Head of Development

The Royal Society’s fundamental purpose is to recognise, promote and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. The Society has played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant and lifechanging discoveries in history and continues to make outstanding contributions to science.

The Head of Development role manages the Royal Society’s development team, which is focused on maximising philanthropic income and achieving a collective team target of approx. £5.5 million annually. The post holder is responsible for developing a programme of approaches that secure gifts of mainly at the high 6-figure and 7-figure level from a range of income streams including trusts and foundations, legacies, individual supporters, and companies in the UK and overseas. The postholder will also be responsible for ensuring that stewardship, administration and gift acceptance processes operate smoothly, and are completed efficiently and in accordance with the relevant policies.

Responsibilities:

• Fundraising: Be responsible for the Society’s philanthropic income generation as directed by the Director of Development and Scientific Programmes. Work with senior leadership and Fellows to identify strategically important activities that would lend themselves to philanthropic funding. Cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of individual, trust and corporate donor prospects with the ability to make 6 and 7-figure donations.
• Development Operations: Oversee the efficient and smooth operational delivery of voluntary income streams. Ensure that robust due diligence is carried out where needed and that any risk to the Society is identified and mitigated.
• Stewardship: Ensure that all donors are stewarded effectively and in line with the schedule agreed in the gift agreement.
• General: Establish or develop co‑operative working relationships with appropriate Society colleagues and leadership volunteers. Help build a wider understanding of fundraising within the Society and increase the profile of the team and its work.

Key Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills to deal effectively and appropriately with donors, prospects and other stakeholders.
• Ability to produce clear, accurate and concise materials for a discerning readership.
• Proven track record of soliciting and securing 6-figure and 7-figure gifts.
• Significant experience in coaching, developing and motivating a high‑performing team.

Desirable:

• Experience of working within an academic / university environment.
• Experience of developing and delivering corporate sponsorship packages.

Competencies:

• Self‑management: Identifies difficult situations and controls pressurised situations.
• Working with others: Actively seeks ideas and criticisms from within the team.
• Resource management: Determines strategy and deployment of resources, balancing cost and benefit.
• Critical thinking: Uses questioning, analytical and probing skills to ‘dig deeper’.
• Adaptability: Actively seeks the input and opinions of others.
• Managing people and relationships: Sets expectations of others and ensures they deliver.