Development Officer (Leadership Giving)

This role will be based on the University campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements. 

Would you like to join a collaborative and passionate fundraising team which is raising funds to meet ambitious targets in a university committed to reducing inequality and shaping a better future for humanity? 

The Development Officer (Leadership Giving) is responsible for managing an ambitious fundraising programme that is helping to shape the direction of Leadership Giving fundraising across higher education.

You will engage prospective donors using your skills in stakeholder development to build relationships and secure donations, between £1,000 - £25,000, in support of philanthropic priorities which are aligned with the University’s ‘Universal Values, Global Change’ 2020-2030 strategy.

This will include collaborating with the wider Regular and Leadership Giving team to maximise the impact of our mass fundraising programme, using personalised follow-up opportunities to strengthen relationships with supporters and prospective donors, as well as meeting individuals through phone, video and face to face meetings. You will develop creative and effective ways to engage, discover, ask, and thank these donors to shape a long-term strategy to improve their acquisition and retention.

Through your engagement of these individuals, you will also cultivate a small pipeline of future major donors capable of making gifts between £10,000 - £25,000. This will play a key role in ensuring future major supporters receive specially tailored communications to deepen their engagement and strengthen their relationship with Leeds prior to them being asked for a major gift.

With support from colleagues, you will implement and deliver the current Leadership Giving strategy and as the programme grows you will help lead its longer term, data driven vision and strategy, ensuring that it is a growth income stream for the University.

The role sits within a growing Philanthropy Team, specifically within Regular and Leadership Giving which is responsible for securing donations from a large community of donors. The team also includes the Transformational and Major Giving team which is responsible for securing major (£25,000-£1m) and transformational (£1m+) donations and the Fundraising Delivery team.

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

What we offer in return

26 days holiday plus 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – that’s 42 days a year!Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance.Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team, and self-development courses including languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies and much more.Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Beth Whitaker, Senior Development Manager (Regular & Leadership Giving)

Email: b.whitaker@leeds.ac.uk 

Closing Date: 13 Apr 2025

Section: Professional & Managerial

Salary: £39,355 to £46,735 per annum