Address
Form of work
Salary The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa
The Role
This role will develop and lead a challenging programme of long and short-term plans to deliver income targets from major donations (both in lifetime and gifts in wills) to the University. This role will manage a small, but motivated team of fundraising professionals.
The post-holder will work with major donors and legacy prospects within the University’s 100,000 alumni community as well as with other supporters at local, national, UK and international levels.
This requires building strong, respectful, and mutually supportive networks with a range of internal and senior stakeholders including the Vice Chancellor, the University Executive, Council, Honorary Fellows and the Old Students’ Association.
The postholder will be a proactive individual with a proven ability and passion for relationship
management and donor acquisition, driving the delivery of our donor-centric strategy for
philanthropy.
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Lyndsey Stokes, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at lyr6@aber.ac.uk.
Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
- Lead a team of fundraising professionals to successfully meet the ambitious targets of the University. The postholder will manage, motivate and develop their team, providing clear objectives and managing performance against these, to ensure that staff are appropriately motivated and trained to carry out their responsibilities.
- Working with DARO colleagues and external networks, to establish, manage, review and develop a data driven, dynamic rolling portfolio of existing and prospective major donors and legators, to achieve ambitious fundraising targets for the University.
- To develop compelling cases for support for areas of activity within the university with high potential for enhancement by philanthropic support.
- To secure six and seven figure philanthropic donations on behalf of the university.
- To develop and launch a proactive legacy giving strategy for the university to maximise opportunities to secure gifts in wills to the university.
- To develop and present compelling and creative proposals through face to face meetings within the UK and internationally, presentations and fundraising events and written publications.
- To brief senior internal and external stakeholders on major donor approaches and relationships and maximise their support in securing and stewarding of major donor relationships.
- To communicate systematically and effectively with existing and prospective donors to develop relationships and respond to individual preferences and motivations.
- To research and present annual plans and targets and monitor and report to the Director on progress.
- To negotiate and draft Gift Agreements with major donors in line with University Donations Acceptance policy.
- To ensure that major gift income is accurately accounted for and reconciled with the Finance Department and that it is spent in accordance with donor’s wishes and in accordance with charity law.
- To alert the Director on potential risks to reputation arising from major donor and legator activity and recommend actions to address these.
- To contribute to the development and delivery of the overall DARO departmental strategy.
- To ensure compliance with data protection legislation, Fundraising Regulation and University policy and procedures.
- To regularly travel and be away from the normal base (including internationally as required) and to attend commitments outside normal office hours.
- To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
- To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
- To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent.
- Demonstrable experience of securing a six or seven figure gift from an individual, from initiating first contact to cultivation, through to gift agreement.
- Experience of developing and delivering major donor plans and programmes targeted at those capable of giving £100,000+ and achieving philanthropic income targets.
- Demonstrable experience of producing proactive legacy giving strategies, leading to an increase in enquiries and pledges and reporting on progress.
- Experience of systematically approaching a high volume of major donor/legacy giving prospects, converting approaches to cultivation, then solicitation and securing six and/or seven figures gifts.
- Experience of successfully developing working relationships with staff at Executive levels and lead volunteers in support of plans and activities.
- Experience of managing staff, working as part of a team and supporting team members to achieve joint objectives.
- Knowledge of relational databases and how to extract pertinent data to support planning and execution of long-term objectives.
- Knowledge of Data protection and Fundraising Code of Conduct.
- Outstanding communication skills with compelling verbal and written ability; able to tailor written and verbal content and style to a range of audiences.
- Very strong influencing and interpersonal skills, excellent and proficient at relationship building, and have the awareness and diplomacy to work with high-profile individuals.
- Ability to prioritise, work flexibly and to manage multiple priorities, with challenging deadlines.
- Ability to think clearly about challenging problems and issues, to generate and assess options and pursue pragmatic, proportionate solutions through persuasion and negotiation.
- Ability to regularly travel in the UK and internationally and attend activities outside office hours.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A2.* or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.
Desirable
- Qualification in Fundraising Management (CIOF or similar)
- Knowledge of estate planning and probate
- Experience of fundraising in a Higher Education context
- Experience of achieving capital fundraising targets and/or campaign targets
- Knowledge of the principles of other areas of fundraising including trusts, events, and individual giving.
- Knowledge of Raisers Edge relational database.
- More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.
Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.
Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:
- Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:
- A national of a majority English speaking country
- Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
- Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
