Appointment of the Director of Development
Dear Candidate,
A very warm welcome to St Edmund Hall, a special place in so many ways.
The College is a large, vibrant and diverse community, home to students and staff from all over the globe, united in their passion for learning. When you walk through the College gates into our beautiful quadrangle, the energy is palpable. We are proud to enable the brightest young people from across the UK and internationally, regardless of background, to realise their potential and make a difference to their communities through their academic endeavours. It is these young people, defiant and committed in spite of the challenges of a global pandemic, who will go on to change the world for the better.
At St Edmund Hall, we are ambitious and optimistic for our students’ future, because it is an investment in society’s future. In 2019, we devised a 10-year strategy to become a greener, more diverse and accessible home for world-leading research and teaching. This includes developing solutions to become the most environmentally sustainable college in Oxford. Funding priorities include the endowment of fellowships, student support and the enhancement of our historic estate.
To realise our vision and support our ambitious goals across both people and place, we are focussed on delivering a next-generation advancement programme. Mirroring our 2019-2029 strategic plan, we are embarking upon our most significant fundraising campaign to date, with a target of £50m, to be launched in the spring of 2022. A large competent of this relates to the redevelopment of our Norham Gardens site, ensuring that the College can finally accommodate all undergraduates across all their years in Oxford. If you are a development professional of exceptional potential with the ability to lead a promising team to deliver our campaign as well as our wider strategic goals, then we would love to hear from you.
Over 10,000 Aularians in over 100 countries understand more than anyone the life-changing opportunities St Edmund Hall offers. The continued support of our alumni and friends is critical if we are to ensure that this historic and inspiring institution is fit for purpose for the next millennium. I look forward to working closely with the successful candidate to inspire our alumni to give philanthropically, thereby ensuring the College’s exciting future.
We warmly invite your application.
The University of Oxford
As the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is a unique and historic institution. There is no clear date of foundation, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. Oxford was ranked first in the world for the fourth year in a row in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2020.
Oxford today is a collegiate university, consisting of the central University and colleges. The central University is composed of academic departments and research centres, administrative departments, libraries and museums. The 38 colleges are self-governing and financially independent institutions, which are related to the central University in a federal system. The University comprises nearly 24,000 students from 150 countries, with 5,000 academic, senior research, library, museum and administrative staff (University of Oxford, 2020). Including the colleges and Oxford University Press, the University is the largest employer in Oxfordshire, supporting around 30,000 jobs.
The collegiate system is at the heart of the University, giving students and academics the benefits of belonging both to a large, internationally renowned institution and to a small, interdisciplinary academic community. It brings together leading academics and students across subjects and year groups and from different cultures and countries, helping to foster the intense interdisciplinary approach that underpins much of the outstanding research achievement of the University and makes Oxford a leader in so many fields.
More information about the University of Oxford can be found here: University of Oxford
St Edmund Hall
St Edmund Hall, affectionately known as ‘Teddy Hall’, is one of the oldest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford and occupies a historic site in the heart of the city. The College is the last-standing medieval Hall in Oxford, dating back to at least the 13th Century, and likely all the way back to the 1190s when its namesake, St Edmund of Abingdon, was teaching on the site. Modern and progressive in its outlook, St Edmund Hall is known for its friendly atmosphere and inclusive culture as well as its many sporting and creative traditions.
The College community has around 70 Fellows, 400 undergraduates and 300 postgraduates in addition to its administrative and domestic staff. Many of its academics are actively pursuing world-leading research, opening opportunities for students to understand cutting-edge ideas, concepts, and phenomena across many disciplines. Current expertise ranges from the biogeography of islands to the neurobiology of memory and the development of superior rechargeable batteries. There is also a global network of 10,000 alumni in over 100 countries who have excelled in a broad range of fields including journalism, politics, the sciences, drama and sport.
With over 800 years’ experience of engaging the brightest minds, St Edmund Hall is a forward-thinking institution, which today is striving to become a greener, more diverse and accessible home for world-leading research and teaching.
For further information about the College, please visit: Home | St Edmund Hall (ox.ac.uk)
Philanthropy at St Edmund Hall
St Edmund Hall’s Development & Alumni Relations Office (DARO) has been established for over 15 years and is responsible for running an extensive programme of fundraising, events and communications designed to foster and deepen relationships between the College and its global alumni body in order to secure philanthropic support towards a range of strategic priorities.
There is a strong culture of philanthropy within the College community. The Fellowship is vibrant and amenable in its support of fundraising and alumni relations and the alumni body is warm and engaged. There is also a collaborative and constructive working relationship between the College and the central University’s Development team.
DARO currently comprises a team of five: the Director of Development (currently vacant), the Alumni Relations Manager, the Development Manager, the Campaigns Operations Manager and the Development Officer (in recruitment). The team is in excellent shape and they are given autonomy to complete their work to their own individual strengths. The culture is supportive and each team member is given encouragement for progression. There is a strong shared ambition within the team to advance the strategic priorities of the College.
Over the past three years, the College’s total philanthropic income has been £13.3m, ranging between £2.7m and £5.5m per year. £9.25m has come in restricted gifts and £3.1m in legacies and just under £1m in annual fund contributions (£350k per annum). The average annual participation rate of 10.3% has been improving year on year, but there is a need and desire to emulate many other Oxford colleges who, as an average, are above 12% and several exceed 15% and even 20%. A good uplift in legacy pledges has also been achieved in recent years and there remains scope for this to become an even more significant factor in the future.
The College has been the beneficiary of several large gifts in recent years and the prospect of further transformational contributions remains. However, it is also recognised that there is some untapped potential in the mid-level gift arena and that this has not been a key focus to date. Securing wider support from international alumni, especially in Asia and USA, is integral to this.
In recent months, consultants from the Philanthropy Company have been advising on the configuration and timing of a fundraising campaign that will run over the next five to six years. An indicative target, priority projects and brand identity have been identified and it is envisaged that this will lead to a launch of the campaign to alumni and friends in late March 2022. Quiet phase gifts and pledges, together with College funding commitments, have been accumulating since 2019 and mean that approximately 35% of a £50m target has so far been realised.
Around half of the campaign target relates to the redevelopment of the Norham Gardens site, providing a substantial uplift in available bedrooms to the extent that the College can finally accommodate all undergraduates across all their years in Oxford. Alongside addressing this strategic weakness, other priorities include the greater funding of scholarships and bursaries and a range of academic posts, whilst the bolstering of the general endowment to north of £100m has been highlighted as more necessary by the pandemic.
The Opportunity
St Edmund Hall seeks to appoint an enthusiastic individual into the role of Director of Development, a figurehead for fundraising and alumni engagement across the College. The Director of Development will play a key role in delivering the College’s strategic priorities and in contributing to College life.
Leading and inspiring a talented team of four, the postholder will be responsible for implementing a creative fundraising strategy, which aims to deliver the College’s ambitious funding priorities in line with its 2019-2029 strategic plan. The main responsibility of the role will be to build and grow key relationships between the College community and other potential benefactors in support of a range of development goals. The Director will also have overall responsibility for the College’s comprehensive alumni relations programme, ensuring that it continues to evolve to meet the needs of its global alumni body.
The College sees this appointment as an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and proactive fundraiser who enjoys managing people and is willing to be involved at all levels. Reporting to the Principal, the successful candidate will bring an energetic approach to developing donor relationships to deliver philanthropic income. The postholder will be expected to spend a proportion of their time undertaking face-to-face meetings with current or prospective donors in the UK and overseas.
As a Fellow you will be expected and encouraged to take up the opportunities this brings and to contribute holistically to the St Edmund Hall community. You will represent the Development Committee and will maintain strong working links with the St Edmund Hall Association of old members and its President, the Advisory Board, and with other alumni associations such as US Alumni, Friends of the Boat Club, and the London Aularians.
As the College’s lead fundraiser, you will carry your own portfolio of major gifts prospects and will have an important role in the solicitation of six-, seven-, and even eight-figure donations. You will work closely in partnership with the Principal, involving her in the relationships with the College’s top prospects and ensuring that she has sufficient support to play an effective role in securing major gifts. You will steward donor relationships in a strategic and creative manner in order to develop and enrich the long-term personal relationships between donors and the College. You will additionally develop and oversee effective fundraising at all levels, harnessing the help of Fellows, alumni and volunteers as appropriate.
The successful candidate will be a confident communicator with well-developed interpersonal skills and outstanding leadership abilities. You will have a strong sense of integrity and a proven track record in securing philanthropic income, together with expertise in relationship management, outstanding organisational skills and a passion for the mission of St Edmund Hall.
The timing of this appointment is particularly exciting as the College embarks upon its most ambitious fundraising campaign to deliver a clearly defined set of strategic goals in the post-pandemic years ahead. The role will particularly appeal to those that would enjoy working in a collegiate environment alongside a dynamic Fellowship. With the commitment of an engaged Principal in the prime of her tenure, and endless possibilities for fundraising, this presents as a truly career-defining opportunity.
To view the Development team organogram, please click here.
Director of Development
Job Title: Director of Development
Reporting to: The Principal and the Governing Body
Department: The Development & Alumni Relations Office (DARO)
Direct Reports: Alumni Relations Manager, Development Manager, Campaigns Operations Manager and Development Officer
Membership of Committees
- Development Committee: The College’s Development Committee oversees all fundraising and alumni relations activities within the Hall, and consists of Fellows, key members of staff and external members. It reports to the Governing Body.
- St Edmund Hall Association Committee: This Committee is made up of alumni representatives and key members of College staff and Fellows. It oversees all activities of the St Edmund Hall Association.
Role Purpose
To advance and enhance the College’s Development & Alumni Relations programme, working especially closely with the Principal, the Development Committee, the Bursar and the Fellowship.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead on fundraising for the College, in conjunction with the Principal, DARO staff, the Development Committee, the Bursar and Fellowship.
- Devise, develop and implement a comprehensive and ambitious fundraising programme in line with the College’s 2019-2029 strategic plan.
- Lead on the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of all major donors with a personal focus on securing six- and seven-figure gifts in support of the College’s clear strategic priorities.
- Oversee the annual fundraising programme and expand regular fundraising programmes including the Floreat Aula Legacy Society.
- Plan and execute meetings, events (including digital events) overseas trips and other activities as required in support of the fundraising strategy and in line with the College’s sustainable goals.
- Editorial supervision of the production of College publications, including the annual publication, The Aurlarian.
- Report on fundraising matters to the Development Committee, the Governing Body and other College committees as appropriate.
- Assist with the selection and management of a group of suitable alumni volunteers who will assist the College with its fundraising aims.
- Devise and implement appropriate annual goal setting and metrics processes to ensure the professional and focused operation of the DARO team.
- Take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the DARO staff ensuring a strong level of collaboration.
- Maintain and improve office systems and processes, including database management, budgeting, accounting and other financial reporting procedures.
- Work with colleagues in other colleges to gather and evaluate innovative best practice.
- Oversee the response to alumni and other general enquiries with respect to alumni relations and development generally.
- Oversee the content of the alumni pages on the St Edmund Hall website.
- Remain abreast of and in compliance with, regulatory requirements and best practice in respect of fundraising and data protection.
Also, to carry out such other functions as from time to time the Principal of St Edmund Hall might require, commensurate with the level of this position.
The successful candidate undertakes to participate in the communal life of the College.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Knowledge and Experience
- A proven track record of successful fundraising or income generation;
- A demonstrable ability to secure gifts or income at a significant level;
- Evidence of success with widening the participation base of donors;
- A proven ability to interact readily and professionally with a range of high-level and diverse stakeholders;
- A track record of successful leadership, organisation and management of a team;
- Experience of working with senior level volunteers and/or donor development boards;
- Experience of budget management;
- Experience of overseeing the maintenance and enhancement of a CRM database and a knowledge of data-protection legislation;
- Professional knowledge of tax-efficient giving, including legacies and overseas giving;
- Experience of fundraising in a higher education environment (desirable);
- Experience of fundraising in an international context (desirable); and
- Experience or in-depth understanding of collegiate universities (desirable).
Skills and Abilities
- Excellent communication skills both orally and in writing;
- Sound networking skills with the ability to negotiate and influence at all levels;
- The presence, gravitas and intellect to operate effectively at a senior level;
- The propensity to quickly form positive relations across a complex landscape;
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and nurture a team;
- A collegiate and collaborative working style;
- The ability to demonstrate emotional intelligence, sensitivity and tact where needed;
- The ability to manage time and prioritise a substantial workload in different areas;
- A willingness to travel extensively abroad as well as in the UK;
- Strong IT and relationship database literacy; and
- A commitment to the aims and values of St Edmund Hall.
Fellowship/Appointment
As a Fellow by Special Election, the appointee will be expected to work closely with the Principal and Governing Body on the strategic advancement of the College. The appointment will be conditional upon receipt of evidence of right to work in the UK documentation and satisfactory references.
Salary
In the range £72,500 to £77,500 per annum according to skills and experience.
Probationary Period
There will be a probationary period of six months. Following successful completion of the probationary period the appointment will be confirmed.
Notice Periods
During the probationary period, the post-holder’s employment may be terminated by either side with one weeks’ written notice. Once the appointment is confirmed, the period of written notice will be 3 months on either side
Hours of Work/Travel
This is a full-time post. The minimal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. The Director of Development will be required to meet the out-of-hours and weekend commitments according to the requirements of the role. The post will require some overseas travel.
Annual Leave
Annual leave entitlement is 28 days, comprising 8 public holidays and 20 working days. The postholder’s leave will be calculated on a pro-rata basis for the first year of employment. In addition, the College has 8-10 closed days per year, which do not count towards annual leave. Where public holidays fall in term time, the Director of Development may be required to work those days, and time off in lieu will be awarded to be taken at a mutually convenient time at the discretion of the Principal.
Dining Rights
As a Fellow of the College, the appointee will have full Senior Common Room Dining Rights.
Other Benefits
Subsidised bus pass loan, season ticket rail loan, cycle scheme loan and access to the College’s employee assistance programme (a 24-hour telephone and online advisory and counselling service).
Pensions
The post-holder will be automatically enrolled in the Universities Superannuation Scheme unless they notify the College otherwise.
Equality of Opportunity at St Edmund Hall
The Equality Opportunities policy of the College requires that all staff are offered equal opportunities within employment. Entry into employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application criteria related to the post. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant will be treated less favourably than another because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to St Edmund Hall, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
Should you wish to discuss this role in strict confidence, please contact Nicola Reames on: +44(0)7907 574 794.
The closing date for applications is 9am on Friday 19 November 2021.
Applications should consist of:
- A full CV.
- A covering letter (maximum of three pages) outlining how you meet the person specification.
- Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.
- Please complete the following online equal opportunities monitoring form.
Completed applications should be uploaded at www.andersonquigley.com/candidates using the reference number AQ1249
Proposed Search Timetable
- Shortlisting: Tuesday 30 November
- Final Panel Interviews (in person, on campus): Tuesday 14 December and Wednesday 15 December (if required)
