Appointment of the Head of Membership

Victoria & Albert Museum

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in joining the V&A at what is an extraordinary moment in our history; I am delighted to share details of our Head of Membership position, a key role in the newly created Commercial division.

A part of its commercial proposition the museum has been developing its membership offer over many years, and recently has seen significant growth in membership in part due to the very successful ticketed exhibition programme. The membership programme is rich and varied and includes exclusive tours, events, previews and an award-winning members’ room. As a result, membership has developed into our most valuable commercial asset over the last 10 years.

The V&A has an ambitious and diverse public programme, not only at South Kensington, but across our family of sites. The newly transformed Young V&A at Bethnal Green recently won the 2024 award for Museum of the Year, and we are due to open two new sites in the Olympic Park as part of the Mayor of London’s East Bank development. Our membership offer encompasses all the V&A museums, with the expanding portfolio offering exciting new opportunities for the membership proposition.

The role of Head of Membership is to develop and deliver a new membership strategy, which is a fundamental pillar of our overall commercial strategy. Sustainable commercial growth is vital for supporting the overall V&A experience and brand position, and it underpins the museum group’s future financial sustainability.

The Head of Membership will be a part of the leadership team and will work closely with a diverse group of stakeholders, including colleagues in the Commercial, Exhibitions, Marketing, Technology and Finance teams. They will also act collaboratively with peers to drive forward the wider V&A organisational strategy, delivering our mission to champion design and creativity, in all its forms, for everyone.

With this in mind, we are very keen to hear from a diverse range of candidates. If you can see yourself in the above description, please contact our search partners (details below) for a confidential conversation and we look forward to receiving your application.

Nicola Huet
Commercial Director

About us

The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity— its power to entertain and move, to enrich our lives, open our minds and change the world. We celebrate and share that power through a programme of exhibitions, events, educational and digital experiences, a collection of 2.8 million objects, and through our support for new works and commitment to conservation, research and sustainable design. Together our work tells a 5,000-year-old story of creativity, helping to advance cultural knowledge everywhere, and inspiring the makers, creators and innovators of today and tomorrow. We are always working to broaden our audiences so that everyone can be part of the V&A – because the V&A and the power of creativity belongs to us all.

Our values

  • Equity
  • Creativity
  • Collaboration
  • Sustainability
  • Generosity

Learn more about us and our strategy here.

Context

The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity – its power to entertain and move, to enrich our lives, open our minds and change the world. We celebrate and share that power through a programme of exhibitions, events, educational and digital experiences, a collection of 2.8 million objects, and through our support for new works and commitment to conservation, research and sustainable design. Together, our work tells a 5,000-year-old story of creativity, helping to advance cultural knowledge everywhere, and inspiring the makers, creators and innovators of today and tomorrow.

We are committed to creating a world class visitor and learning experience across all V&A sites and collections while looking to diversify and increase private and commercial funding sources. The V&A’s newly created Commercial division is responsible for delivering best-in-class commercial propositions for our audiences that augment and enrich their experience of the V&A, whether that be at our sites or online. The division leads the V&A’s business-to-customer commercial activity, helping to deliver rewarding experiences and build lasting relationships with current and V&A audiences whilst driving value and financial contribution. The Commercial Division is made up of 6 departments: (Membership, Academy, Retail, FOH& Catering, Omni-channel:eCommerce, ticketing & contact centre, and Publishing).

V&A Membership is the most profitable element of our commercial portfolio and as such it is the cornerstone of our commercial strategy.  Having achieved significant growth in members over the last year there is now an exciting opportunity to develop a new strategy to better develop and engage our membership community, to build loyalty and to deliver commercial growth that is critical to supporting the overall mission of the V&A.

V&A membership team

The role

Head of Membership (AQ2803)

Apply now

Terms of appointment

Salary
£75-80,000

Location
Hybrid (Minimum 3 days on site in South Kensington)

Annual leave
29 days plus 8 days public holidays (pro rata for anyone working less than 36 hours per week)

Pension benefits
You will be auto enrolled into the museum’s Group Personal Pension Scheme and have the opportunity, upon completion of probation, to benefit from an enhanced pension provision, with the V&A contributing 10%.

Other benefits include:

  • Free entry to several museums, galleries, and exhibitions across the UK.
  • Complimentary tickets to V&A exhibitions for your friends or family.
  • Subsidised staff canteen.
  • 25% discount on purchases in V&A shops.
  • Non-contributory life assurance policy (to value of 4 x annual salary).
  • An interest free season ticket or bicycle loan (available upon completion of probation).
  • Employee Assistance line for all V&A employees, 24 hours a day 7 days per week.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to The V&A. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

Applications should consist of:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
  • Please include details of two referees on your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

The closing date for this role is 16th September, 2024.

  • Stage 2 Panel interview 7th November – two preferred candidates will come back for a second session in person

For a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley:

Kiersten Avery at kiersten.avery@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7510 384 735 or Elyse Turner Pearce on +44 (0)7808 648 559 or elyse.turner-pearce@andersonquigley.com

Timetable

Longlisting Monday 23rd September
Preliminary Interviews with Anderson Quigley 30th September - 10th October
Shortlisting Friday 18th October
Stage 1 Panel Interview Thursday 31st October
Stage 2 Panel Interview Wednesday 6th November
Credits for images
  • Installation images of DIVA at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London (12)
  • V&A Exhibition Road Quarter, designed by AL_A ©Hufton+Crow
  • Friday Late Diva Disrupted Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum
  • British Galleries
©Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • David, 1501-4
Artist: Michelangelo
Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • The Becket Casket, About 1180
Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • image of Grace Jones wearing Issey Miyake molded corset, Drury
Lane, 1981. Photograph © David Corio
  • External render view of V&A East Museum at Stratford Waterfront,
designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey © O’Donnell + Tuomey / Ninety90, 2018
  • installation view of the completed Photography Centre at the V&A. Image (c) Victoria and Albert Museum,
  • Installation view: Thomas J Price at the V&A featuring Tasman Road,
Figure 2 (2008), Victoria & Albert Museum, London,  © Thomas J Price. Courtesy of the artist and Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • Photograph: Mishko Papic view across the Collections Hall at V&A East Storehouse © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
  • installation view: Thomas J Price at the V&A featuring Lay It Down (On
T            the Edge Of Beauty) (2018), Victoria & Albert Museum, London, © Thomas J Price. Courtesy of the artist and Victoria and Albert Museum, London           Photograph: Mishko Papic
  • Textiles prepared in the V&A’s Clothworkers Centre for the Study of
Textiles and Fashion, ready to move to V&A East Storehouse
© Jamie Stoker. Image courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum,
  • Suit of Armour, 1859
Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • Selection of sculpture busts including a bust of an unknown woman by
an unknown maker, ca 1840-1850, and a bust of Napoleon Bonaparte,
made after Jean Antoine Houdon, France, ca. 1806. © Jamie Stoker. Image courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Thebe Magugu presents first international runway as part of V&A’s Fashion in Motion series © Lia Toby Getty Images for the V&A
  • Ramadan Pavilion 2023 (c) Matt Rowe
  • Young V&A Shop © Luke Hayes courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • The Renaissance City 1350-1600 alanwilliamsphotography.com
  • Daylit Gallery, alanwilliamsphotography.com
  • V&A East visiting Big Creative Education College (c) primrose.films_courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Young V&A, Adventure Display, Imagine Gallery © David Parry courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Watteau evening dress, 1996 (Les Femmes collection) Vivienne Westwood
  • V&A Flower Shop interior courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum