Director of Development

About Us

We are a world‑class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum’s unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website. Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment. We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About The Role

The Natural History Museum is uniquely positioned as both a world‑class visitor attraction and a leading scientific research institution. As we approach our 150th anniversary, we are embarking on one of the most ambitious transformations in our history. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet and to use our global platform, collections and scientific research to address the urgent challenges facing the natural world. Work is already underway. In 2024, we unveiled our new five‑acre gardens and opened the Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery, which welcomed more than one million visitors in its first six months. Looking ahead, we will relocate 28 million specimens to our new science and research centre at Thames Valley Science Park, due for completion in 2031. This will free significant space in South Kensington, enabling us to transform our iconic Waterhouse building (our cathedral to nature) and open up more of our collections to the public than ever before. To complete this transformation, we are raising £150 million as part of our 150 Campaign. Throughout the lifetime of the campaign, we will breathe new life into four existing galleries, open two magnificent galleries that have been closed to the public for 80 years, welcome one million additional visitors annually, engage 10 million young people and families through our programmes, and inspire more than 100 million advocates for the planet worldwide. This is an extraordinary moment to join the Museum. We are seeking an exceptional Director of Development to lead and deliver this ambitious fundraising programme and to shape the long‑term financial resilience of the organization. Reporting to the Museum Director, Dr Doug Gurr, and serving as a member of the Executive Board, the Director of Development will provide strategic leadership for all fundraising activity across the Museum. They will determine and drive the overall fundraising strategy, building deep and lasting relationships with philanthropists, corporates, trusts, foundations and individual supporters in the UK and internationally. The role encompasses the full development portfolio, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, patrons, legacies and individual giving. Leading a team of 35, the Director will cultivate a high‑performing, collaborative and ambitious function capable of delivering £150 million over the next five years.

About You

The successful candidate will bring significant senior‑level experience of delivering a major institutional fundraising strategy, raising in the region of £20 million per annum, with the ambition and capability to grow further. They will have a strong track record of securing seven‑figure gifts, extensive experience of working with major donors and corporate partners, and deep knowledge of fundraising within the scientific, cultural or similarly mission‑driven sectors. Experience of engaging senior volunteers, operating internationally and managing complex stakeholder relationships will be essential. Above all, the Director of Development will share the Museum’s belief in the power of science to secure a thriving future for people and planet, bringing energy, drive and personal commitment to advancing our mission at a pivotal moment in our history.

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

What We Offer

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 – 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures.
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in‑house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi
• Hybrid working

We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first‑hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events. We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.

How To Apply

If this sounds like you, please apply by visiting this link: Director of Development