Senior Development Manager (Mid-level giving lead)

Posted 5 hours 25 minutes ago by Durham University

£80,000 - £100,000 Annual
Permanent
Full Time
Academic Jobs
County Durham, Pity Me, United Kingdom, DH1 5
Job Description
Job Description We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on

Job Description - Senior Development Manager (Mid-level giving lead) ()

Senior Development Manager (Mid-level giving lead) Job Number:

Development and Alumni Relations
  • Grade 8 : £47,389 to £56,535 per annum
  • Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
  • Working Arrangements : Hybrid arrangements in place, flexible hours may be required on occasion to deliver key activities and maintain relationships
Closing Date 12-Mar-2026, 11:59:00 PM

About the University At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page.

The Role and Department The Development and Alumni Relations Office is responsible for co ordinating philanthropy, alumni and supporter engagement, advancement services, and supporter communications on behalf of the University. DARO works with colleges, academic departments, research centres and institutes, wider student experience partners, and professional departments to engage over 200,000 alumni and supporters around the world. We contribute to the enhancement of Durham University's reputation as globally outstanding, inclusive, and forward looking. We are an ambitious and committed team with a collaborative and collegiate culture.

The Development Team within DARO is ultimately responsible for: soliciting donations from alumni, philanthropists, corporations, trusts and foundations and other charitable bodies; stewarding donors through reports, presentations, events and face to face meetings; meeting with gift beneficiaries to collate and produce gift impact reporting materials; hosting and devising engagement opportunities for existing and prospective benefactors on campus; and managing relationships with high level stakeholders on behalf of the University.

Senior Development Manager Responsibilities Senior Development Managers are primarily responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding principal/major donations of £100K - £1M+. In this role, you will manage a small team focused on gifts from £10,000 - £99,999 and work with the Head of Major Gifts to implement a strategy for mid level giving, establishing and tracking progress against clear and granular KPIs. You will personally manage a portfolio of some of the University's most senior benefactors and advocates. This portfolio will primarily comprise individual donors, but may also include trusts and foundations, legacy and planned giving prospects, corporate donors/sponsors, and other philanthropic organisations.

The Senior Development Manager will play a critical role in the delivery of Durham's bicentenary Campaign. The Campaign is a major philanthropic initiative centred on the University's 200th anniversary in 2032, seeking to create a step change in philanthropic giving to Durham.

The post holder must be versatile and able to work closely and with senior alumni, University leaders, prominent and public figures, the trustees of regional, national and global funding bodies, major benefactors and advocates, in multiple capacities which facilitate the development of principal/major donations and the advancement of Durham University. They must be able to lead and manage a small sub team within the Major Gifts team, guiding strategic activity and maintaining a focus on high level opportunities.

Base Location The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House - Durham University.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham
  • 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
  • We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
  • No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
  • We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
  • We provide wide ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24 7 Employee Assistance Programme.
  • Our on site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5 16.
  • Our family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
  • We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
  • You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
  • Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
  • If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependent visas.
Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under represented in our workforce including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within the role.

Person Specification - Qualifications and Experience
  1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
  2. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence events and activities within the organisation.
  3. Experience of working in a fundraising, stewardship or business development environment in a client facing role.
  4. Experience of securing significant gifts (six figure plus) from individual donors.
  5. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
  6. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice . click apply for full job details