Development Officer – Museums (Full Time) in London

Secure the future of our historic museums through fundraising and community support. As a Development Officer, you will play a crucial role in sustaining and growing the legacy of Leighton House and Sambourne House. By developing vital partnerships, building donor relationships and driving fundraising initiatives, you will help ensure these cultural landmarks continue to thrive for generations to come.

Working Style

This is a full‑time role. You will be based at the museums for four days a week and attend occasional cultivation and fundraising events outside standard working hours as needed.

What you’ll be doing

This hands‑on, creative and relationship‑focused role works closely with the Senior Curator and the Trustees of the Friends of Leighton House. You will take lead in strengthening fundraising activity across both museums, identifying, applying for and securing funding from trusts, foundations and other sources that align with the museums' mission and programmes. You will also manage documentation for grant‑giving bodies – preparing evaluation reports, monitoring performance and ensuring all conditions are met.

You will cultivate long‑term relationships with existing supporters while identifying and engaging new donors. You will plan and deliver targeted fundraising campaigns and appeals, ensuring that the museums' messages resonate with audiences who care about culture and heritage.

You will coordinate the activities of the Friends of Leighton House, a registered charity, overseeing membership and donor schemes management, organising member events and visits, processing donations and finding creative ways to grow the group’s network and engagement. This includes maintaining clear administrative systems and ensuring regular, meaningful communication with members throughout the year. You will work to deliver key events such as the annual members dinner and garden party.

Collaboration is central. You will work with colleagues across the museums – from marketing and curatorial to operations – to understand ongoing activity, identify potential projects for external funding, support the promotion and running of donations and membership schemes, and appropriately acknowledge and allocate funds raised.

What you’ll bring

A proven track record in fundraising or development, ideally within the museums, heritage or arts sector. Confidence in preparing persuasive grant applications and proposals that align with donor priorities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, an ability to craft tailored messages, liaise with partners and present ideas clearly. Experience working with financial data, preparing budgets and reporting outcomes. Creativity, strategic thinking and imaginative ways to meet fundraising targets. Strong organisational skills, managing multiple projects at once while maintaining attention to detail. Experience in managing or developing membership programmes and events will be highly valuable, as will confidence in engaging and inspiring donors, supporters and volunteers.

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough. As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

As a Development Officer, you will embody the 'We’re all in' mindset – getting stuck in and showing full commitment. From drafting grant proposals to planning events and cultivating donors, you will play an essential role in transforming financial challenges into opportunities for growth.

Logistics

Face‑to‑face interviews will take place 15 April 2026. Basic DBS is required for this role.

Equalities and Diversity

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants. We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

Pay and Benefits

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range. Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises.

Company Information

Company: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council Sector: Leisure and Culture, Culture This role expires 06/04/2026.

Ready to join us? We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.