Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage donor stewardship and create engaging proposals and reports.
- Company: Join a dynamic postgraduate university with a strong team spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model and a collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in philanthropy while working with passionate colleagues.
- Qualifications: Experience in donor relations, project management, and proposal writing is essential.
- Other info: This is a temporary role with flexible hours, perfect for students.
Role: The Development Manager
Department: Advancement & Alumni
Responsible to: Associate Director, Advancement & Alumni
Location: Kensington (Hybrid Role)
Type: Temporary
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 5.30pm
Purpose of the post: The Development Manager (Proposals & Stewardship) is responsible for ensuring that prospects and donors receive a high level of stewardship. They will work with colleagues to produce creative and engaging proposals and reports. The post holder will work with the Associate Director to devise, manage and deliver the clients' stewardship processes. They will be the first point of contact concerning compliance. This is a key internal facing role in ensuring the Advancement & Alumni programme is a success.
The current Advancement & Alumni team is small, operating in a specialist postgraduate university. There is a strong sense of collegiality that drives the success and team members at all levels work together to a shared goal and purpose. Pulling together as a team, having an open mind to new ways of working and indeed the desire to jump in and deliver a new project, are the attitudes and mindset that the client prizes and which have contributed to their sustained high performance and success.
Responsibilities of the Development Manager role:
- Work with Associate Director and the Advancement & Alumni team to implement an overall approach to ensure compliance with gift requirements and timely reporting to donors, in line with any proposals, applications, agreements and/or gift conditions.
- Work with fundraisers to write and produce excellent proposals and cases for support, ensuring they include clear, realistic and achievable delivery and stewardship targets, and are delivered in a timely fashion.
- Work with colleagues in the Advancement & Alumni team to devise plans collaboratively to ensure high-quality stewardship for each donor.
- Develop, implement and monitor a comprehensive communications programme that contributes to an excellent donor journey, including writing and producing compelling donor updates.
- Oversee and coordinate all donor communication materials and generate content for a range of internal (intranet) and external (annual report, seasonal emails, etc.) taking every relevant opportunity to enhance the culture of philanthropy and the College’s reputation.
- Working with colleagues in Engagement, Brand and Marketing to create communications and print.
- Lead in the coordination, consolidation, writing and editing of donor reports, gathering and incorporating feedback from colleagues. Ensure that reports reflect the original gift proposal, the gift agreement or other gift terms and conditions, and display high-quality results-based monitoring and evaluation.
- Liaise with the Finance, Academic and other Departments and Schools to ensure that narrative, financial and visual elements of reports, proposals and cases for support align with one another to create creative, powerful, engaging and inspiring documents.
- Act as a central point of contact for donor compliance and impact reporting requirements, ensuring that relevant colleagues are informed of donor requirements.
- Maintain a matrix of roles and responsibilities for all colleagues involved in the donor reporting process and that each person is aware of what is required of them.
- Ensure records for donors are current and accurate, making effective use of the Raiser's Edge prospect tracking systems and ensuring accurate recording of data.
- Drafting of bespoke communications for VIPs on behalf of Directors, Chancellor, Chair of Council and President & Vice-Chancellor.
- Speech writing for senior staff.
- Stewardship gift management - sourcing gifts, budget, distribution, etc.
Person Specification:
- Strong experience of working with donors, preferably in proposal writing, stewardship, donor compliance and output, outcome and impact reporting.
- Experience of project management.
- Strong knowledge of the following IT packages/systems: MS Office, Adobe InDesign, MailChimp, Raisers Edge and Google Suite.
- Experience of devising and implementing approaches to donor management, preferably compliance and impact reporting.
- Experience of reporting to and knowledge of compliance requirements and impact interests of major institutional and corporate donors.
- Entrepreneurial flair with a high level of self-motivation and initiative, and a demonstrable desire to succeed, achieve results and make a difference.
- Experience of working with fundraisers and researchers to devise and draft cases for support, proposals and reports.
- Interest in and enthusiasm for art, design, and higher education.
- Experience of working in a major and/or principal gifts fundraising environment.
- Knowledge of current relevant legislation, codes of practice and ethical guidelines.
Development Manager employer: Hire Society Recruitment ltd
Contact Detail:
Hire Society Recruitment ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the fundraising and development sector. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with individuals who may have insights into the role of a Development Manager. Building relationships can often lead to valuable referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the specific compliance and reporting requirements relevant to donor management. Understanding these processes will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the role and its responsibilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your project management skills by discussing past experiences where you successfully coordinated multiple stakeholders. Highlighting your ability to manage timelines and deliverables will resonate well with the team-oriented nature of this position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the institution's current Advancement & Alumni initiatives and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their goals. Tailoring your conversation to align with their mission will show that you are genuinely interested in the role and the organisation.
We think you need these skills to ace Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in proposal writing, donor stewardship, and compliance. Use specific examples that demonstrate your project management skills and familiarity with the required IT systems.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Discuss how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the Development Manager position, particularly your experience with donor communication and reporting.
Showcase Team Collaboration: Emphasise your ability to work collaboratively within a team. Provide examples of past projects where you successfully worked with colleagues to achieve shared goals, as this is a key aspect of the role.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your skills in using MS Office, Adobe InDesign, MailChimp, and Raisers Edge. Mention any specific projects where you utilised these tools to enhance donor engagement or reporting.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hire Society Recruitment ltd
✨Showcase Your Proposal Writing Skills
Since the role heavily involves writing proposals and reports, be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in this area. Bring examples of successful proposals you've worked on and be ready to explain your thought process behind them.
✨Demonstrate Team Collaboration
The job requires a strong sense of collegiality and teamwork. Share specific instances where you collaborated with colleagues to achieve a common goal, especially in donor management or stewardship.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Compliance Requirements
Understanding donor compliance is crucial for this role. Brush up on relevant legislation and codes of practice before the interview, and be ready to discuss how you've ensured compliance in past roles.
✨Express Your Passion for Philanthropy
The organisation values a culture of philanthropy. Be sure to convey your enthusiasm for the sector, particularly in relation to art, design, and higher education, and how this passion drives your work.
