1 Special event manager jobs in City of London, England

Context

Our vision is to bring hope to every one of our patients across London, when they need us most, where they need us most. Our mission is to use everything we know, our specialist skills and unmatched experience to save lives and ensure the best outcomes for every one of our patients and their families. We’re a charity that works alongside the NHS and our life-saving service is made possible by our supporters.

This is an exciting time to join the fundraising and marketing team as we build on the success achieved following the completion of a major capital campaign in 2024 and the launch of our new organisational strategy in 2025. We are now investing in diversifying our portfolio, with a particular focus on growing our philanthropy and partnerships team.

The philanthropy and partnerships team consists of 14 members who build relationships with trusts, foundations, corporate partners and individual philanthropists to secure vital funding for the charity. The team is supported by dedicated prospect research and special events colleagues who help identify new opportunities and maximise fundraising success.

Led by our new Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the team is developing a bold, insight-driven strategy to secure sustainable growth and double income over the next five years. The Senior Philanthropy Manager (maternity cover) will play an important role in translating this ambition into a strong major donor programme.

About the role

The Senior Philanthropy Manager will lead the major donor programme and provide direction and support to the major donor team, comprising the Philanthropy Manager and Philanthropy Officer, with support from the Philanthropy and Partnerships Administrator. Directly line-managing the Philanthropy Managers, the postholder will strengthen donor relationships, build a resilient pipeline and work with senior volunteers and professional advisers to grow major donor income. They will also work closely with the Head and Deputy Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships and other senior managers to identify opportunities and strengthen impact reporting for philanthropic supporters.

Key responsibilities

Leadership and team development

• Lead, inspire and develop the major donor team, setting clear priorities, fostering ambition, accountability and continuous improvement, and directly line-managing two Philanthropy Managers to achieve agreed income targets.

Donor relationships, solicitation and stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of high-value individuals, family trusts and foundations, working with senior leaders to cultivate, solicit and steward transformational gifts and deliver significant financial and strategic value
• Strengthen impact reporting for major donors, working with colleagues across the charity to provide timely, accurate and compelling updates that demonstrate the difference their support makes.

Prospect development and influential networks

• Work with the Prospect Research Manager to identify, qualify and progress major donor prospects, maintaining a strong and resilient pipeline
• Engage senior volunteers, including trustees and members of the Philanthropy Board, to open networks, support donor relationships and grow the major donor portfolio
• Build relationships with professional advisers, including wealth managers, donor-advised funds and philanthropy advisers, working with the Prospect Research Manager and Senior Special Events Manager to expand influential networks and generate major donor opportunities
• Represent the charity at relevant networking events, developing relationships with prospective supporters and professional advisers and identifying opportunities to strengthen the major donor pipeline.

Fundraising products, propositions and supporter journeys

• Oversee the continued development of the Giving Circles as an effective tool for raising unrestricted funding from major donors
• Contribute to the development of compelling fundraising propositions that align donor interests with the charity’s priorities in clinical innovation, research and unrestricted funding
• Contribute to the Customer Insights Journey project, with particular responsibility for improving the supporter journey between individual giving and major donor engagement.

Strategy, insight and programme development

• Use insight into the evolving philanthropic landscape to identify and assess new opportunities, recommend where the charity should invest time and resource, and inform the development of the major donor programme.

Data, financial management and compliance

• Work with the Philanthropy and Partnerships CRM Working Group and data team to embed Microsoft Dynamics, ensuring that major donor Gift Aid information is recorded accurately and consistently
• Support the data team to prepare accurate and timely Gift Aid claims relating to eligible major donor gifts
• Manage the major donor budget, including financial forecasting, monitoring performance and tracking income against agreed targets.

Special events and donor engagement

• Work closely with the special events team, who will lead on event delivery, to develop and deliver a programme of events tailored to major donors and lead timely donor follow-up and relationship development after each event.

The above list is not exclusive and the job holder may be required to undertake other duties as required.

We are a charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to London’s most critically injured patients, due to the nature of our work you may occasionally be exposed to information relating to the work that we do. 

About the person

You’ll be an experienced philanthropy professional with a strong track record of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding high-value supporters. You’ll bring confident leadership and line-management skills, sound judgement and the ability to build trusted relationships with donors, senior volunteers, professional advisers and senior colleagues. You’ll be comfortable managing budgets and pipelines, using insight and data to inform decisions, and translating complex clinical innovation and research priorities into compelling cases for support.

Essential knowledge and experience

• Significant experience of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with a strong track record of securing six-figure gifts
• Significant experience of leading, developing and inspiring a team to achieve ambitious income targets, including setting clear objectives, managing performance and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Demonstrable experience of managing major donor pipelines, income forecasts and expenditure budgets
• Experience of working with senior leaders and influential volunteers to develop high-value donor relationships
• Knowledge of relevant fundraising regulation, data protection requirements and inclusive working practices, including the principles of the Equality Act.

Desirable knowledge and experience

• Experience of developing professional adviser networks
• Experience of managing and growing giving circles or other major donor products
• Experience of using Microsoft Dynamics or a comparable CRM to support relationship management and reporting
• Experience of developing compelling fundraising propositions and donor impact reports
• Experience of working in a medical, healthcare or emergency services environment.

Skills and personal attributes

• An excellent relationship-builder, able to establish trust and credibility with donors, senior volunteers, professional advisers and colleagues
• A persuasive and sensitive communicator, able to translate complex information into clear, compelling written and verbal communications that engage major donors
• A confident, ambitious and supportive leader who sets clear expectations, empowers others to perform effectively and brings colleagues with them through change
• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, use sound judgement and deliver against challenging targets
• Strategic, proactive and solutions-focused, with a willingness to test, learn and adapt
• Comfortable using data and insight to inform decisions and improve fundraising performance
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity and actively promotes the charity’s values and behaviours.

Our benefits

Working environment

• Hybrid working for most roles, with time split between our offices at Mansell Street or The Royal London Hospital and remote working
• Flexible working arrangements for most roles, with a 35-hour working week (for full-time employees) and core hours of 10:00-16:00
• A collaborative culture built around our values: compassionate, courageous and pioneering
• Access to a variety of learning and development opportunities to support your career growth
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, supported by our employee-led network, All Inclusive.

Supporting your wellbeing

• 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Additional office closure between Christmas and New Year, giving you an extra three days leave each year
• Additional annual leave awarded for long service
• One day's paid moving leave each year
• One day's paid volunteering leave each year to support causes that matter to you
• Compassionate leave
• Enhanced sick pay, providing up to five weeks full pay in a rolling 12-month period from day one of employment
• Access to a free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme, offering support for emotional, financial and legal matters, plus a wellbeing app.

Supporting your financial wellbeing

• Generous pension scheme with a 10% employer contribution when you contribute 5%
• Medicash health cash plan, helping you claim back the cost of everyday healthcare expenses
• Access to a wide range of employee discounts through sites including Blue Light Card, Health Service Discounts and Perks at Work
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to Work scheme.

Supporting your family

• Enhanced maternity pay, offering company maternity pay at 75% of your annual salary for weeks seven to 26 of maternity leave
• Life assurance cover equivalent to four times your annual salary.