Director of Development (Faculties)

Overview

In this role you drive strategic fundraising across seven non-health faculties and the Student Union at UCL, shaping ambitious donor engagement and major gift pipelines. You will lead a high-performing team, build strong academic partnerships, and align faculty priorities with the institutional campaign. You’ll cultivate transformative gifts and collaborate with senior leaders to maximise impact for research, education and innovation. This is a high-visibility role in a landmark bicentennial campaign with a global university culture.

Pay / Benefits

• 41 Days holiday
• CARE pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Relocation scheme

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies across seven non-health faculties and the Student Union
• Build strategic relationships with Executive Deans, Heads of Division/Departments and senior academic leaders
• Identify compelling philanthropic opportunities across faculties
• Ensure faculty priorities align with institutional campaign objectives
• Manage a portfolio of prospects capable of gifts between 100k and 5M
• Develop cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for significant philanthropic investment
• Secure support from individuals and trusts/foundations
• Collaborate with Director of Principal Giving and International for gifts above 5M
• Collaborate across Advancement to maximise fundraising opportunities
• Represent UCL with senior academic leaders in donor engagement
• Maintain prospect management and pipeline discipline
• Lead and inspire a high-performing team; set objectives and KPIs
• Monitor performance against fundraising targets; foster collaboration and continuous improvement
• Coach staff and promote best practice across Development
• Contribute to strategic leadership of UCL Advancement
• Identify emerging philanthropic opportunities; support campaign planning and delivery
• Build collaborative relationships across the University; champion donor experience

Key requirements

• Significant experience securing major philanthropic gifts between 100k and 5M
• Proven success securing six- and seven-figure gifts
• Experience leading high-performing fundraising teams
• Experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies
• Strong understanding of donor strategy and prospect management
• Experience managing complex fundraising portfolios

• Strategic thinker with good judgement
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Strong negotiation skills
• Strategic fundraising planning
• Prospect management and donor relationship development
• Major gift stewardship and pipeline management

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