Head of Membership Services – Association of British Climbing Walls

Job Description
Context
The Association of British Climbing Walls (ABC) promotes the professionalism, health and growth of indoor climbing. It is an industry going through major change with new climbing walls opening all the time, and the sport featuring at the Olympics in 2020. In response, the ABC is accelerating the development of its organisation and the offer it provides to members. This role is central to the design and delivery of this offer.
There are currently ca 150 members of the ABC. They are managed by volunteer members of the Management Committee, its sub-committees and a one day a week Chief Executive. We have several project based staff currently working with the Association too.
Our ambition to is to increase the number of businesses associated with indoor climbing, especially walls, and to ensure that they receive an outstanding service from the ABC. It should be noted that this role is focused on business-to-business membership development.

Job purpose
The post holder will be required to build and maintain successful relationships with members of the ABC from the climbing wall industry. In return for an expected increase in membership fees, the post holder will need to ensure that more value is delivered directly to members; i.e. it is a mutually beneficial relationship.

Dimensions
The postholder will be required to meet, or exceed, targets in relation to:
1. Number of walls active as members of the ABC;
2. Number of other trade bodies active as members;
3. Member feedback on the quality of the offer provided by the ABC;
4. The growth in income provided by new and existing members.

The role is full-time, and home-based, though they will be connected to a range of ABC related staff and volunteers on a regular basis.

Reports to
Chief Executive

Principal Accountabilities
1. Build a new and enhanced membership offer to climbing wall members of the ABC
2. Deliver that offer to existing members in a manner that creates more value for all parties
3. Lead on recruitment of new members
4. Support the Membership Committee of the ABC in the execution of their duties
5. Define and launch a membership offer to wider trade partners
6. Lead the development of the ABC Walls website, Sport England Participation Database and Accident Reporting Database
7. Analyse the potential for further fee-paying services for members (such as consultancy, training and products) and, where appropriate, launch such services
8. Support the ABC in the design and delivery of an Annual Conference for indoor climbing, each September
9. Play an active role in the wider development of the ABC as an organisation, supporting indoor climbing to realise its potential
10. Support the Chief Executive in any other matters relating to the start up and running of the ABC.

Key Relationships
 Members of the Management Committee
 Climbing wall owners and managers
 Other trade partners involved in indoor climbing (e.g. hold manufacturers, wall builders, retailers)
 Staff of the ABC, including contractors, and the ABC Administration Team
 Other key players in the sport such as the ABCTT, BMC, Sport England, MT

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
 Excellent knowledge of indoor climbing centres, including safety, operations, technical advice
 Business development capability in a business-to-business environment. Proven ability to negotiate and influence senior stakeholders
 Excellent people and inter-personal skills; relationship management is a vital function of this role
 Self-starting, with the ability to work as part of a geographically dispersed team, with limited supervision
 Experience of a business start-up environment
 Ability to write board-level reports
 Fluent in desktop IT, ideally with Digital Marketing experience
 Experience of leading complex projects working with a wide range of partners
 Experience of working with volunteers

How to apply
Please send a CV and covering letter (no more than one side of A4) to Graham Atkins, CEO of the Association of British Climbing Walls: graham@abcwalls.co.uk

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