University of development and alumni engagement jobs in oxford

Head of Alumni Engagement, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

38 days’ holiday | USS pension scheme | Hybrid working

Saïd Business School blends the best of new and old. Founded in 1996, the School is a young, vibrant and innovative business school that is deeply embedded in a 900-year-old world-class university. With a focus on tackling complex world-scale challenges, the School prepares business leaders for the task of making the world a better and more equitable place.

The Leadership Team has recently developed an ambitious five-year plan for the School and Oxford Saïd is now entering an exciting new phase in its evolution. Securing increased levels of philanthropic income and deep levels of alumni engagement will be a critical element in the successful delivery of the new strategy. The School has therefore been investing in growing their Development & Alumni Relations team, including the creation of this senior role of Head of Alumni Engagement.

The Head of Alumni Engagement will support the Associate Director of Alumni and Supporter Engagement in fostering lifelong relationships with the School's extensive alumni network. This includes overseeing alumni volunteering, events, communications and initiatives to increase alumni participation and giving.

Success in this role will be underpinned by your professional experience in alumni relations or managing membership communities.  You will bring exceptional communication, organisational and interpersonal skills, and a demonstrable ability to engage senior stakeholders, manage volunteers and oversee complex budgets. A strong track record in delivering high-profile events, evaluating engagement strategies and working collaboratively across teams is essential, along with some experience of managing others and regular giving.

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a strong impact within a global community and at an exciting moment in this institution’s trajectory. It will take a creative and strategic  engagement professional to understand and galvanise the School’s community, and win their support. In return, you will get to work within an ambitious and growing team, and an excellent benefits package will be available to the successful candidate, including enhanced access to executive education and professional development.

At Saïd Business School we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our team. Join us to build a brighter, more equitable future, where we celebrate diversity, advance equity, and nurture inclusion across everything we do.

For a confidential conversation about this exceptional opportunity, please contact our recruitment partners at Richmond Associates.

Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to help you in your application or with our recruitment process.

Closing date for applications is 09:00 on Thursday 18th September 2025

We're delighted to be partnering with The Queen’s College, University of Oxford to support their recruitment of a High-Value Giving Officer on a permanent basis. 

The Queen’s College is one of Oxford’s oldest and most iconic institutions, beautifully located on the city’s historic High Street. Home to a vibrant academic community of around 330 undergraduates, 160 graduates, 45 Fellows, and a worldwide alumni network of nearly 6,500 contactable Old Members, Queen’s combines centuries of tradition with a bold vision for the future.

About the Role:

We are looking for a dynamic and highly motivated High-Value Giving Officer to join their successful and growing Development & Alumni Relations team. You will lead on cultivating, stewarding, and securing major philanthropic support from Old Members and friends of the College, with a particular focus on legacy gifts of £25,000 and above.

This is a pivotal role within a team that has already helped raise over £40 million through the Access All Areas campaign—supporting student access, outreach (including our ground-breaking partnership with The Access Project), and the endowment of academic Fellowships.

You’ll be building on strong foundations. The alumni events programme is diverse, well-attended, and internationally recognised. The community is generous, engaged, and keen to support Queen’s vision. We now seek someone who can help us harness this enthusiasm into long-term, high-impact philanthropy.
Your Focus

• Lead Relationship Manager for a growing group of high-value donors and prospects, serving as their key point of contact within the College.
• Design and implement bespoke stewardship strategies that engage, inspire and recognise major donors—ensuring they feel a deep, personal connection to Queen’s.
• Take ownership of the Taberdars’ Society, the College’s long-standing donor recognition group and help evolve its role to celebrate both existing and future high-value supporters.
• Work closely with senior College figures, including the Provost, Bursar, Fellows, and academics, to align donor aspirations with strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with the wider Old Members’ Office to ensure a joined-up approach to donor cultivation, stewardship, and communications.

We’re seeking a confident and relationship-driven professional with:

• Experience in educational or non-profit fundraising, especially in managing donor pipelines and stewardship for gifts of £25K+.
• The tact and creativity to build long-term relationships and deepen donor engagement over time.
• A strategic mindset, able to forecast and manage a high-value giving pipeline in line with College priorities.
• Willingness to work collaboratively as part of a small, high-performing team, supporting alumni events and broader development initiatives as needed.
• Strong interpersonal skills, high emotional intelligence, and a genuine passion for education and philanthropy.

What Success Looks Like

• Growing year-on-year membership and engagement with high-value donors.
• Successfully stewarded gifts that reflect donor intent and deliver meaningful impact across Queen’s academic, outreach and student life.
• Thoughtful, timely communications with donors and prospects, including written correspondence, one-to-one meetings, and events.
• Maintaining accurate and detailed records in the College’s CRM system, enabling insightful reporting and forecasting.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, age, or gender. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.