Director of Development

Do you love the idea of using your fundraising expertise to help shape the future of a place defined by extraordinary history, purpose, and possibility?

If you're energised by building relationships, crafting compelling narratives and creating meaningful, lasting impact, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for.

Durham Cathedral is a place where heritage, community and worship meet every day. Known and loved across the Northeast and far beyond, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of people each year to experience its beauty, serenity, music, and prayer. As it approaches the 900th anniversary, the Cathedral is looking for a Director of Development to lead on fundraising at a moment of real momentum.

Director of Development
Salary: £53,000 to £60,000 per annum
Location: Durham Cathedral Office with some agreed flexibility
Contract: Permanent, full-time, 37.5 hours a week
Culture: Collaborative, values-led and ambitious

About the role

Durham Cathedral is entering a new and ambitious phase. With a major programme of capital works ahead and a strong commitment to growing philanthropic income, this is a chance to lead fundraising in a setting where your work will have real visibility and impact. Development is a vital enabler for the Cathedral's mission and vision, and in this leadership role, you will be front and centre of helping them achieve that.

You will lead income generation for both transformational capital projects and essential unrestricted giving, helping to secure the long-term future of the Cathedral. You'll build a confident, collaborative, and strategic approach to fundraising across the Cathedral, working closely with senior leaders and colleagues as you develop a sustainable development function that reflects the Cathedral's values, mission, and future direction.

About you

You're an experienced and thoughtful fundraising leader who combines strategic thinking with strong relationship skills.

You will likely:

• Bring a proven track record of securing significant income and delivering fundraising growth
• Have experience managing a team
• Feel confident working across multiple income streams, including major donors, trusts and foundations, legacies, and individual giving
• Be an engaging communicator who builds trust quickly and works collaboratively
• Enjoy shaping and developing a function with real scope to grow
• Be motivated by purpose, and bring an understanding/empathy to the mission and life of the Cathedral

Above all, you'll bring curiosity, care, and a genuine commitment to helping an extraordinary organisation flourish in its next chapter.

How to apply

If you'd like a role with genuine breadth, influence, and purpose, please submit your CV to Ellen Drummond at Charity People in the first instance.

Closing date: Friday the 10th of April at 9am
Interviews: Monday 27th April at Durham Cathedral

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.