Director of development and alumni relations jobs

Oxford is excited to invite applications for a newly created role that will lead fundraising for its School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE). The Head of Development will be a key member of the Social Sciences Development team within Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE), who will work closely with SoGE and DAE leadership to establish a small Geography team, and to develop a fundraising strategy that serves the School’s goals and grows its philanthropic support.

SoGE is one of the foremost geography and environment university departments in the world, internationally recognised for the quality of its research and teaching. Geography at the University of Oxford is a large, vibrant and intellectually diverse community comprising the core academic department of the School of Geography and the Environment, its three research centres: the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), the Transport Studies Unit (TSU) and the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment (SSEE) and several geographers based elsewhere in the wider university.

This is a special opportunity to work collaboratively with academic colleagues who craft robust, imaginative and forward-looking answers to pressing questions about the environment, technology, geopolitics and socio-economic change.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced major gifts fundraiser who is looking to grow their career in Higher Education through a senior role combining significant fundraising with management of a small team. You will be a collaborative fundraiser with expertise in major gifts and a strong track record of securing complex philanthropic support. Thriving in a fast-paced environment, you will be a strategic thinker and a skilled operator—communicative, adaptable, and adept at building strong, lasting relationships. Your ability to establish credibility and foster trust across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders will be key to your success, as will be a knowledge of and passion for issues relating to the School’s work, and that of the Social Sciences more broadly. Experience in Higher Education or the charitable sector, as well as of managing staff, is desirable.  Above all, you will share Oxford’s mission and be driven to create meaningful impact through strategic philanthropic partnerships.

What We Offer 

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as: 

· 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service. 

· One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave. 

· A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle. 

· An excellent contributory pension scheme. 

· Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans. 

· Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs. 

Sponsorship and Right To Work

This role may meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa. The University will meet the cost of the Skilled Worker visa and NHS surcharge for applicants that require a visa. 

Please let us know in your application if you require sponsorship. 

 Application Process 

To apply, please upload: 

· A covering letter/supporting statement 

· Your CV 

· The details of two referees 

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 26 September 2025 

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 8 October 2025 and will be held in person in central Oxford.

The University of Oxford Development and Alumni Engagement Office is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences, and reflects the community that we serve. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the vibrant Fundraising and Development team at Bancroft’s School. As the Fundraising and Alumni Assistant, you will be at the heart of building and nurturing a strong, connected Bancroft’s community - especially among alumni, donors and friends of the school as well as contributing directly to the School’s mission of changing lives through education and opportunity.

The Fundraising and Development Department at Bancroft's School comprises the Director of Fundraising and Development, Data and Development Officer and Fundraising and Alumni Assistant. They oversee the Bancroft's Foundation, alumni and community engagement, donor relations, and fundraising initiatives including events; playing a key role in advancing the School’s philanthropic and community goals.

Reporting to the Director of Fundraising and Development, you will play a key role in planning and delivering events, managing and disseminating communications and supporting fundraising efforts. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves, getting involved in details and making things happen.

The purpose of this role is to strengthen relationships across the Bancroft’s community - especially alumni and potential donors - through engaging events, thoughtful communications, and proactive logistical support. This role blends relationship-building with practical execution and requires someone who is both people-focused and detail-oriented.

The post is full-time, 52 weeks per year. The working hours are 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm, with 30 minutes unpaid lunch. The role will be office-based during term time, with flexibility for occasional remote work during the 18 weeks of the school holidays. Four days a week will be considered. Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required for events.

Holidays for a full-time member of staff are 27 days per year, as well as 8 Bank Holidays, to be taken during the school holidays, unless otherwise agreed by the Director of Fundraising and Development.

The salary range for the full-time role is £32,000 - £34,000, based upon experience.

We offer a generous benefits package (details are listed in our job pack), including a competitive salary, and have a commitment to supporting ongoing professional development for all of our staff.

Bancroft’s School creates a happy learning environment, where bright children are challenged and supported to become the best versions of themselves. Bancroft’s is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

For further details and to apply, please visit our website.

Closing date: 10.00am on Monday 29th September 2025.

Interview date: Tuesday 7th October 2025. 

Applications will be considered as they are received, so early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to interview early applicants should a suitable candidate apply.

Bancroft’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants are required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Bancroft’s may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and all applicants will be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media accounts, as part of their applications.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Bancroft’s is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

We are looking for an outstanding individual to join our Development and Alumni Relations team to help guide and deliver ourregular giving and stewardship programmes. The ideal candidate will have experience of running successful major fundraising appeals to large audiences. They will have the ability to draft persuasive and accurate copy to support both fundraising and stewardship literature. They will be highly motivated and creative, driving new initiatives to boost participation, increase overall giving, while also increasing retention of donors through an outstanding, tailored stewardship programme. They will be a team-player who can work autonomously when required, but can work collaboratively, and will support other team members with aspects of their work.

The Development and Alumni Relations Office leads the process of generating long-term and consistent voluntary income for Merchant Taylors’ School, and forrunning a comprehensive alumni and parental relations programme.

The Development Manager (Fundraising and Stewardship) will be responsible for planning, managing and having an input to the strategy for a regular giving programme at Merchant Taylors’ School, with a focus on increasing the participation (giving rates) of both our alumni and parental constituencies, as well as donor retention through planning and executing a stewardship programme for benefactors of all levels. Some face-to-face fundraising may also be required, particularly relating to legacy fundraising and the post-holder will build a portfolio of mid-level donors they will manage.

Communications and Impact Lead

Full time (part time will be considered)

Hybrid (with a minimum of 2 days in our office on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus)

Permanent contract

£43,000- £46,000 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

Do you want to make a difference to healthcare globally? Do you have skills and experience in Communications, Marketing and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning? Come and join a brilliant team working from the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and with partners across the world.

For nearly twenty years, Cambridge Global Health Partnerships (CGHP) has been strengthening health systems across the world through education, reciprocal learning, and relationship building. CGHP uses a health partnership model - working with hospitals, governments and health organisations in Cambridgeshire and East of England region and in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) to provide specialist expertise, support shared learning and encourage sustainable change. This is a two-way process involving NHS staff, trainees and students working with LMIC partners using a hybrid working model combining online working and exchange visits. CGHP is a charitable programme based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and is a linked charity to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.

We are recruiting for a Communications and Impact Lead who will lead these functions within CGHP and will be a member of the CGHP Senior Leadership Team. You will work at a tactical and strategic level with responsibility for increasing understanding of our impact and raising our profile to enable CGHP to achieve our strategic ambition. The role will ensure effective impact measurement, communication, promotion, marketing and engagement to support our goals. The role requires excellence measuring impact and communicating with people and groups on all issues and at all levels and. Creativity in communication to effectively tell our story will be key, as will confidence and understanding of monitoring, evaluation and learning.

We are looking for someone imaginative, creative, and dynamic with excellent organisational skills who can ensure that our impact is measured and recognised, and our story is heard. The position is the ideal role for someone who has a combination of skills and experience of communications, impact analysis and project management.

To see a full job description and person specification please visit our website

The closing date for applications is 28th September 2025, however we reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications have been received or a successful candidate is found.

Application Process: Please send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you are a good fit for the role by email