a genuine strategic asset for CIWEM.
Our branch and community network already has strong foundations, but we want to create a more consistent and engaging experience for members wherever they are based. You will work closely with volunteer committees, branch chairs and teams across CIWEM to strengthen our communities, increase engagement and ensure regional activity contributes directly to membership growth and retention.
This is very much a building role rather than simply maintaining an existing function. You will have the opportunity to shape how the network operates, establish the frameworks and measures needed for success and help determine what future resource is needed as the function develops.
What you’ll be doing
You will lead CIWEM’s branch and community network across 14 regional communities and our international networks, acting as the key link between volunteer committees and our central teams.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Developing a consistent branch and community operating model that gives members a high-quality experience across the network.
- Building strong relationships with branch chairs, special interest group leads and volunteers, helping committees become confident, capable and increasingly self-sufficient.
- Developing CIWEM’s volunteer engagement approach, including recruitment, induction, recognition, support and succession planning.
- Owning branch-led membership growth and retention targets and ensuring regional activity creates opportunities to attract, engage and retain members.
- Working with CIWEM’s Policy and External Affairs team to turn national policy work into engaging regional events, CPD and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
- Designing and managing a Branch Development Fund, enabling branches to secure investment for ambitious initiatives and measuring the impact and return on that investment.
- Supporting effective governance, financial management and compliance across the branch network.
- Using member insight, engagement data and branch performance measures to identify opportunities and demonstrate impact.
- Working closely with Membership, Professional Standards, Events, Learning, Communications, Marketing and Partnerships colleagues to create a joined-up experience for members.
- Developing strategic partnerships, sponsorship opportunities and relationships with external organisations to strengthen regional activity.
- Representing CIWEM across the UK and travelling regularly to support key regional events, committees and stakeholders.
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About you
We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys bringing people together and building communities. You will be comfortable working with volunteers and senior stakeholders, but equally able to think commercially and understand how engagement activity can contribute to membership growth and organisational objectives.
You will ideally bring:
- Experience building and managing volunteer, member, committee or stakeholder networks, ideally within a membership organisation, charity, professional body or similar environment.
- Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Experience developing engagement programmes, communities or volunteer initiatives.
- A genuine passion for creating a sense of belonging and ensuring members and volunteers feel valued and recognised.
- Experience supporting governance processes and working with committees.
- Budget management and financial monitoring experience.
- Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- A collaborative approach and the confidence to work across different teams while independently driving your own agenda.
- The flexibility to travel regularly throughout the UK.
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Experience within a professional membership body, chartered institution or learned society would be particularly valuable, as would knowledge of membership development, volunteer management, CRM and engagement reporting, CPD or professional registration.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone who connects with CIWEM’s purpose and has a genuine interest in the water, environmental, sustainability or climate sectors.
Why CIWEM?
You will be joining an organisation with a clear environmental purpose and an opportunity to make a visible impact on how thousands of professionals connect with CIWEM and with one another.
Alongside a supportive and collaborative working culture, CIWEM offers a generous benefits package including:
- Pension scheme with up to 9% employer contribution
- Private Medical Insurance
- Dental Cover
- Life Assurance
- Critical Illness Cover
- Income Protection
- Training and learning opportunities
- Flexible working conversations welcomed
If you are an engagement or membership professional who enjoys building communities, empowering volunteers and turning engagement into measurable growth and impact, we would love to hear from you.
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