This is an exceptional opportunity at one of the world's most prestigious universities at a time of extraordinary ambition and philanthropic momentum.
Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts
Employer: University of Oxford
Salary: £65,336 - £82,255 with scope to go beyond for a leading professional with outstanding experience and track record
Location: Oxford (Hybrid)
Here at the University of Oxford, we are recruiting three Associate Directors of Development – Principal Gifts to join our incredible team. These are new positions, part of an expansion of our friendly, collaborative and successful Principal Gifts team.
As Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts, you will operate at the highest levels of the University to secure transformational gifts at the eight-figure-plus level, advancing Oxford’s mission and global impact. Your work will help ensure that Oxford continues to attract the brightest minds, pursue world-leading research, and address the most urgent challenges facing humanity.
You will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor, Chief Development and Alumni Engagement Officer, Director of Development – Principal Gifts, and other senior leaders to align principal gift opportunities with institutional priorities and articulate a compelling case for support to some of the world’s most significant philanthropists.
Your impact will be enduring – enabling breakthrough discoveries, expanding opportunity for students, and strengthening Oxford’s position as a global leader in education and research. The Associate Director of Development role offers the chance not only to secure transformational gifts, but also to shape the future of Oxford’s philanthropic culture and leave a legacy at an institution that has been changing the world for over nine centuries.
This is a chance to join a dedicated, professional and ambitious team at a time when Oxford’s fundraising is at unprecedented levels. With strong support from the Vice-Chancellor, a proven track record of principal gift success, and an unparalleled global reputation, you will have every opportunity to make your mark, both at Oxford and in your career.
You will be passionate about what we do here, not phased by complexity and ambiguity, and comfortable orchestrating a myriad of stakeholders. We hope to hear from you!
The University of Oxford is partnering with Erin Hall-Westfall and Joanna Logan of Constellate Global Talent on this search.
Closing date: midnight on Monday, 6 April 2026.
Interested?
Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.
Diversity and Inclusivity
The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission.
We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
No agencies please
If you would like to have a confidential discussion about the role, please email info (at) weareconstellate (dot) com
Please see attached candidate pack. Applications are by CV and covering letter.
Registered Charity 
More than 1000
Thank you!
Shape public policy. Safeguard professional standards. Lead a profession towards the statutory recognition it deserves.
Not every Chief Executive role involves influencing government, protecting professional standards and occasionally resolving a registrant query before the end of the day.
After seven years, Mike Orlov is retiring as Chief Executive and Registrar of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters. The Board is now seeking a successor who can continue strengthening the organisation and raising the profile and importance of professional interpreters working across public services.
NRPSI is the independent voluntary regulator and national register for public service interpreters in the United Kingdom. It sets professional standards, upholds accountability and provides assurance to public sector organisations, including the Ministry of Justice, the Metropolitan Police and NHS bodies, in settings where interpreters are relied upon in critical situations.
In these environments, clear communication is essential. When it fails, the consequences can affect legal outcomes, safeguarding decisions and, in some situations, lives.
The organisation is entering an important moment in its development. The House of Lords Public Services Committee’s 2025 report on interpreting services in the courts has brought renewed national attention to the role that professional interpreters play across justice, policing and healthcare. At the same time, NRPSI continues to advance the longer-term ambition of statutory regulation and protection of title for Registered Public Service Interpreters.
As Victor Olowe, Chair of NRPSI, puts it: “This is an important moment for NRPSI and for the wider profession, particularly following the House of Lords 2025 report and the government’s commitment to address some of its key recommendations.”
As Chief Executive and Registrar, you’ll engage with senior stakeholders across government and public services while leading a specialist, long-standing team responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Register and the standards that underpin it.
Drawing on your experience, you’ll help shape the organisation’s next stage of development and strengthen the role NRPSI plays in safeguarding the public through professional interpreting standards.
The Role
Stepping into this role, you’ll be accountable to the Board for the governance, strategic direction and operational leadership of the organisation.
This is a hands-on leadership role, working closely with the Chair and Board to shape the organisation’s strategy and priorities, while ensuring the Register continues to operate with credibility, integrity and independence.
You’ll have direct responsibility for the integrity of the Register itself. This includes oversight of registration, renewals, complaints and disciplinary processes, as well as responsibility for ensuring the organisation’s Code of Professional Conduct and regulatory framework remain robust and fit for purpose.
With your experience, moving between strategic and operational ground will come naturally to you. One week you may be engaging with senior civil servants or government departments about the importance of professional interpreting standards. The next you may be reviewing operational processes, supporting your team in the delivery of the Register’s core functions or ensuring the organisation’s financial position remains sustainable.
Your team works mainly remotely and are all long-standing, dedicated and experienced, responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Register. Working in a remote-first environment, continuing a culture of collaboration, accountability and professional development while ensuring the organisation continues to deliver high standards of service is high on the list of priorities.
Externally, you’ll act as the senior voice of NRPSI. What does this mean in reality? Engaging with stakeholders across justice, policing, healthcare and central government, representing the organisation’s perspective clearly and authoritatively. This could include contributing to sector discussions, building relationships with policymakers and making the case for why professional interpreting standards matter to public safety and effective public services, or posting on LinkedIn and social channels, giving updates or hosting town halls for registrants.
The role also sees you supporting the organisation’s longer-term ambition of achieving statutory regulation and protection of title for Registered Public Service Interpreters, a goal that will genuinely benefit from the right leader’s credibility and persistence.
Financial sustainability also sits within your remit. NRPSI is funded through registration fees paid by interpreters, and you’ll oversee the organisation’s finances while ensuring resources are used effectively to deliver its strategic priorities. Alongside this, you’ll maintain oversight of operational systems and processes, identifying opportunities to improve resilience, efficiency and the effective use of digital tools.
The Person
This is a role that calls for someone who has operated at senior or director level within a charity, not-for-profit organisation, professional body, regulatory organisation, membership association or comparable public service environment.
Someone who understands the responsibilities that come with leading an organisation whose work centres on professional standards, governance and public protection, and who brings the credibility, judgement and experience required to engage effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders including government departments, public sector organisations, registrants and sector partners.
A collaborative, trust-based leadership style will be just as important: someone equally comfortable exercising independent judgement as they are balancing strategic thinking with practical delivery in a specialist organisation where both are needed in equal measure.
You’ll bring most of the following:
- Senior leadership experience at director level or above within a charity, professional body, membership organisation, regulatory body or public service environment
- Experience influencing government policy or engaging with commissioners of public spending
- Experience developing or improving regulatory, registration or accreditation processes
- The ability to represent an organisation clearly and confidently in public, including engaging with senior civil servants, sector stakeholders and the media
- Financial literacy and experience overseeing organisational budgets and sustainability
- Experience developing and delivering strategy and operational plans
- Confidence using digital systems, data and communication platforms to support organisational priorities
- Understanding of, or experience in, a registrar or equivalent function within a professional, regulatory or standards body, including accountability for the integrity of registration processes and criteria
Desirable
- Familiarity with public affairs, policy engagement or advocacy work would be advantageous, as would exposure to justice, policing, healthcare or public service environments.
- Experience navigating politically sensitive or contested professional environments, including managing public criticism, would also be beneficial.
- A second language would be welcomed.
- Above all, you’ll share a commitment to the public interest and the role professional interpreting plays in ensuring fair access to justice and public services.
A full candidate pack providing further information about the organisation accompanies this ad.
Key Information
NRPSI is working with Michelle Paoloni, Director at House Recruitment, on this appointment.
To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting statement of no more than two pages outlining your relevant experience, where you saw the role advertised and what has prompted you to apply.
- Applications close at 5pm on Friday 10 April 2026.
- Discovery conversations with House Recruitment will take place on a rolling basis.
- Final interviews will be held in person in London on Wednesday 29 April 2026.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
NRPSI is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and are committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive recruitment process.
