Friends Manager

at  The National Museum of Australia

Philanthropy and membership are pivotal to the sustainability and future growth of the National Museum of Australia, ensuring its vision and strategic aspirations are met. As a senior member of the Development and Friends team, the Friends Manager is responsible for managing the Museum’s membership programme. The Friends are a very important stakeholder community and include many knowledgeable and passionate supporters, some of whom played a significant direct role in advocating for the original establishment of the Museum. The Friends continue to make important contributions to the Museum through their advocacy, volunteering, membership fees and philanthropy.
The Friends Manager is responsible for ensuring positive and productive engagement with the Friends: growing membership and deepening their commitment to the Museum and their satisfaction with our membership offering. When developing and implementing benefits for Friends such as special events, discounts at the Museum shop and café, and access to the Friends’ Lounge you will balance the costs of servicing the Friends with opportunities to generate revenue, increase philanthropic giving and grow Friends involvement as advocates for the Museum and contributors of other non-financial forms of support.
The Friends Manager manages the full-time Development and Friends Coordinator and works closely with the wider Development Team.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION?

• Grow membership of the Friends, with a strong focus on audiences with (i) a sense of connection with the Museum’s work and values and (ii) a desire to engage on a level that transcends simply joining for the financial savings available.
• Maximise membership renewals through excellent customer service and delivery of an engaging programme of events, communications, activities and benefits that meet members’ interests and showcase the Museum’s strengths and priorities.
• Track and report on member satisfaction and identify opportunities to enhance it.
• Manage the Friends budget and ensure investment decisions deliver clear returns (financial and/or non-financial) on investment.
• Maximise the efficiency of administrative processes such as membership purchases/renewals and event registration.
• Ensure member records are kept accurate and up to date.
• Develop and implement annual communication plans in alignment with other Museum communications through active liaison with the Marketing, social media, Publishing and Web Publishing teams.
• Oversee the smooth running of the Friends Lounge.
• Develop and deliver an annual schedule of events including Time Travellers Book Club meetings, curator talks, exhibition pre-views and Director talks.
• Ensure the program fits strategically with Development and Museum-wide priorities.
• Assist where necessary and possible with wider Development team activities, e.g. supporting planning and delivery of events such as the annual Chairman’s Dinner.