Head of Development

Job Summary

As the Orchestra looks forward to its 80th Anniversary in 2026, we are seeking to appoint a dynamic, highly motivated and experienced fundraising professional to shape and implement a new development strategy that will achieve ambitious fundraising targets.

Job Description

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has a clear mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence, wide-ranging in their appeal and inclusive in their delivery. Performing approximately 200 concerts each season and with a global live and online audience of more than 60 million people, the Orchestra acts as a cultural ambassador for the UK on the world stage, whilst enhancing the social and cultural fabric of local communities through a wide range of community, education, inclusion and wellbeing programmes. As the Orchestra looks forward to its 80th Anniversary in 2026, we are seeking to appoint a dynamic, highly motivated and experienced fundraising professional to shape and implement a new fundraising strategy that will achieve ambitious financial targets and enable the RPO to continue in its mission.

Job Requirements

• An impressive track record in fundraising for major gifts, with demonstrable experience securing HNW and UHNW donors, significant corporate sponsorships, and multi-year commitments from charitable trusts in the UK and internationally.
• Experience in devising and implementing impactful campaigns to generate donations.
• Strategic thinker and planner with a proven track record in developing and implementing fundraising strategies.
• Full competence using CRM systems, preferably Spektrix.
• Exceptional communication, influencing, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to create and communicate a compelling written case for support.
• Calm, articulate, professional and self‑motivated; experience of line management.
• Good knowledge of numeracy and proven management of significant budgets.
• Willingness to work out of office hours, attend RPO concerts and travel on a regular basis, as required.

Job Responsibilities

• Inspire and lead the RPO Development Team to maximise fundraising opportunities through a refreshed Development strategy that strengthens the intrinsic loyalty of existing supporters, and attracts a new and diverse donor base for the future.
• Manage the Individual Giving Manager to shape and inform a refreshed RPO individual giving strategy that contributes directly to the RPO Business Plan and annual financial targets.
• Work with the Business Development Director and Head of Sales and Marketing to communicate across all marketing and communication channels a compelling case for support that articulates the impact and social value of the RPO.
• Increase individual giving by the RPO’s existing pool of donors.
• Introduce initiatives to cultivate new individual donors, with a clear strategy for increasing loyalty to the RPO, including use of the RPO’s existing membership schemes (RPO Chair Patrons, RPO Young Patrons, RPO Benefactors etc).