We are looking for an ambitious and strategic Development Director to shape the future and income streams for our museum & mill . This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced individual to build a ground up strategy and lead the development of an ambitious organisation.
Thanks to generous funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, The Headley Trust, Granada Foundation & Arts Council England, The Silk Heritage Trust is embarking on an ambitious 18-month development programme Strengthening The Future of Macclesfield's Heritage.The Trust is working to establish The Silk Museum and Paradise Mill as a national centre for silk heritage and heritage textile crafts. Strengthening The Future of Macclesfield’s Heritage moves the Trust towards this vision, strengthening fundraising capacity plus staff and board skills, to provide a solid foundation for the future.
The Trust has achieved a great deal over the last 5 years, securing funding from public sources, trusts, and foundations. This newly created role will build on this success and attract substantial support from individuals and corporate sources. It involves working with internal and external stakeholders to raise funds for core funding, projects, and capital campaigns. It is envisaged that the post-holder will work with Trustees and staff to establish a Development sub-group to inform and drive this work. Strategic planning and communications are key to this. This role will drive forward new plans for individual giving, philanthropy and fundraising to significantly rebuild the Trust’s reserves.
Role:
To lead the Trust’s work towards financial resilience through broadening its income streams
To increase voluntary income from funders and philanthropists by 50%, reflating free reserves, through an ambitious Development & Fundraising Strategy
To initiate, lead, and deliver projects to develop and transform the work, premises, and staff of the Silk Museum & Paradise Mill, working with consultancy support to:
· Develop a 3-5 year business plan
· Cost and plan options for tackling the site:
o Limitations to accessibility and visitor welcome
o Constraints to income generation
o significant challenges to building maintenance, environmental sustainability, care, and display of our collections
o rising energy costs
· Secure funding for major conservation, building repairs and organisational development.
To build a new supporter community and membership offer to attract supporters and philanthropists for the Trust’s development plans
To build and lead strong relationships with partners for collaboration, fundraising, and sponsorship
To drive strong working relationships and communication with Museum staff, volunteers, and Trustees, to develop a broad fundraising ethos, including training and mentoring to Trustees and Museum staff
To keep current with fundraising sector developments, approaches, and opportunities
Specific Responsibilities and Duties:
Development
· Review and develop the Trust’s Development & Fundraising Strategy, identifying and pursuing fundraising opportunities, campaigns, and funding applications in line with this strategy, including:
o Trusts and foundations
o Statutory funders
o Corporate support and partnerships
o a new legacies programme, Supporters, and individual giving programmes
· Maximise income and in-kind support through fundraising activities onsite and online, including events and sponsorship, to engage current supporters and cultivate new relationships.
· Ensure that all fundraising activities are delivered professionally and timely to ensure maximum and meaningful engagement
· Manage the evaluation of fundraising activities and prepare and submit reports to key stakeholders.
· Deliver reporting for statutory funders, ensuring that the museum delivers on its reporting requirements in a timely manner.
General responsibilities and duties
· Oversee the work of the Programming Team (Senior Curator, Paradise Mill; Museum Curator; Community Engagement Programmer) in delivering, evaluating, and reporting on existing funded programmes, including Arts Council CIP, Pilgrim Trust, Granada Foundation, Foyle Foundation, and Macclesfield Town Council.
· Contribute to the success and culture of The Silk Heritage Trust
· Interact and cooperate proactively with all employees, trustees, and volunteers, ensuring good teamwork.
· Manage performance of staff, volunteers, and researchers as appropriate and in line with the Trust’s performance management processes.
· Make best use of technology across our activities.
· Support effective communications and promotion of The Silk Museum and Paradise Mill
· Work flexibly at times and on occasions that connect with the needs of audiences and communities.
· Ensure we are adhering to and compliant with our policies, processes, and statutory obligations.
· Help to ensure any barriers to equality of opportunity are removed and to eliminate unfair and unlawful discrimination, giving everyone an equal chance to learn, work and live free from discrimination and prejudice.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and target driven individual with experience of delivering investment from wide range of funding streams. The successful candidate will have a passion for storytelling, relationship building and strong negotiation, networking, and stewardship skills. You will know the complexities of working with funders and stakeholders and are able to develop strong long-term relationships, resulting in investment.
Diversity and equality within our workforce, programmes and approaches is crucial to our mission of being inclusive and relevant to our communities. We want everyone to feel welcome. We, therefore, particularly welcome applications from candidates under-represented at The Silk Museum and within the heritage sector, including Global Majority candidates and/or candidates with disabilities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Battersea is entering an exciting phase of innovation and transformation during this first year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation, we are strengthening our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals.bThis role sits within the Philanthropy, Partnerships & Commercial (PPC) team, made up of Philanthropy & Trusts, Corporate Partnerships & Commercial, Special Events & Stewardship, and Fundraising Operations.
The focus of the Philanthropy & Trusts team is to build a solid base of support through excellent stewardship of existing trusts and major donors alongside cultivation of new prospects, reached through prospect research and the networks of senior volunteers.
The key purpose of this Philanthropy Manager is to meet both financial and strategic KPIs, by managing a portfolio of key individual relationships and cultivating new prospects to support the long-term health of the Philanthropy pipeline. This role, together with Battersea’s other Philanthropy Manager, will also work closely with senior leadership, senior volunteers and other individuals to open up networks and introduce new major donors to Battersea.
What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:
- 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
- Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
- Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
- Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
- Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
- Annual interest-free season ticket loans.
We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.
Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.
Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.
We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.
More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.
Closing date: 3rd August 2025
Interview date(s): w/c 11th August 2025 (1st round), w/c 18th August 2025 (2nd round)
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Battersea is here for every dog and cat, and has been since 1860. We believe that every dog and cat deserves the best.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.