The University of Bath is a place of energy and ambition, where academics, students and supporters alike drive to challenge ideas, push boundaries and create solutions that change lives. It’s exactly this spirit that makes Bath special. With top 10 league table rankings in 2025 and a string of recent accolades and awards, Bath is one of the most innovative and high-performing universities in the UK.
The University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Phil Taylor, took up his post in 2024, and a new Director of Advancement joined in 2025. As the University approaches its 60th anniversary, we are reflecting on our many successes and looking ahead to what’s next, ensuring that Bath remains at the forefront of research in digital, sustainability, and health and wellbeing – areas which already have had a global impact.
Advancement is at the heart of making that vision a reality, and we are building a high-performing team with the ambition and determination to match. With new leadership and a strong history of inspiring and developing teams, we are setting the stage for success. This is a department where you will be encouraged and empowered to make a significant mark and build your own career impact.
For the Head of Philanthropy, this presents an opportunity to engage with an untapped, high-potential prospect portfolio. There are major gifts in the seven and eight figure range that we know are within our reach. We also have inspiring programmes and projects where funding partners can continue to shape and contribute to solving key societal challenges.
This is an especially exciting time for us. We are preparing to welcome a new Chair of Council, who will play a pivotal role in shaping our governance and strategic direction. Alongside this, we are launching a new university strategy, designed to drive excellence in education, high-impact research and global partnerships.
Joining our team means stepping into an environment where learning and development are at the forefront. You’ll be supported through a tailored L&D programme, created and led in collaboration with impressive sector leaders. Just as importantly, you’ll be working alongside committed and supportive colleagues who value collaboration and shared success.
What do we stand for as a department? We believe in ambition, integrity and creating meaningful connections that drive real change. We’d love to see a colleague join us who is keen to stretch themselves, willing to learn from others, ready to share their experiences and committed to contributing positively to both Advancement and the wider University mission.
So, if you thrive on building relationships, love the challenge of philanthropy, and want to be a key part of shaping Bath's future of research and innovation, we want to hear from you.
For a confidential conversation about this exceptional opportunity, please contact our recruitment partners at Richmond Associates. For further information, key dates, and how to apply, please visit our website by clicking APPLY.
Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to help you in your application or with our recruitment process.
We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment. We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.
Closing date for applications: 09:00 on Monday 14th July 2025
Prospectus is collaborating with an internationally renowned art and educational institution to recruit for a newly created role in their Advancement Team - Head of Advancement Operations.
Managing a direct team of three, this role reports in to the Director of Advancement. The post holder is responsible for providing oversight, analysis and leadership to the department based on their in-depth knowledge and understanding of information management and financial systems. The Head of Advancement Operations leads the team responsible for the management of the Advancement database, gift administration, prospect research, and leads the financial monitoring of the department, working closely with the Finance team and providing complex analysis and forecasting to the Senior Management Team, Governing Board and other committees. The postholder is also responsible for maintaining and delivering regular and ad-hoc reports for internal and external audiences, including quarterly committee papers.
The successful candidate will have previous experience working in a similar role with a strong grasp of fundraising activity and working closely with finance teams. You will have experience of using Raiser’s Edge, Tessitura or a similar database in an educational, charity, arts or heritage fundraising department. You will have excellent interpersonal and communications skills, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, and will be adept at providing advice on matters relating to information management, operations, and systems. You will demonstrate advanced experience of data analysis with the ability to provide recommendations and deliver actionable insights. You will also demonstrate excellent organisational, planning and leadership skills, ensuring team projects and targets are on track and met in full.
To apply please click to the advert on the Prospectus website and submit your CV and a supporting statement via the ‘Apply Now’ button, preferably in Microsoft Word/PDF format. The statement should outline your motivation for joining the organisation and why you feel you would be a good fit for this role. You should also demonstrate your experience and skillset with examples relating to the Appointment Brief. If you have any further questions or would like to know more about this opportunity, please contact Steven Fraser at Prospectus.
As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.