Position title: Membership and Partnership Lead
Organisation: Professional Conference Organisers Association (PCOA) Inc.
Location: Work from home (Australia / New Zealand)
Reports to: General Manager, PCOA

Hours of work
Part-time role, 20 hours per week, worked over a 4‑day week. Hours may be worked flexibly by agreement, with the ability to scale up occasionally during peak periods, major initiatives or the Annual Conference.

Role purpose
The Membership and Partnership Lead is responsible for driving growth, engagement and commercial performance across PCOA’s membership, associate partner program, sponsorship, exhibition and media partnerships.

The role focuses on building strong, trusted relationships with members, partners and industry stakeholders, identifying opportunities for growth and retention, and ensuring the professional delivery of partnership programs and commercial activities that support PCOA’s objectives and financial sustainability.

Why this role is important
This role is critical to PCOA’s sustainability, profile and influence as the peak body for professional conference organisers. By actively growing membership, strengthening partner relationships and delivering high‑quality sponsorship and exhibition outcomes, the Membership and Partnership Lead enables:

• Sustainable membership growth and retention
• Strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with industry suppliers and media partners
• Increased revenue through sponsorship, exhibitions and associate programs
• Enhanced profile, awareness and relevance of PCOA within the industry
• Delivery of commercial outcomes that support PCOA’s education and advocacy objectives

The role works closely with the General Manager and key stakeholders to identify opportunities, convert them into value, and ensure delivery meets both commercial and relationship expectations.

Key responsibilities

1. Membership growth, management & engagement

• Develop and implement strategies to drive membership growth and retention
• Actively engage with current and prospective members to build strong, trusted relationships
• Manage member communications and engagement initiatives in collaboration with internal resources
• Identify opportunities to enhance the member value proposition
• Monitor membership trends and provide insights and reporting to the General Manager
• Support onboarding, engagement and retention initiatives across the member lifecycle

2. Associate Partner Program – growth, management & delivery

• Lead growth of the Associate Partner program through targeted engagement and relationship building
• Manage associate partner relationships to ensure value is delivered and expectations are met
• Identify opportunities for increased visibility, profile and engagement for partners
• Work collaboratively to deliver agreed partner inclusions across events, education and communications
• Support retention through proactive relationship management and opportunity identification

3. Conference sponsorship & exhibition sales and delivery

• Lead sponsorship and exhibition sales for the PCOA Annual Conference
• Identify, develop and secure new sponsorship and exhibition opportunities
• Ensure sponsorship and exhibition deliverables are clearly defined and met
• Work closely with conference delivery resources to ensure a high‑quality sponsor and exhibitor experience
• Contribute to post‑event reporting, review and renewal opportunities

4. Media Partners – management & engagement

• Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with media partners
• Ensure media partnerships support PCOA’s profile, awareness and communication objectives

5. Commercial strategy & opportunity development

• Identify and pursue new commercial opportunities that align with PCOA’s brand and direction
• Apply strong commercial acumen to project pricing, packaging and value propositions
• Support development of new projects or programs with commercial potential
• Provide insights, recommendations and reporting to support decision‑making

General duties
In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, the Membership and Partnership Lead is required to:

• Undertake other duties within the scope of the role and individual capability, as reasonably requested, to support the overall success of PCOA
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining a strong focus on relationship quality and outcomes
• Support new projects, initiatives and pilots relating to members and partners as PCOA evolves
• Participate in periodic review of duties and responsibilities in consultation with the General Manager

Travel & meeting attendance

• Undertake agreed travel, including attendance at the PCOA Annual Conference
• Attend planning days, partner meetings, Council or Management Committee meetings as required, either in person or virtually

Reporting & success measures
The Membership and Partnership Lead reports to the General Manager and provides regular reporting on membership, partnerships and commercial activity.

Success in the role will be measured by:

• Membership growth, engagement and retention outcomes
• Strength and longevity of associate partner and sponsor relationships
• Achievement of sponsorship, exhibition and partnership revenue targets
• Quality and reliability of partnership delivery
• Identification and conversion of new commercial opportunities
• Positive feedback from members, partners and stakeholders

Key internal relationships

• General Manager, PCOA
• Education and Administration Manager
• PCOA Council and Management Committee
• Digital specialist

Key external relationships

• PCOA members
• Associate partners, sponsors and exhibitors
• Media partners
• Industry stakeholders and suppliers
• PCO for the annual PCOA conference

Skills & attributes

• Strong commercial acumen and revenue‑focused mindset
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted, long‑term relationships
• Experience in membership, partnerships, sponsorship or business development roles
• Strong negotiation, influencing and communication skills
• High level of organisation and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Event management or conference experience highly desirable
• Proactive, opportunity‑focused and solutions‑driven approach

How to Apply:
For further information or to submit your application, please email admin@pco.asn.au
Applications close at 5.00pm on Thursday 26 March.