Top job! Director of Fundraising
- Full time
- £40,000 – £47,000
- Hybrid: Dumfries & Galloway, DG2 8DW. Hybrid working arrangements are possible, with flexibility for remote working.
- Closing 20th December 2024
- Advertised from 9th December 2024
- Contract Fixed-term freelance contract for 16 months with an option of extension. The total value of the freelance contract is £75,000 inclusive of VAT for 16 months We will consider offering this as a staff position with a salary level of £40,000 - £47,000.
Role
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) seeks an experienced and dynamic Director of Fundraising to lead fundraising efforts for the Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne project, an ambitious conservation and adaptation initiative at Ellisland Museum and Farm. The post is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to the players of the National Lottery. This exciting role involves launching and directing a major fundraising campaign to secure backing required for the £7.4m project, which will restore and transform the historic site into a vibrant centre for heritage, learning, and artistic inspiration.
Introduction/Background
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) safeguards the 1788 farm designed and built by Robert Burns on the banks of the River Nith near Dumfries. This A-listed site is the best-preserved of all the poet’s homes and the place where he wrote a quarter of his musical output, including Auld Lang Syne.
The farmstead sits on 140 acres of woodland and fields first enclosed by Burns himself. Managed by a volunteer-led SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) since 2020, Ellisland is both a museum and a public space, with seasonal opening hours, events, and group visits. Volunteers maintain the grounds year-round, providing free public access to the riverside paths and walks.
RBET’s mission is:
“Ellisland is the place to fall in love with Burns. We will increase awareness of Ellisland as central to the artistic development of Robert Burns in poetry and romantic song. We will enhance understanding of the site as the best place to see the natural world through the poet’s eyes. We will create a world-class visitor experience and a vibrant centre for creative learning to ensure the unique collection, buildings, and landscape are accessible to a diverse range of modern audiences.”
Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne
In September 2024, we secured a development stage grant of up to £489,206 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne. The development stage of the project is costed at £945,000, with an estimated total project cost of £7.4m.
The project will restore the 1788 cottage, create an immersive visitor experience, adapt the barn into a Centre for Song, and develop a new museum gallery to safeguard and display Burns’s collection. It will also include outdoor enhancements, skills training, volunteering, and a robust programme of events and residencies, ensuring the site’s long-term sustainability and community engagement.
The Director of Fundraising will be integral to achieving the funding goals necessary to bring this vision to life.
The Brief
The Director of Fundraising will lead a global fundraising campaign for the Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne project. This individual will work closely with the Project Director, Technical Project Manager, Trustees, and external consultants to deliver funding targets for the capital project and associated revenue funding needs. The fund-raising campaign will be monitored by Trustees who will also support engagement work and identification of donors. The is a fundraising sub-committee which will monitor progress. The project includes a budget to support our membership recruitment and retention with a CRM system. It is essential that the individual has experience of working with projects supported by the Heritage Fund.
The position can be fulfilled either through a freelance contract or a staff position.
The position will cover the Development Phase of the project, leading up to a Delivery Stage Application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Trusts reserves the right to continue the contract into the the delivery stage of the project, which is expected to last until 2028. The Trust also reserves the right to end or suspend the contract at the end of the development stage.
Any Freelance contractor will require to have appropriate Professional Indemnity insurance, Employer’s Liability Insurance and Public Liability Insurance. This should be highlighted in the advert.
A full Project Brief is available for download below.
Application notes
To apply, please send your CV and examples of recent work to:
Joan McAlpine
Project Director
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust
ellislandbusinessmanager@gmail.com
Closing date: 20th of December 2024.
Downloads
Project Manager – Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne Project
- Full time
- £40,000 – £47,000
- Hybrid: Dumfries & Galloway
- Closing 31st December 2024
Role Summary
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) seeks a highly skilled Project Manager to lead the Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne project, delivering significant conservation and adaptation works at Ellisland Museum and Farm. The post is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to players of the National Lottery and South of Scotland Enterprise.
Introduction
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) safeguards the 1788 farm designed and built by the poet Robert Burns on the banks of the Nith near Dumfries. The A listed steading is the best preserved of all the poet’s homes, the only one he built, and the place where he wrote a quarter of his musical output, including the international anthem to friendship, Auld Lang Syne. The farmstead sits in 140 acres comprising woodland and fields which were first enclosed by Burns himself. RBET is a membership Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a volunteer board of Trustees formed in 2020, although the site itself has been held in trust since 1928. It is located six miles north of Dumfries off the A76. It is an accredited museum, with seasonal opening, holding events and group visits off-season, depending on capacity. A small team of volunteers maintain the grounds and riverside walks for free public enjoyment all year.
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust’s charitable purpose is as follows:
To hold the lands and farm of Ellisland, and such other funds and assets as may from time to time be comprised in the Trust Property, in trust for the following purposes:
(a) the advancement of education
(b) the advancement of the arts, heritage and culture
(c) the promotion of the life and works of Robert Burns
(d) to maintain a museum and collections for the benefit of the public
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust Mission Statement is as follows:
“Ellisland is the place to fall in love with Burns. We will increase awareness of Ellisland as central to the artistic development of Robert Burns in poetry and romantic song. We will enhance understanding of the site as the best place to see the natural world through the poet’s eyes. We will create a world class visitor experience and a vibrant centre for creative learning to ensure the unique collection, buildings and landscape are accessible to a diverse range of modern audiences.”
Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne
In September 2024, our trust secured the offer of a development stage grant of up to £489,206 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne. In November 2024 we were awarded up to £313,000 from South of Scotland Enterprise towards the project. We expect to receive Permission to Start by January 2025. The development stage of the project is costed at £945,000 while the full cost after delivery and re-opening is £7.4m, which includes start up activity costs.
Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne intends to bring the spirit of Burns – love, kindness and equality – into the 21st century and widen access to Ellisland with a vibrant programme of events, activities and artist residencies. We will restore the 1788 cottage, creating an immersive visitor experience, and develop a gallery/museum to display the collection, which is at risk in the deteriorating buildings. Our barn will be sensitively adapted as a Centre for Song, so future generations are inspired by Burns’s “sweet poetic ground.” We will increase visitor numbers and develop new income streams to protect the built heritage, collection and outdoor spaces, including woods, paths and fields created by Burns. This will increase economic prosperity in South Scotland and enhance wellbeing with skills training, jobs and volunteering opportunities.
A full brief can be downloaded below.
This is a senior post within The Scottish Civic Trust reporting to the Director.
Main purpose:
To oversee the day-to-day running of finance function with responsibility for all aspects of management accounting (including all necessary reconciliations), cash management, budgeting and forecasting, and administration of all payroll matters.
The post will provide support to the Director on finance matters ensuring that information and advice is available to support strategic decision making.
The Finance Manager will also be expected to contribute, and sometimes lead on, relationships with tenants within The Tobacco Merchant’s House and premises management.
Management of the Administration Officer is also a key aspect of this role.
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is excited to be recruiting for the role of Fundraising Officer. This is a new role which will contribute to our fundraising strategy over the next five years; working to create a new donor database, as well as launch in due course a new supporters’ scheme. Requiring creativity and ambition, we are keen to support the role holder with a training package and mentor, helping us shape the role and achieve realistic fundraising targets. This is an opportunity for someone keen to make a lasting contribution to one of Scotland’s leading heritage organisations.
Reporting to and working closely with the Director, you will contribute towards building our supporter base and developing fundraising income. Working closely with colleagues in Events, Communications and Marketing, you will maximise engagement with donors and voluntary income in support of our work as Scotland’s largest historic buildings preservation trust and our work across the country.
About Scottish Historic Buildings Trust
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a Charity and Building Preservation Trust with over 40 years’ experience saving derelict and redundant buildings throughout the whole of Scotland. Everyone has driven or walked past a forlorn and unloved historic building at some time. You may have wondered why it isn’t being used or why doesn’t someone do something with it? The answer is often complex and the solutions equally so. It takes a special group of people to identify a way forward and restore these buildings to the benefit of the community. SHBT is a dynamic and innovative charity that does just that and our Marketing & Communications Manager is key to our success.
Diversity
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open processes, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone.
Further information
For an informal chat about the job, please contact Fiona Lawrence, Operations Manager, by email on fiona@shbt.org.uk
Marketing & Communications Manager
- Full time
- £32,000
- Hybrid: Riddle’s Court, Edinburgh / Custom House, Leith (must be in one of the SHBT offices 3 days)
- Closing 13th January 2025
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is excited to be recruiting for the role of Marketing & Communications Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for the development and delivery of individual marketing and communication plans to promote every aspect of Trust activity to raise the profile of the Trust and develop key audiences. The role holder identifies new opportunities to engage with audiences and markets through promotional materials and creative campaigns including marketing across digital platforms, direct marketing, website development and public relations.
About Scottish Historic Buildings Trust
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a Charity and Building Preservation Trust with over 40 years’ experience saving derelict and redundant buildings throughout the whole of Scotland. Everyone has driven or walked past a forlorn and unloved historic building at some time. You may have wondered why it isn’t being used or why doesn’t someone do something with it? The answer is often complex and the solutions equally so. It takes a special group of people to identify a way forward and restore these buildings to the benefit of the community. SHBT is a dynamic and innovative charity that does just that and our Marketing & Communications Manager is key to our success.
Diversity
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open processes, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone.
Further information
For an informal chat about the job, please contact Fiona Lawrence, Operations Manager, by email on fiona@shbt.org.uk
Latest news See more
