Recruiting - Membership & Partnerships Development Associate

Freelance / Self-employed | Approx. 1 day per week | Scotland-based

Brightstar Scotland Ltd is looking for a freelance Membership and Partnerships Associate to join its collective. Brighstar works with membership organisations, partnerships and purpose-led networks across Scotland to design and deliver high-quality events, strengthen memberships and partnerships, and provide trusted operational, governance and executive support.

We operate as a close collective of experienced associates, working collaboratively across clients and projects. Our work is relationship-led, strategic, and grounded in a strong understanding of Scotland’s civic, policy and partnership landscape.

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, self-employed Membership & Partnerships Development Associate to work across Brightstar Scotland’s client portfolio.

This role is focused on strategic member and partner development, retention and relationship stewardship - not transactional sales. You will play a key role in shaping and delivering thoughtful, relationship-led development activity that supports organisational sustainability, growth and long-term impact.

You will be trusted to work autonomously, while being fully embedded as part of Brightstar’s associate collective.

What you’ll do

• Shape and deliver strategic membership and partnership development plans for client organisations

• Build, manage and steward warm, trusted relationships with members, partners, sponsors and stakeholders

• Lead on retention and re-engagement, ensuring members and partners feel valued, connected and understood

• Identify and pursue new membership and partnership opportunities aligned to organisational purpose and context

• Manage the full member and partner lifecycle - from early prospecting and relationship development through to securing commitments, instructing payment processes in collaboration with finance teams, and overseeing renewal and re-engagement cycles

• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of membership and partnership offers - including reviewing and refining value propositions, and coordinating refreshed “look and feel” of packages where appropriate

• Act as a credible ambassador for client organisations and Brightstar Scotland

• Undertake development conversations via phone, online and in person

• Represent clients and Brightstar Scotland at key meetings, events and networking opportunities across Scotland

• Use CRM and database systems (e.g. Mailchimp or equivalent tools) to track engagement, segment audiences and maintain high-quality, insight-led member and partner data

• Apply digital relationship management approaches, including effective use of LinkedIn for stakeholder mapping, relationship intelligence and lead generation

• Track progress and outcomes, contributing insight and intelligence back into the wider team

Who this role is for

This role will suit someone who:

• Has significant experience in membership, partnerships, external relations or relationship development within Scotland

• Has a strong understanding of Scotland’s strategic, policy and political landscape, and how influence and relationships operate

• Brings an existing network and the ability to build trust quickly and authentically

• Can demonstrate tangible results in membership growth, retention, partnership development or strategic alliances

• Is comfortable managing the full development lifecycle - from pipeline building through to conversion, financial coordination and renewals

• Has experience shaping or refining membership/partnership propositions, with an eye for both strategic value and presentation

• Is a sophisticated, warm and engaging communicator - credible with senior stakeholders and values-led in approach

• Prefers long-term relationship building over hard-sell techniques

• Enjoys working independently while being part of a collaborative collective

• Is comfortable working with CRM/database tools to support relationship management and can use digital platforms (particularly LinkedIn) in a considered, professional way to strengthen networks and identify opportunities

Practicalities

• Self-employed / freelance associate role

• Approx. 1 day per week, with potential to grow

• Remote working, with regular in-person meetings and networking across Scotland

• Must be Scotland-based

What we offer

• Meaningful, varied work across purpose-led organisations

• A trusted role within a supportive, experienced associate collective

• Autonomy, flexibility and influence

• The opportunity to shape strategy as well as deliver

To apply, please submit:

• A CV outlining relevant experience

• A short covering note describing your approach to membership and partnership development, including examples of results delivered

• Details of your freelance availability and fees

Please send the above to elaine@brightstarscotland.co.uk, by 5pm on Friday 29th May.