Regional Engagement Partner - South East

RIBA; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading architectural organization is seeking a Regional Engagement Partner for its South East region. This home-based role requires extensive travel across Surrey, Sussex, and West Kent, focusing on enhancing member engagement through events, partnerships, and stakeholder relationships. Ideal candidates will have experience in business development within membership organizations and a strong ability to network and communicate effectively.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

Life assurance

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Experienced in business development for membership organizations.
• Proven track record of meeting targets and objectives.
• Confident in using digital platforms and CRM systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships.
• Engage with members through meetings and events.
• Support RIBA branches to drive member engagement.

Skills

Growth and retention

Project management

Networking ability

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Job description

Overview

Be part of the vision; be part of RIBA.

The RIBA is a global professional membership body, and a cultural organisation, driving excellence in architecture.

Salary: c£35,000 per annum depending upon experience and location

Location: Home-based, within Sussex, Surrey and West Kent

Hours: 35 hours per week, full time, permanent

About the Role

Join our RIBA Membership Experience UK team to create and deliver an engaging regional programme that supports our members and grows our membership. We are seeking a resourceful and inspired Regional Engagement Partner to join our South East region supporting the South East area of England who will work with the Regional Director to deliver our Engagement Plan and directly support all our members.

With a focus on member value, a strong regional strategy, and 7 branches and special interest groups, the role will work with them to shape a programme of activities for our South East based members. Our mission is to build on connections across the profession and the wider built environment, to ensure the RIBA South East region delivers a programme that reflects what members want, need, and expect.

As Regional Engagement Partner, you’ll be central to that mission. You’ll join a high-performing, supportive regional team.

What We’re Looking For

Please note, although working from home, the role will require extensive travel and flexibility to work some evenings and weekends dependant on activity within the South East of England. You should therefore reside within the South East region (Surrey, Sussex and West Kent).

This is a home-based role that involves extensive travel across the South East region, with flexibility required to work some evenings and weekends depending on activity. To be effective in this role, you will need to be based within Surrey, Sussex, or West Kent. Given the level of regional travel, the ability to travel independently is essential.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships and external partnerships working to support member engagement.
• Engagement with Chartered Practices, Chartered Members and prospective members through meetings and events (online and face to face) as part of a regional engagement plan.
• Work collaboratively to support RIBA Branches, Special Interest and Task & Finish groups to drive member engagement and promote excellence in architecture through events, workshops and forums
• Plan and support a programme of activities for RIBA Student Members, architecture students and schools of architecture.
• Use regional knowledge, research and insight gathering to identify opportunities to enhance the value for membership and reach prospect members
• Provide event management support including content development, promotion, booking system, risk assessment and evaluation mechanisms to measure ROI.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a confident and self-motivated communicator that is comfortable navigating the complexities of the architecture and built environment sectors.

Essential

• Experienced in growth, retention, and engagement, ideally in a business development role, working for a membership or volunteer led organisation
• Project and programme management experience
• Demonstrable experience of meeting targets and objectives
• An astute communicator with significant proven ability to network at all levels, able to consult and build good relationships with internal and external senior stakeholders, with the ability to influence, persuade and motivate
• A collaborative team player, who can facilitate the provision of support of colleagues to assist in the day-to-day running of the region including outward-facing communications – e.g., marketing, social media

Desirable

• Confident in using a range of digital platforms and systems including CRM databases to target and record activities
• Has a passion and understanding of the culture of architectural practice and architects, their role, and the skills of architects
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to meet tight deadlines, and balancing conflicting priorities
• Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion
• Happy to work autonomously with little supervision
• Flexible approach to hybrid and agile working to achieve objectives

Why Join us?

Our Benefits:

The RIBA offers an amazing employee benefits package which includes (a) a generous pension scheme with employer contributions (up to 12%), (b) life assurance, (c) annual leave of 27 days plus bank holidays and paid closure of 3 discretionary days between Christmas and New Year. For more details on our benefits, this summary.

If you would like to apply for the position, please view the full job description below (found at supporting documents) and submit your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the ‘Skills, Knowledge and Experience’ in the Job Description using the form below. Please note we will only consider applications with covering letters for this position.

Additionally, please ensure that you complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form which will be submitted separate from your application.

Closing date: Sunday, 19th October 2025
Interview date: w/c 27th October 2025

Due to high volumes of applications we are unable to respond to everyone, however, should you be shortlisted for interview we will be in touch. We may also close an advert earlier than the date above if we receive enough quality applications.

Please note that you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. We are unable to proceed with any candidates who cannot show the relevant documentation so please only apply if you meet these criteria. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

The RIBA aims to be an inclusive employer, committed to building an authentic and diverse environment where all are encouraged to be themselves. We champion work/life balance and welcome requests for flexible working across our organisation. We value applications from all sections of society and appreciate divergent experience, therefore if you are excited about the role and working with us, yet your past experience may not align perfectly with every single skill or competency, we encourage you to apply anyway.

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