Head of philanthropy and partnerships jobs in Edinburgh

Head of Communications & Public Affairs

The Head of Communications & Public Affairs is a pivotal role at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) promoting our world-leading work in science, conservation, horticulture, and education.

Working as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role will lead the organisation’s approach to strategic communications, seeking opportunities to engage external audiences, disseminate key messages, and raise RBGE’s profile on a national and international stage through press and media engagement.

With oversight of the communications and publishing functions, this role will also provide key support to the Regius Keeper and the Executive Team in shaping engagement and communication strategies with political stakeholders across the Scottish and UK governments.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in the next phase of RBGE’s corporate strategy, strengthening key policy relationships and promoting RBGE’s expertise to deliver real impact in the fight against the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Closing date:                            09:00am (BST) on Monday 20 July 2026        
First interview date:               30 July 2026
Second interview date: 5 August 2026

Recruitment information: 

Further details on the job description, person specification, and how to apply can be found in the candidate pack for the role on our website here: Head of Communications and Public Affairs Candidate Pack

About The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an independent membership organisation dedicated to the education, training and advancement of surgeons, dental surgeons, doctors, and various individuals throughout healthcare who are involved in the surgical care of patients. The College has a current membership approaching 33,000 and growing, with members spanning over 100 countries around the world.

From our founding in 1505, the College has been committed to the advancement of surgery and driving patient safety standards worldwide. In our 520-year history, there has never been a better time to join the College than now.

Working with us

At the College we aim to embrace views from across the organisation, sharing common goals and values for the betterment of healthcare through the advancement of surgical and dental professionals. We aim to develop teams that are reflective of the needs of our members and maximise the potential of every employee.

To reflect the varying needs across the organisation, we offer a range of policies and benefits for our workforce including a generous 42 days annual leave, flexible working practices, enhanced employer pensions contribution and various discounts throughout the College including the Ten Hill Place Hotel, 1505 Café and free entry to Surgeons’ Hall Museums.

About the Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and proactive Philanthropy Officer to support the College’s fundraising and donor engagement activities.

Working closely with the Philanthropy Manager and Head of Development, you will help secure philanthropic support for a range of College priorities, including research, education, global surgery and heritage. This includes supporting fundraising activity for the College’s Global CARE initiative, which aims to address healthcare inequalities worldwide through improved access to safe surgery and patient care. You will contribute to the delivery of fundraising campaigns, legacy giving initiatives, undertake prospect research, develop funding proposals and build relationships with individual donors, corporate supporters, trusts and foundations.

This is a varied role that combines relationship management, fundraising, communications and research. It offers the opportunity to develop experience across a broad range of philanthropic activities while contributing to initiatives that support the College’s mission to advance surgical and dental care worldwide.

The role is based in Edinburgh with flexibility for hybrid working. Occasional travel and out-of-hours working may be required to support meetings, events and donor engagement activities.

Experience/Qualifications/Key Skills

You will be educated to degree level or possess equivalent professional experience and have experience in fundraising, philanthropy, donor engagement, partnership development or a related field.

You will be an organised and proactive individual with excellent communication and relationship-building skills. Experience of prospect research, preparing funding proposals and securing support from donors, sponsors, trusts or foundations would be advantageous.

You will be comfortable managing multiple priorities, working with databases or CRM systems and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.

George Watson’s College wishes to appoint a Senior Philanthropy Officer to lead the school’s individual giving and legacy fundraising initiatives, and support major programmes and campaigns. Develop strong relationships with donors and our alumni community to grow philanthropic income and long-term engagement. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 

Individual Giving 

• Lead the planning, execution and optimisation of individual giving efforts. Manage campaign setup, timelines, assets, and donor experience.  

• Monitor performance and analyse results to drive continuous improvement in participation, engagement, and revenue.  

• Collaborate with Admissions and Marketing, and other internal teams, to source and develop compelling content.  

• Along with the Head of Development, manage a fundraising communications calendar and play a leading role in content creation.  

• Collaborate with the Admissions and Marketing team to ensure website content, landing pages, and donation pages support digital giving goals.  

• Execute fundraising strategies in partnership with the Head of Development. Build, segment, code, and deploy emails to support giving campaigns and organisational priorities.  

• Manage a portfolio of donors linked to specific programmes and campaigns. 

Legacies  

• Plan and deliver multi-channel legacy marketing campaigns (print, digital, events)  

• Build and maintain relationships with legacy pledgers and prospects  

• Deliver high-quality, sensitive stewardship to recognise and retain legacy supporters  

• Organise events and communications to engage legacy supporters  

• Produce compelling and sensitive legacy messaging and materials  

Campaign/Programmes 

• Manage and grow the patrons programme, including recruitment, retention, and upgrades  

• Develop a clear donor journey, including benefits, communications, and recognition  

• Monitor performance against income targets and KPIs  

• Work in collaboration with Heads of the Creative Arts programmes to monitor and administer funds for maximum impact across the arts 

Foundation Places and Enrichment Fund 

• Support impact reporting and administration of discrete aspects of our widening access programmes. 

• Manage application process to the Enrichment Fund, including managing enquiries, disbursements and liaison with Finance. 

• Any other duties related to these programmes as directed by senior staff. 

IDEAL CANDIDATE 

Essential: 

• Relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent professional experience  

• Demonstrable experience in Individual Giving, Direct Marketing or Legacy fundraising, with an annual income return of 6+ figures  

• Proven track record of delivering successful multi-channel campaigns  

• Strong understanding of supporter journeys, acquisition and retention  

• Skilled in data analysis, performance tracking and forecasting   

• Proficiency with graphic design tools, experience with Canva would be an advantage.  

• Demonstrable experience with Raisers Edge, or similar CRM system 

• Ability to manage complex projects and programs and deliver to set KPI and timelines 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  

• Experience with content writing, brand voice, and digital fundraising best practices.  

• Ability to build and foster relationships across business functions.  

• Understanding of charity law, GDPR and best practices in fundraising  

• Commitment to high level of professional standards  

• Genuine appreciation of George Watson’s College’s mission and the ability to communicate it  

Desirable: 

• Fundraising or marketing qualification such as CIOF accreditation or CIM qualifications. 

• Event management experience  

• Experience of working in the education or charity sectors  

• Understanding of the Independent School sector   

SOS UK is looking for a Relationship Fundraising Manager to help deliver a newly established fundraising programme with strong momentum, senior buy in and significant growth potential.

Why join us?

• Help shape the future of fundraising at SOS UK.
• Inherit a strong pipeline of prospective partners and supporters.
• Build a new fundraising programme with genuine scope to influence its future direction.
• Work flexibly from home as part of a collaborative, mission driven team.

Role details

Location: Nationwide, home based, within reasonable reach of a mainline train station

Salary: Salary band starting at £37,929 per annum, rising to £42,018 through our pay structure (£30,343–£33,614 pro rata for 0.8 FTE). If based in London, this role attracts an additional London weighting of £3,655 per annum. We also provide up to a 6% pension contribution and life assurance.

Interview dates: Week commencing 27 July

Preferred start date: Early September

Introducing SOS UK
 

Our education system helped cause the climate and nature crisis, but now we’re making it the solution.

We are fighting to make sure everyone develops a commitment to protecting the earth and puts it to work – whether it’s at school, university or in their careers.

By empowering students and educators to build a better world, we can transform the lives of generations to come. In just a few years we have developed unstoppable student leaders. Behind these leaders every step of the way is the SOS UK community making sure students don’t have to fight for change alone. We unite people from every background, inside and outside education, because protecting our earth matters to each and every one of us. Armed with proven solutions, we push for change at every level of society. We are always laser focused on what can be done, whether it’s at local councils, in community halls, or in Westminster.

As educators, environmentalists, and activists, we use our expertise to get things done – from changing curriculums across the world, to making sure all school children have access to nature. We mentor. We advise. We campaign. We empower students to lead. Not just at university but for decades to come, as workers, employers and community members. We create climate and nature protectors in every community. They mobilise countless others. They change our country, and even our world, for the better.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of fundraising at SOS UK. As we diversify our income streams, you will play a central role in developing high value partnerships that support our mission and long-term sustainability.

Over the past 12 months, SOS UK has laid the foundations for a new relationship fundraising programme. During this period, an Interim Head of Relationship Fundraising established a strong pipeline of prospective partners and supporters, developed a suite of partnership propositions and engagement materials, and built relationships with organisations aligned to SOS UK's mission.

Alongside this, SOS UK is launching a new Development Board, bringing together leaders from industries facing key green skills shortages alongside young people helping to shape the future workforce and sustainability agenda. This will create new opportunities to build strategic relationships and engage prospective partners.

You will join at a pivotal moment, helping to deliver the first phase of this newly established fundraising programme. You will inherit a strong pipeline of opportunities, benefit from strong senior leadership support, and have the opportunity to shape the future direction of relationship fundraising at SOS UK.

In this role, you will develop and manage partnerships with companies, corporate foundations and philanthropic supporters to generate sustainable income and strategic value for SOS UK.

The role will focus approximately as follows:

• 75% corporate partnerships and business development
• 25% philanthropy and high value relationship fundraising

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will manage and grow an established pipeline of opportunities while identifying and securing new partnerships aligned with SOS UK's mission and strategic priorities. Through building long term relationships with supporters and partners, you will help create lasting impact for both SOS UK and the students we work with.

Lead the operations, governance and compliance that enable Solving Kids' Cancer UK to deliver its mission and impact for children and families affected by neuroblastoma. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will play a critical role in ensuring the charity operates effectively, compliantly and sustainably.

This broad and varied leadership role spans governance, risk, HR, IT, data protection and organisational operations, supporting delivery of the charity's strategy through robust systems, policies and processes. Acting as Company Secretary, you will work closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees, providing advice on governance, regulatory requirements and best practice. As a member of the Leadership Team, you will oversee key operational functions, lead cross-organisational projects and deputise for the CEO where required.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a strategic, highly organised and values-driven leader with strong experience in charity operations, governance and compliance. You will have a track record of ensuring organisations are well run, compliant and effectively managed, with the ability to oversee multiple operational areas and support strong governance and decision-making at Board level.

You will be comfortable working across a broad remit, including governance, risk, HR, IT and data protection, and confident providing clear, practical advice to senior leaders and trustees.

Person specification

Key requirements include:

• Significant senior-level experience in operations, governance or compliance within a charity or similar environment. 
• Strong understanding of charity governance and regulation, with experience supporting boards and senior leadership. 
• Experience overseeing organisational functions such as HR, IT, data protection or risk. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and lead cross-organisational work effectively. 
• Strong judgement, integrity and the ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion. 

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for information about Solving Kids' Cancer UK. 

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution at the heart of a small, ambitious charity where strong operations are a vital enabler of impact for children and families.

Location: Home-based, within easy reach of London, with regular travel to the London office and occasional UK-wide travel.

First-stage interview: Thursday 6 August 

Second-stage interview: Thursday 13 August