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.

This post is full time and fixed term to cover maternity leave for up to 12 months or until the substantive postholder returns.

Please Note: If you are a current employee of the University of Glasgow, please be advised that the University would consider an internal secondment opportunity for this post. University of Glasgow applicants should seek clearance for release for internal secondment from their line manager before making a formal application.

The University of Glasgow has been changing the world for more than 573 years, and today we are one of the world's top 100 universities. We are delighted to have been awarded Scottish University of the Year by the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, demonstrating that we are not only one of the best universities in the United Kingdom, but one of the best universities for the world. Our people have always been at the forefront of innovation, and our past achievements inspire our current world changers.

The Hunterian are currently looking for a creative and dynamic Audience Engagement Manager to join our team.

You will be key in planning, organizing, and running a variety of events and activities to welcome new visitors. Working alongside the Audience Development Manager, you'll help create and manage an exciting programme that engages a diverse range of audiences.

You will also oversee audience research, volunteering, social media, marketing, and visitor engagement, making sure the initiatives are engaging, inclusive, and community focused.

The successful candidate will work closely with both internal teams and external partners to ensure The Hunterian becomes a more inviting and meaningful space for all audiences.