At the University of Southampton, our aim is to change the world for the better, bringing together academic research, creativity and knowledge to have a truly collaborative and ground-breaking impact. We care about the challenges that humanity is facing, and work to support others on a local and global scale.
In the Office of Development & Alumni Relations (ODAR), our job is to galvanise our community to solve these challenges and make a difference. Would you like this to be your job too?
About the role
This important position is responsible for raising significant philanthropic income to help advance the University. Building personal and rewarding partnerships with charitable trusts, foundations and companies, this position is crucial in connecting donors with Southampton’s fantastic research and education. Working amongst world-leading researchers and managing a varied portfolio of philanthropic organisations, you will get to see life-changing impact in action.
Based in the Development Team, you will work alongside brilliant fundraisers who share years of experience but are eager to learn from the expertise and perspective of others. Our current fundraising priorities cover an innovative student scholarship programme and cutting-edge medical research. Exciting times are ahead as we plan our new campaign, which will introduce new projects and ensure this is a varied, enjoyable and rewarding role.
About you
You will be a confident, engaging and enthusiastic fundraiser, motivated by the impact of philanthropy. You will have demonstrable experience of securing 5/6-figure+ gifts from charitable trusts, foundations or companies and will recognise the bespoke approach required to engage with each organisation. You will be an excellent writer, with expertise in creating compelling proposals and funding applications, as well as personalised stewardship communications. With a desire to enable interesting opportunities to connect with, cultivate and steward your donors, you will be tenacious and creative in attracting new fundraising leads, ensuring ongoing philanthropic support for the University.
About Us
We are planning our first University-wide fundraising and engagement campaign. Together, we want to raise more money and engage more alumni and friends with Southampton so that we can change the world. With the full support and investment of University leadership, we have been growing our team.
We need people with intellectual curiosity and people with different ideas. We need people with direct experience or transferable skills and the interest/drive to take on a new challenge. We are actively determined to welcome a diverse group of colleagues into our inclusive team. Every day will be different; you will meet incredible people and the rewards will be huge.
Imagine fundraising for medical technologies that could cure cancer or dementia. Or seeing the look on a student’s face when they learn they will be the first in their family to attend University - because of a scholarship that you secured. That could be you.
This could be a career-defining and remarkable opportunity. Help us change the world. Join us.
Thank you for your interest
To learn more about working in our team, visit our Join ODAR website. To have an informal chat about this role, please contact Emma Smart, Senior Development Manager, on 023 8059 363 or E.Smart@soton.ac.uk. Please do contact us to discuss the role if you feel you don’t meet all of the selection criteria.