Head of Supporter Engagement

The University of Manchester is part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities and highly respected across the globe as a centre of teaching excellence and research innovation and discovery.

With 25 Nobel Prize winners among our current and former staff and students, we have a history of world firsts, with our impact ranging from splitting the atom to giving the world graphene.

Our purpose is to advance education, knowledge and wisdom for the good of society, putting our three core goals of research and discovery, teaching and learning, and social responsibility at the heart of everything we do.

As Head of Supporter Engagement, you will provide University-wide leadership to develop, plan and implement sector-leading fundraising and supporter engagement strategies, policies and programmes with a particular focus on Regular and Leadership giving (<£10k), Legacy Fundraising, and ensuring an exceptional prospect and donor experience for donors giving at all levels.

As the senior lead for the key public-facing aspects of our fundraising programme, you’ll be accountable for the performance of key fundraising streams. You’ll work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that strategies and operational plans are in line with institutional needs. You’ll support and inspire your team to deliver ambitious targets. And you will provide support and strategic guidance to University leaders, academics, and colleagues across the University.

You’ll also be a member of our Development Leadership Team (DLT), meaning that you will play a significant role in our success across the whole fundraising mix. The transformation enabled by the launch of our first university-wide fundraising and volunteering campaign will provide further opportunities for your role to evolve during the campaign’s public phase.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual looking to advance their career in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning for the Supporter Engagement team (currently Donor Experience, Regular and Leadership Giving, and Legacy Fundraising), working with area leads to translating business objectives into clear operational plans.
• Take overall responsibility for the development and leadership of strategic supporter journeys for key campaign audiences, and coordinate communications planning across the Division.
• Lead your team to conceptualise, plan and deliver communications, events, products and experiences that deliver strategic objectives, working collaboratively with colleagues across DDAR and the wider University.
• Proactively identify ways for Supporter Engagement activity to support and complement major and transformational fundraising.
• Identify and leverage opportunities to use university-wide communications and events to support fundraising success.
• Work to embed a culture of philanthropy across the whole institution, ensuring that the relationships, systems and products are in place to involve students and staff in fundraising.
• Be the University’s subject matter expert for your areas of responsibility, providing support and consultancy to senior colleagues, including University Executive members.
• Represent the interests of the Division at University-wide strategy groups and committees as required.
• Oversee financial planning and resource allocation across the Supporter Engagement team.
• Monitor performance across your areas of responsibility, motivating and inspiring your team members to deliver ambitious goals, supporting their development, and embedding a high-performance culture.
• Take shared responsibility for the overall leadership of the fundraising programme as a member of the Development Leadership Team (DLT).
• Be a proactive and visible leader across the Division and wider University.
• Actively contribute to the sector through thought leadership, representing the University at conferences and other sector meetings.
• Role model and embed the “Manchester Mindset” and embody the values and culture of the University and DDAR within your working practice and relationships.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of leading significant mass participation fundraising, legacy, and donor experience programme(s) in the higher education or charitable sector.
• A well-developed understanding of the fundraising mix, and the principles and processes that underpin fundraising success at all levels.
• Experience of developing and delivering strategies to achieve business objectives.
• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-cutting teams to deliver exceptional work.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills with experience of translating complex information into effective, persuasive and clear language for a variety of purposes.
• Proven experience of policy development and negotiation.
• Experience of working with a wide range of colleagues from a variety of disciplines across a large and complex organisation and providing consultancy and support to senior colleagues on a specialised area of expertise.
• Experience of effectively managing budgets.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the necessary listening, facilitation and negotiation skills to represent the University at the highest levels, coupled with the highest levels of tact and discretion required to deal with highly confidential information.
• Enthusiasm and energy to act proactively, and the initiative, drive and commitment to work individually when required.
• A genuine belief in the world-changing power of higher education.
• Willingness to work outside normal office hours as required.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of fundraising from diverse international audiences and designing strategies to meet their needs.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave allowance, including Christmas/New Year closure.
• Pension scheme membership to provide benefits for you and your family.
• Well-being programme with counselling, fitness and leading sports facilities.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Season ticket loans for public transport.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Workplace nursery scheme.
• Staff recognition schemes.
• Staff discounts on a range of products and services including travel and high street savings.

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments will be made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working you can find out more here.

Blended working arrangements may be considered.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Jen Pass, Talent Acquisition Business Partner

Email: [email protected]

General enquiries:

Email: [email protected]

Technical support:

Jobtrain: 0161 850 2004 https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.