As the #1 Modern University in Scotland (World University Rankings 2025), Edinburgh Napier University strives to
deliver the best teaching, to the widest range of students who can benefit from it, in ways that are appropriate
to the needs of students and employers. Philanthropic support from our donors provides critical support to some
students and adds great value to increase the excellence of teaching and research, in ways not possible through
core-funding alone.
Our Development and Alumni Relations Office works with a wide range of alumni and partners. The team’s aims are to
raise philanthropic funds for scholarships, research and capital programmes and to strengthen the
University's life-long relationships with alumni and friends worldwide.
As such, we are currently recruiting a Senior Development Manager (Fundraising/Major Donations) to take
responsibility for raising funds to meet targets for student support and the portfolio of key projects.
The Role:
As Senior Development Manager, you will have the opportunity to use your proven experience of major gift fundraising
to build and maintain key relationships with funders and raise philanthropic revenues to achieve income
targets.
Your experience in a similar fundraising, venture philanthropy or business development role will put you in an
excellent position to use your skills in networking, influencing, proposal writing, negotiation and securing
agreements, to manage and build a portfolio of prospects, and engage new donors who are financially and
emotionally invested in the value of education and research at Edinburgh Napier.
In that regard, you will have the chance to play a major role in delivering funded opportunities for current and
future students whilst raising the profile and support for exciting, innovative projects and interdisciplinary
research programmes. As an applied university, you will quickly see the impact of your work to help transform
the lives of individuals, communities and our environment both here in Scotland as well as around the
world.
We anticipate that you are the type of person that will use your resilience, strength of character, outgoing
personality and dependability to build relationships and grow sustainable funding. This role will give you remit
to use these skills and qualities to build meaningful associations with individuals; trusts and foundations;
lottery and other statutory funding bodies as well as internal stakeholders such as academic staff, project
champions and University executive leadership.
Should you have a background in Higher Education fundraising, Third Sector/Charity fundraising then this role will
provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills and experience, while managing an energetic team who
have established a track record of funding growth over the past five years, getting visible results and having a
major impact on the fantastic opportunities available at our institution.
What we will need from you:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant discipline
- Significant
fundraising experience, which should include: -
- scoping fundraising project development, including
budgeting
- growing and managing a portfolio of prospects including individuals, trusts, foundations or
statutory bodies
- case for support/ proposal writing
- preparing solicitation
plans
- face-to-face major gift asks
- Excellent networking and negotiation
skills
- Excellent organisation, planning and time management skills
For a full role description, please click here.
Benefits we offer:
We offer 41 days annual leave (includes bank holidays), a generous pension scheme (17.6%), flexible working and
professional development opportunities. Further information regarding our benefits can be viewed here.