Ryedale Festival

Job Summary

Build the fundraising needed to sustain the Festival's progress and ambitions, research opportunities, build donor and corporate relationships, and produce strong applications and reports.

Job Description

The Ryedale Festival is one of the UK's most distinctive and ambitious classical music festivals, bringing internationally recognised artists to beautiful and historic venues across North and East Yorkshire.

We are seeking an enterprising Development Officer to help build the fundraising needed to sustain the Festival's progress and ambitions. This is a new role at an exciting point in the Festival's development, offering an opportunity to help shape the next stage of its work.

The principal focus will be trusts and foundations, researching opportunities, developing a strong pipeline and preparing high-quality applications and reports. The role will also support the development of corporate partnerships and sponsorship and identify other appropriate fundraising opportunities.

The Development Officer will report to the Artistic Director and work closely with the Festival's active Development Committee, drawing on its considerable experience and network. Although initially a 12-month fixed-term appointment, there is considerable potential for the role to grow and develop over time as the Festival expands its fundraising activity.

We are looking for someone who enjoys spotting opportunities, writing persuasively, building relationships and keeping things moving.

Job Requirements

Trusts & Foundations

• Research trusts, foundations and other grant-making bodies, identifying the strongest opportunities for the Festival.
• Develop and maintain a clear forward pipeline and schedule of funding applications.
• Prepare and submit high-quality applications, working with colleagues to gather the information required.
• Help maintain positive relationships with existing and prospective funders.
• Monitor successful grants, prepare reports and maintain accurate records

Wider Development

• Research prospective corporate partners and sponsors locally, regionally and nationally.
• Support the development of approaches and sponsorship proposals.
• Work closely with the Development Committee, helping to turn its members' experience, ideas and networks into effective fundraising activity.

Job Responsibilities

Essential

• Experience of fundraising, development or preparing grant applications
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to make a persuasive case for support.
• Strong research skills and an ability to identify and assess promising opportunities.
• Attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Able to work independently, anticipate what is needed and follow opportunities through.
• An ability to translate the Festival's aims into compelling funding propositions

Desirable

• Experience of corporate fundraising, sponsorship or partnerships.
• A passion for classical music and the arts.

Recruitment timetable
Closing date: 9 November 2026, 5pm
1st interviews: 18 and 19 November 2026
2nd interviews: 4 December 2026

Salary: £10,000 - £12,000 pa, depending on experience (FTE equivalent £33,333 - £40,000)
Pension: NEST pension in accordance with the Festival’s pension arrangements
Holiday: Pro rata in accordance with the Festival’s standard holiday entitlement.

This is initially a 12-month fixed-term appointment at 0.3 FTE (averaging 10.5 hours per week) with a flexible start date. The role offers considerable flexibility, both for home working and in how hours are arranged across the year to reflect application deadlines and Festival activity.

Founded in 1981, the festival enjoys a large, loyal and enthusiastic audience, the warm support of the local community and a reputation as one of Europe’s leading classical music festivals.

Events range across the county of North Yorkshire.

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