Senior Development Manager

at  Durham University

Senior Development Manager (Job Number: 24001705)
Development and Alumni Relations
Grade 8: - £46,485 - £55,295 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 12 months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: 9am and 5pm Hybrid
Closing Date: 06-Oct-2024, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DEMONSTRATE WHEN YOU APPLY/PERSON SPECIFICATION

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.
Your application should cover the following criteria:

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
2. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence events and activities within the organisation.
3. Experience of working in a fundraising, stewardship or business development environment in a client-facing role.*
4. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
5. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
6. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/KNOWLEDGE

1. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including Microsoft Office and CRM systems (preferably Raiser’s Edge).
3. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition, e.g. CASE, Institute of Fundraising.
4. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines, including GDPR and Data Protection.
5. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
6. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT

• A CV: and
• A supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the essential criteria within the Person Specification of the job description and where possible the desirable criteria.

THE ROLE AND DEPARTMENT

Philanthropy, alumni and supporter engagement, advancement services, and supporter communications on behalf of the University. DARO works with colleges, academic departments, research centres and institutes, wider student experience partners, and professional departments to engage over 200,000 alumni and supporters around the world. DARO is part of Advancement, along with Marketing and Communications, and contributes to the enhancement of Durham University’s reputation as globally outstanding, inclusive, and forward-looking. We are an ambitious and committed team with a collaborative and collegiate culture.
The Development Team within DARO is ultimately responsible for: soliciting major and principal donations from alumni, philanthropists, corporations, trusts and foundations and other charitable bodies; stewarding major and principal donors through reports, presentations, events and face-to-face meetings; meeting with gift beneficiaries to collate and produce gift impact reporting materials; hosting and devising engagement opportunities for existing and prospective benefactors on campus; and managing relationships with high-level stakeholders on behalf of the University.
Senior Development Managers are primarily responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding principal/major donations of £100K - £1M+. In this role, you will be responsible for developing a portfolio of some of the University’s most senior benefactors and advocates. This portfolio will include individual donors, trusts and foundations, legacy and planned giving prospects, corporate donors/sponsors, and other philanthropic organisations.
The Senior Development Manager will play a critical role in the delivery of Durham’s bicentenary campaign, known as Durham 200. Durham 200 is a major philanthropic initiative in recognition of the University’s 200th anniversary in 2032, which seeks to create a step-change in philanthropic income and increase significantly the impact of giving to Durham.
The post-holder must be versatile and able to work closely and with senior University leaders, prominent and public figures, major benefactors and advocates, and senior volunteers in multiple capacities which facilitate the development of principal/major donations and the advancement of Durham University.
Although working globally and across all Campaign priorities, this post will involve leadership of a selection of key activities across the University, including philanthropic initiatives relating to student enterprise, science transformation and some key college initiatives.
This is a hybrid role based in Durham, with a requirement to be on site at least two days per week and a considerable amount of travel within the UK and potentially further afield. From early 2025 the base location for this role will change from our Durham City Centre site to our exciting new professional services hub based at Boldon House. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House will bring a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more about this project, please visit this webpage: Boldon House – Durham University.
Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.