Head of Philanthropy Operations
The role
The London Clinic is at a pivotal moment in the growth of its philanthropy programme, with increasing ambition and collaboration with Northwestern Medicine driving a new phase of development.
The Head of Philanthropy Operations will be central to delivering this transformation. This role provides both strategic and hands-on leadership to build the operational infrastructure, governance and processes that underpin a high-performing fundraising function in a complex healthcare environment.
Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and senior stakeholders, you will turn strategy into action, strengthening systems, improving gift management and reporting and embedding a culture of philanthropy across the organisation.
This is a role for an action-oriented individual, someone highly organised, tenacious and comfortable with ambiguity and who takes ownership and sees things through. You will bring experience from within the fundraising arena, with a strong understanding of the operational requirements that underpin successful philanthropic programmes.
About us
Established in 1932, The London Clinic is one of the UK’s largest private hospitals, with eight state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of London’s medical community around Harley Street. As a charity, we reinvest in cutting-edge treatments, technology, and facilities to benefit our patients, staff, and the wider community.
We offer a comprehensive range of services, from complex medical and surgical procedures to specialist cancer care. The London Clinic is known for its supportive, collaborative culture where every contribution is valued, guided by our core values: We go further, We work as one, We personalise care.
Key Duties
- Lead the development of the operational infrastructure, systems and governance that underpin a high-performing philanthropy programme.
- Translate fundraising strategy into effective delivery, building processes that support donor engagement, stewardship and growth.
- Oversee gift processing, financial tracking and reporting, working closely with finance to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Develop and embed policies, due diligence and governance frameworks to support ethical and sustainable fundraising.
- Build strong relationships across clinical, operational and senior leadership teams to embed philanthropy across the organisation.
- Drive continuous improvement in systems, data management and operational performance.
- Lead and develop a small team, fostering a collaborative and accountable culture.
Skills & Experience
- Experience working within the fundraising or philanthropy sector, with a strong understanding of fundraising operations.
- Proven ability to design and implement systems, processes and governance frameworks.
- Highly organised and delivery-focused, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work through ambiguity.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working across complex organisations.
- Experience of CRM systems (e.g. Raiser’s Edge) and using data to inform decision-making.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
- Knowledge of compliance, governance and regulatory requirements in a fundraising or similarly regulated environment.
Benefits
We offer a range of benefits including flexible working and great career opportunities. Our core benefits are:
- Private Medical Insurance
- Contributory pension scheme (total contribution up to 20%)
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Life assurance
- Travel season ticket loan
- Family friendly benefits
- A range of retail discounts
- Excellent career development; with clear career pathways and access to further education
We are committed to safeguarding and protecting all adults at risk, children and young people by implementing robust safer recruitment practices during our selection process. Pre-employment checks are undertaken in accordance with industry standards and regulations, and successful applicants may be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you would like further information about our safer recruitment policy then please contact a member of our recruitment team.
The London Clinic is proud of its diverse workforce and is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We absolutely welcome applicants from underrepresented groups; if you think you have the skills and experience for the job, please apply - we would love to hear from you regardless of your background.