Development Manager

Organisation: English Chamber Orchestra

Reporting to: Chief Commercial Officer / Commercial Leadership

Location: Flexible remote working, with regular in-person meetings in London and attendance at concerts, events, donor meetings and stakeholder engagements as required (No office currently)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Salary: £40,000–£45,000 per annum, depending on experience, with progression towards the Head of Development role. + Performance bonuses estimated £30,000+ per annum. (no cap)

Start Date: July/August

VISA: No visas available

About the English Chamber Orchestra

The English Chamber Orchestra has a rich history and a long-standing reputation for artistic excellence and collaboration at the highest level. Building on this legacy, ECO is now at an important point in its development, with a clearer sense of direction and a renewed focus on shaping a sustainable future and making music that matters. Following a period of organisational change, including the move to a CIO structure and the creation of an International Advisory Board, ECO is looking ahead to the next stage of growth. At the heart of this is a commitment to both artistic excellence and meaningful impact. Alongside concert and touring work, ECO’s UNESCO-awarded Close Encounters programme plays a central role in how the organisation connects with communities and supports the next generation of musicians and audiences. This work should grow alongside the artistic programme, not sit separately from it. ECO is a small team, and that shapes how the organisation works. People are involved across different areas, and ECO’s players sit at the heart of the organisation, from the concert platform to the charitable board. This ensures the organisation works together towards shared goals. This role offers the chance to take real ownership, bring ideas and energy, and help shape how development works at ECO going forward. There is a genuine opportunity to make a difference.

About the Role

ECO is seeking a Development Manager to support and help build its fundraising, sponsorship, donor, patron, trust, foundation and partnership activity. This role will work under the direction of the Chief Commercial Officer / Commercial Leadership and closely with the CEO, trustees, colleagues, players, supporters, patrons, donors, corporate partners and external stakeholders. The Development Manager will play a key role in building relationships with supporters, donors, sponsors and partners, while also contributing to the wider direction of the organisation. This is a hands-on role suited to someone who is comfortable thinking strategically while also getting involved in the detail. For the right candidate, this role offers clear career progression from Development Manager to Head of Development / Development Director within 6–12 months, based on performance, results, leadership capability and contribution to ECO’s fundraising growth. Music industry, orchestral, classical music, arts, cultural or charity-sector experience would be highly valuable. However, the primary requirement is a proven track record of previous results in fundraising, development, sponsorship, partnerships, donor relations or income generation.

Purpose of the Role

The Development Manager will help shape and deliver ECO’s fundraising and development activity, supporting income generation from:

• Individuals
• Major donors
• Patrons and friends
• Corporate sponsors
• Strategic partners
• Trusts and foundations
• Cultural and philanthropic supporters

This income underpins ECO’s artistic ambitions, its role as an ambassador for British culture at home and abroad, and its wider programme of activity, including community and education work. Targets will be discussed as part of the role, but ECO currently aims to raise around £500,000+ each year to support touring, concerts, development activity and most importantly, the Close Encounters programme. This role offers the opportunity to help implement a forward-thinking fundraising approach, building on ECO’s legacy while supporting a period of strategic and sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of a comprehensive fundraising and development strategy aligned with ECO’s artistic and organisational ambitions.
• Contribute to the future direction of ECO during a period of organisational development and commercial growth.
• Identify and prioritise opportunities for sustainable income growth across individual giving, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, trusts and foundations.
• Support the development of relationships with major donors and help secure significant philanthropic support for ECO.
• Develop and grow relationships with high-level partners, including corporate sponsors and strategic collaborators.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing donors and partners, ensuring continued engagement and long-term support.
• Help ensure ECO’s positive and exciting work is communicated clearly and regularly to supporters.
• Support and contribute directly to fundraising applications to trusts and foundations.
• Seek support from individuals and develop other income streams, ensuring delivery against agreed targets.
• Develop and sustain a portfolio of key relationships and prospects to support ECO’s community and education programme, international touring, development schemes and core costs.

Supporter Development

• Nurture and expand ECO’s base of supporters, building long-term relationships with patrons and donors.
• Develop compelling propositions and giving opportunities aligned with ECO’s programme, ambitions and future direction.
• Support the delivery of donor events, friends and patrons gatherings, corporate sponsor events and supporter engagement activities.
• Help create incentives and relationship-building opportunities that encourage a strong social and philanthropic culture around supporting ECO.

Development Function and Team Growth

• Help build the foundations of ECO’s development function.
• Operate effectively within a small team while supporting strategic growth.
• Work with freelance colleagues, trustees, the CEO and commercial leadership to deliver initiatives and opportunities.
• Support the creation of a firm, convincing and practical development strategy.
• Work closely with trustees and senior stakeholders to support fundraising activity and advocacy.
• Contribute to systems, processes and reporting that help ECO manage prospects, donors, partners and supporter relationships more effectively.

Collaboration and Representation

• Work in close partnership with the CEO, Chief Commercial Officer / Commercial Leadership and colleagues across the organisation to embed fundraising within ECO’s wider strategy.
• Act as an ambassador for ECO, clearly articulating and promoting ECO’s mission, values and programme to external audiences.
• Represent the organisation at events and with key stakeholders.
• Support the development of a strong culture of philanthropy around ECO.
• Engage professionally with donors, sponsors, patrons, trustees, ambassadors, cultural partners and senior external contacts.

Experience Required

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate:

• A strong track record of success in fundraising, development, sponsorship, partnerships, sales, business development or income generation.
• Experience securing high-value support from donors, sponsors, partners or strategic supporters.
• Experience supporting or delivering fundraising strategies that drive sustainable and diverse income growth.
• Experience managing, influencing or engaging key stakeholders, including high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, trustees, patrons, ambassadors or senior decision-makers.
• Experience working within or contributing to the growth of an evolving organisation.
• Music industry, orchestral, classical music, arts, cultural or charitable-sector experience would be highly desirable.
• Direct experience in the music sector is helpful, but previous measurable results are the primary requirement.

Skills and Knowledge

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the presence and credibility to engage and influence at senior level.
• Strong strategic capability, with the ability to translate organisational ambition into clear and deliverable fundraising plans.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling case for support.
• Ability to represent ECO with authority, professionalism and passion.
• Commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Experience working towards significant income targets.
• Ability to contribute to organisational sustainability.
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on within a small team environment.
• Appreciation of ECO’s artistic context and the ability to align fundraising with artistic ambition.
• Ability to contribute to how ECO communicates its artistic goals, charitable purpose and wider cultural mission.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about live music and genuinely interested in the work and future potential of ECO.
• Ambitious, forward-looking and motivated to help shape and grow a development function.
• Personally credible, discreet and highly professional.
• Collaborative, flexible and comfortable working within a small organisation with evolving structures.
• Resilient, proactive and able to combine strategic thinking with delivery.
• Focused, adaptable and aware of the changing landscape in the arts world.
• Commercially intelligent, target-aware and comfortable with responsibility.
• Confident engaging with high-level individuals, companies, donors, patrons and cultural stakeholders.

Career Progression

This role is being introduced as a Development Manager position; based on performance and results, there is potential to progress into a Head of Development or Development Director role within 6–12 months.