Membership Director - AETHOS Lisbon

Aethos; Lisboa; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aethos Lisbon seeks a senior Membership Director to lead the community strategy from the ground up, owning recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing engagement for a luxury private club in Lisbon.

You will drive the founding membership base, curate high-impact events, and partner with marketing, operations, and wellness teams to deliver a seamless member journey in a pre-opening phase that values conscious luxury and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in private members' clubs or luxury hospitality.
• Pre-opening or major launch experience is required.
• Experience managing budgets, targets, and data-driven CRM systems.
• Strong networking, stakeholder management, and public representation skills.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese; additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end membership strategy from recruitment to retention.
• Lead pre-opening outreach and grow the founding members base in Lisbon.
• Oversee member onboarding, benefits communication, and ecosystem opportunities.
• Build and manage an Inner Circle programme of influencers and brand advocates.
• Curate events and programming reflecting Aethos Lisbon's ethos; collaborate with branding/CRM teams.
• Provide leadership to membership and events teams; coach and develop staff.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy

Community development

Networking

Public speaking

Tools

CRM systems

Event management software

Job description

Join the Aethos Community - Hospitality with Purpose.

At Aethos, we believe in extraordinary places, passionate people, and meaningful connections. Hospitality should inspire and elevate - leaving a lasting impact on mind, body, and soul. That is why we carefully choose our locations and build teams looking for more than just a job - teams that thrive in a true community.

Aethos focuses on sustainability, well-being, and the luxury of time and space. We create retreats from the everyday, offering a sanctuary from the stress of modern life. Our goal? To redefine hospitality - building a place where both guests, members, and team members feel at home, inspired, and connected.

About Aethos Lisbon

Opening in June 2027, Aethos Lisbon will bring our conscious luxury philosophy to the heart of Portugal's vibrant capital. Blending cultural heritage with modern design, the property will feature an exclusive private members' club, bespoke wellness and dining spaces, and a thoughtfully curated environment designed to serve as an urban sanctuary for creators, innovators, and mindful travellers.

Join us!

We are looking for an inspiring and strategic Membership Director (m/f) to lead the community vision for Aethos Lisbon. In this role, you will own the membership strategy from the ground up - setting the direction for how members are recruited, welcomed, and retained. You will act as the brand ambassador across the city, overseeing the entire member journey, curating a vibrant calendar of events, and building a balanced, engaged community aligned with our ethos.

Key Mission & Responsibilities

• Strategy & Commercial Targets: Own the end-to-end membership strategy for the club. Partner closely with the General Manager to turn membership targets into actionable annual plans, budgets, and KPIs, monitoring application, renewal, and engagement metrics to adapt retention strategies.
• Pre-Opening Outreach & Community Growth: Spearhead outreach before and after our June 2027 launch, actively engaging with Lisbon's creative, entrepreneurial, and cultural scenes to recruit the founding membership base.
• Member Acquisition & Onboarding: Oversee the application, assessment, and onboarding standards, ensuring every new member understands the benefits, community values, and opportunities while maintaining a balanced membership profile.
• The Inner Circle: Build and nurture an active "Inner Circle" programme of influential members and brand advocates who champion the community and introduce high-calibre prospective members.
• Events & Community Programming: Lead and curate the club's annual cultural and social events programme, delivering meaningful gatherings that bring members together and reflect the spirit of Aethos Lisbon.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with the Marketing Director to align member communications, CRM, and digital storytelling; collaborate across operations, design, wellness, and partnerships to deliver an integrated, flawless club experience.
• Presence & Relationship Management: Maintain an active, visible presence in the club as the primary welcoming face; oversee guest lists and protocol for VIPs, public figures, and major brand events.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and schedule the local membership and events teams, defining core competencies, closing skill gaps through targeted training, and fostering a high-performance culture.
• Continuous Improvement: Systematically gather member feedback on programming, facilities, and service standards, converting insights into tangible enhancements.

Candidate Profile

• Experience: Proven senior leadership experience in private members' clubs, luxury lifestyle hospitality, cultural programming, or high-end community management, including pre-opening or major launch experience.
• Network & Presence: Deeply connected within Lisbon's cultural, artistic, culinary, and business ecosystems, with a natural flair for networking and public representation.
• Strategic & Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated capability in managing budgets, financial targets, data-driven CRM systems, retention strategies, and performance reporting.
• Personal & Leadership Skills: Charismatic and empathetic communicator, adept at stakeholder management, relationship building, team mentorship, and high-touch member care.
• Languages: Fluency in English and Portuguese is essential; proficiency in additional languages is a valuable asset.
• Attitude & Work Style: Entrepreneurial mindset, adaptability, resilience in fast-moving pre-opening phases, and genuine alignment with conscious luxury, wellness, and sustainability.

What We Offer

• Stability: Full-time executive employment contract.
• Remuneration: Attractive compensation package reflective of seniority, experience, and the strategic importance of the role.
• Environment: A key leadership seat in launching a flagship property within a rapidly expanding international boutique brand.
• Impact & Growth: Direct ownership of a landmark community project with global visibility and long-term career progression opportunities across the Aethos Group.