Development Associate, Memberships & Retail Development at Museum of West African Art

Job Summary 

We are seeking an experienced International Development Associate to play a central role in driving the growth of MOWAA’s membership and retail programmes, with a particular focus on international and diaspora audiences. You will support strategy, engagement, and operational delivery across membership acquisition, retention, and retail initiatives.

In addition, you will contribute to development and communications activities to strengthen donor and member engagement, expand MOWAA’s global reach, and support fundraising and revenue growth.

This role is ideal for a development professional passionate about fundraising, membership, and international audience engagement in a vibrant arts and culture environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Memberships & Retail Development:
  • Assist in designing, launching, and growing MOWAA’s retail membership programme.
  • Develop and implement strategies to attract, retain, and engage international and diaspora members.
  • Monitor membership engagement, track key metrics, and provide insights for programme improvement.
  • Support retail initiatives, including online campaigns, merchandise planning, and sales growth.
• International Engagement:
  • Support outreach to international and diaspora audiences to grow membership and revenue.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to create donor/member-facing communications and marketing materials.
  • Track international member activity and contribute to reporting on growth and retention.
• Development & Communications Support:
  • Assist with donor and membership database management and reporting.
  • Support digital communications and social media campaigns related to membership and fundraising initiatives.
  • Contribute to storytelling, promotional campaigns, and visibility of MOWAA’s international programmes.
• General Support & Continuity:
  • Provide flexible support on additional development-related tasks to ensure continuity and delivery of priorities.
  • Support events, meetings, and other initiatives as needed to enhance member engagement.

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Communications, Business, or related discipline).
• 5+ years of experience in fundraising, membership development, retail, or donor engagement.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Google Workspace; experience with donor/membership databases or CRM is an advantage.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
• Passion for arts, culture, heritage, and international audience engagement.

Deliverables/Output

• Membership programme launched and actively growing, with measurable engagement and retention.
• Retail initiatives implemented and operational, contributing to revenue growth.
• Accurate and up-to-date membership and donor records, reports, and dashboards maintained.
• Regular updates and insights provided to line manager on programme performance.