Roger Payne's main work experience is as an executive and development officer for national and international membership organisations.  His early work experience includes outdoor education, personal development training, and teaching in secondary schools.  He currently works as a mountain guide and undertakes consultancy.

In 1989 Payne became the National Officer of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) in Manchester at a time when, according to the Chairman of the Finance Committee, “Any commercial organisation would be on the road to liquidation in our situation.”  Despite the limiting financial circumstances, Payne was involved in many new developments and growth in a wide range of areas including: climbing walls, competitions, international, mountain tourism, technical and safety.
 
In 1995 Payne was appointed BMC General Secretary, and during his period in post the BMC achieved very significant growth in membership, increased income from trading and sponsorship, expansion of development programmes, and improved relationships with other national bodies and government agencies.

Payne became an international post-holder for the BMC in 1990, and organised numerous international events, seminars, and meetings. He was also a key organiser or event manager for eight major international climbing competitions hosted by the BMC at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham (including the 1999 UIAA Climbing World Championship).  He also helped ski mountaineering competitions and ice climbing competitions become a part of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA).