Development director jobs

Located in the historic town of St Andrews, St Leonards is one of Scotland’s leading independent schools, recently named Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2026 by The Sunday Times. It is a vibrant, co-educational boarding and day community with a true international outlook.

Approaching its 150th Anniversary in 2027, the School is preparing to launch the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. This is a career-defining opportunity for an exceptional professional to drive this initiative, instilling a culture of philanthropy that will secure the future of St Leonards for generations to come.

Reporting directly to the Head, this post will be targeted with generating £500k+ of revenue and will demand both exceptional relationship building skills and technical fundraising expertise. The successful candidate will have freedom to innovate and make a tangible difference and be able to engage prospective donors and the wider highly supportive Seniors (Alumni) community. You will protect the School’s reputation by conducting thorough due diligence on donors and ensuring full compliance with OSCR regulations.

You will be responsible for the School’s capital and strategic fundraising initiatives supported by the Alumni and Development Officer and will work with the supportive, mission-driven Executive Team and Board of Governors to develop and implement these.

To be successful you will be educated to degree level and have knowledge and experience in previous roles where you have developed a demonstrable track record of devising and implementing multi-year fundraising strategies which have allowed you to personally secure 5 and 6 figure gifts from individuals, trusts or foundations. You will possess the financial and legal expertise to structure complex gifts and bring them to completion.

More information on the responsibilities of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required of candidates can be found in the Candidate Pack.

St Leonards is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory PVG check.

Interviews are expected to commence in St Andrews week beginning 26th January 2026

The Development Office at Oundle School is looking for Deputy Director of Development who will be instrumental in advancing our philanthropic goals and will support the management and running of its driven and friendly team.

THE ROLE

The Deputy Director of Development will play a key part in helping us achieve our philanthropic goals. This role provides a real opportunity to make a tangible difference: devising and shaping strategy, driving forward our stewardship and legacies programme, building key relationships with major donors, and working closely with the Director of Development on the next advances in this vital area of the school’s work.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic relationship manager who is highly motivated, creative, and intellectually curious, with experience of working within a fundraising or relatable field. We are looking for a dedicated colleague who will enjoy working across a vibrant constituency within a beautiful architectural setting to deepen philanthropic relationships between the school and its alumni and parent body.

While this role is 40 hours per week, year round, we are open to discussion about working arrangements including hybrid working to attract a candidate who can help us achieve our ambitions.

THE SCHOOL

Oundle and Laxton Junior Schools have long been associated with the very best of modern independent education, especially boarding. The Schools take seriously their responsibility to pupils so that they can emerge as decent, open-minded adults; ambitious about what they can go on to achieve and contribute. Over 1400 pupils are on roll at the School, of whom 840 are full boarders. Academic results are steadfastly excellent. 

A team of around 800 staff, both academic and support, ensure an education of the highest standard is in place across the Schools with the efforts of the whole team focused on this fundamental aim.

LIVING IN OUNDLE

We are fortunate in our location at the heart of a beautiful market town. School and town are part of the same community and our pupils take their place within this community, not isolated from it. The town has a spirited cultural life, with an annual international festival, literature festival, and frequent performances of nationally touring shows at the School’s Stahl Theatre.

TO APPLY

Full details of the role, including hours of work and salary, can be found in the Job Description. If you are excited by this opportunity, please complete and return an application form and supplement to the application before the closing date.

Please note CV submissions cannot be accepted.

Application closing date: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 9am.

Interviews will take place week commencing 2 February 2026 and 9 February 2026.

Oundle School and Laxton Junior School are proud to be equal opportunity employers and we welcome applications from all. We aim to ensure that all applicants are provided with the same opportunities during the recruitment process, and we endeavour to comply with the duties placed upon us to make reasonable adjustments as prescribed by the Equality Act 2010. Should you need to request a particular adjustment to enable you to participate fully in the recruitment process, please ensure that this is made known, to the HR Department

Both Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Recruitment Agencies

The Corporation of Oundle School has an internal recruitment department, but where agency support is required, we will engage our trusted partners. Our adverts are intended to encourage direct interest from potential applicants, not recruitment agencies. Speculative CVs sent from sources other than directly from a candidate, will not be acknowledged or considered.

The Deputy Director Talent, Development and Inclusion will lead the development and delivery of all people development, ED&I, inclusive recruitment, and career development initiatives across the National Theatre. This role is central to embedding a culture of learning, equity, and opportunity, ensuring that the NT is a place where everyone can thrive and grow.

The postholder will work across the NT to build inclusive systems, develop talent pipelines, and drive cultural change aligned with the NT’s values and social purpose, ensuring the policy framework is in place to support these intentions. They will work closely with the Deputy Director People Operations and Employee Relations to deliver the People and Culture strategic plan.

The successful candidates will have the following:  

• Experience of presenting ideas that convey meaning to build positive relationships to influence change.
• A thorough understanding of and experience of the practical application of inclusive best practices and organisational development.
• Proven leadership in organisational development and EDI in complex organisations
• Extensive in-depth knowledge of ED&I issues in society and the arts.
• A working understanding of inclusive recruitment frameworks and legal considerations

If that sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

The closing date for the receipt of a completed application is Friday 16th January 2026 at 12 noon

ONCE REDIRECTED TO OUR WEBSITE YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOW DOCUMENTS: JOB DESCRPTION, APPLICATION FORM AND RECRUITMENT MONITERING FORM.

King Edward VI Foundation, Birmingham, is a progressive charitable organisation which has supported excellence in education across the City since 1552.  Our schools are diverse in nature but have a common purpose and commitment to achieving our mission of “making Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK”. 

The Foundation is made up of two legal entities. The King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham (“the Academy Trust”) was established in 2017 and currently consists of six selective and six comprehensive academies. The Academy Trust is sponsored by the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham (“the Foundation Charity”), which operates two independent schools and is the steward of a significant charitable endowment.

The Foundation Office provides professional services and leadership, to include Development and Alumni Relations support, to the Academy Trust.

Our recent expansion into a wider diversity of local communities is enabling us to accelerate our strategies for improving the life chances of young people in Birmingham, whatever their background. 

We are looking to appoint a Director of Development and Alumni Relations. As a new leadership role developing relations with all King Edward VI Academy Trust Alumni they will also be partnering with the Foundation Charity to generate philanthropic funding across the organisation in line with our six core values.

Please see the applicant’s brochure for full information about the role, the organisation and person specification. Conversations about the role are encouraged for those wishing to apply, please contact the KEVI Foundation HR to discuss further. 

As a central support service, our working model must be driven by the needs of our schools. Therefore, please be aware that staff are required to take the majority of annual leave during non-term time.

Director of Fundraising Development

We have an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a Director of Development to join the Senior Leadership Team.

The Director of Development is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and provides strategic and operational leadership across all fundraising and income generation activities.

Join a youth social action charity which challenges 18 to 25-year-olds to tackle educational inequality through a year of full-time social action. As mentors, tutors and role models in schools, they support pupils growing up in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.

Position: Director of Development

Location: London/Hybrid (two days worked from the office or at external events per week and two days from home)

Hours: Part-Time, 4 days per week, 28 hours per week

Salary: £60,000 pro rata (£48,000 for 28 hours)

Duration: Fixed-term (12 months with possibility to extend)

Start date: March-April 2026

Closing Date: 7 January 2025

Interviews: Starting from the week commencing 12 January 2026

The Role

The Director of Development is responsible for leading a dedicated Development team to secure sustainable income from corporates, trusts and foundations, high-net-worth individuals, events, and statutory bodies.

You will collaborate with the SLT colleagues and the Board’s Development Committee to drive income growth, strengthen relationships with key supporters, and ensure the organisation’s fundraising strategies align with the organisations mission, values, and long-term objectives.

The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership of a high-performing team, ensuring fundraising systems, processes, and reporting are effective, accurate, and aligned with best practices.

Main duties and responsibilities include:

· Strategic Leadership of Development

· Team Leadership and Management

· Major Donor, Corporate and Trusts Management

· Systems, Processes and Reporting

· External Engagement and Profile Raising

About You

We are looking for someone with strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and presentation skills and the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.

You will have:

· Demonstrated commitment to the charity’s mission, vision, and values.

· Extensive experience in a senior fundraising or development role with a proven record of securing significant corporate, trust, foundation, or major donor partnerships.

· Experience leading and managing a fundraising or development team, including performance management and professional development.

· Proven track record in managing fundraising income budgets, forecasting, and planning.

· Experience of working with senior stakeholders and trustees to secure funding and support.

· Experience managing fundraising systems and reporting processes, including Salesforce.

· Demonstrable success in achieving challenging fundraising targets.

· Experience working in the charity or education sectors, including integrating programme impact into fundraising.

Please apply by uploading your CV and cover letter (two pages preferred) demonstrating your suitable experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. Due to the high volume of CVs received, the charity can only respond back to the successful candidates.

Employee Benefits

As an organisation, particular emphasis is placed on fairness, well-being, and inclusion and offer a range of benefits for staff, including:

· Great holiday entitlement

· Training including degree-level qualifications

· Pension scheme enrolment starts at 4% as standard, and employee contributions are matched up to 5%

· Free eye tests and £20 off glasses

· Interest-free travel season ticket loans

· Interest-free bike loans under the “Cycle to Work Scheme”

· Interest-free Loans to assist employees with welfare or financial hardship

· 2 days per year to pursue volunteering opportunities and 2 days per year to support wellbeing

· Regular all staff wellbeing sessions with external wellbeing experts

· Reservist friendly employer - Bronze award

· Laptop and mobile phone

Other areas of experience may include Director of Development, Development Director, Director, Fundraising Director, Director of Fundraising, Trusts, Foundations, Major Donor, Corporate, Fundraiser, Fundraising, Head of Fundraising, Income, Director of Fundraising and Development.

Please note this role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of our client.