Director of Principal Gifts & International in London

UCL is a radically different university. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. Today, it has over 51,000 students, 14,000 staff and over 470,000 alumni, and is one of the world’s top 10 universities.

UCL will launch their largest ever fundraising and engagement campaign that will leverage the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that their bicentennial anniversary in 2026 presents. Since the last campaign, UCL has increased their ambitions and are building further capacity and expertise across the Advancement division. As part of this step-change, UCL’s Advancement Office has re‑imagined their Principal Gifts & International team and are now seeking an experienced practitioner to drive this area forward. There has never been a more exciting time to join the team.

As the Director of Principal Giving & International, you will lead a newly combined team that cultivates meaningful relationships with donors and prospective supporters who have the potential to transform the future and impact of UCL. You and your team of experts will secure philanthropic gifts at the 7 and 8‑figure level and drive UCL’s international fundraising activity forward. You will work with key colleagues and stakeholders across Advancement and the wider University, as well as with a mission‑critical senior volunteer network around the world.

It’ll therefore be critical that you are a highly experienced and ambitious fundraiser and leader, with vision, creativity and the ability to make things happen while taking others on the journey with you. To be successful, you must bring well‑rounded knowledge and experience of best‑in‑class principal gifts fundraising, and a demonstrable track record of securing 7‑figure philanthropic gifts, alongside an awareness of global fundraising trends.

Your approachable and collaborative manner, along with your ability to work at pace and with gravitas, inspires confidence from those around you. Being enterprising and solutions‑focused, people enjoy working with you and actively seek you out as a thought partner. You must be equally comfortable in playing a front‑facing role, as well as operating behind the scenes and supporting others in making the ask, as it’s the transformational outcomes and impact that truly drives you.

In return, you will join a team of passionate individuals who work together to achieve remarkable things with a global impact.

Closing date for applications is midnight GMT on Sunday, 1 March 2026. Interviews with UCL will start from mid‑March 2026.

Our people really are our greatest asset. We invest in them so that they can fulfil their potential. Equity, diversity and inclusion are important to us and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to give their best in a place where their unique experiences, perspectives and skills are seen as valuable assets. We also prioritise work‑life balance and offer hybrid and agile working as well as flexibility around working hours. We are happy to receive part‑time applications for all of our job opportunities, and can consider a 0.8FTE working pattern for this role. And we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are likely to be under‑represented in UCL’s workforce.