Appointment of the Senior Development Manager

Westminster School

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in Westminster School’s new Senior Development Manager. This role will have a focus of Regular Giving alongside supporting with major gifts.

You will be joining us at an exciting moment as Westminster makes plans to grow our fundraising programme. The Senior Development Manager will lead our Regular Giving channels with a focus of bursary support. You will deliver telephone, print and digital fundraising appeals, promote a legacy giving programme and launch a leadership giving programme, managing a pool of leadership giving prospects to develop a pipeline between our regular and major giving programmes. The role represents a unique combination of fundraising modes, offering real variety to a talented individual within a multi-disciplinary team. We are a friendly, creative group with a passion for education.

Kristen Gallagher
Development Director

About the School

About the School

Westminster School’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost centres of academic excellence is built upon our pupils’ genuine enjoyment of open-minded enquiry, rigorous discussion and the search for explanation well beyond any examination syllabus.

Westminster School is a selective day and boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18. There are approximately 360 boys in the Lower School (Years 9 to 11) and 400 boys and girls in the Upper School (Years 12 and 13). One quarter of the pupils board, and the School is structured and run as a boarding school, with an extended day and week and a strong House-based system of pastoral welfare, for boarding and day pupils alike.

Westminster is an ancient school, whose origins can be traced to a charity school established by the Benedictine monks of Westminster Abbey. Its continuous existence is certain from the early 14th century. Henry VIII personally ensured the School’s survival by statute and Elizabeth I, who confirmed royal patronage in 1560, is celebrated as the School’s foundress. Westminster is rare amongst long-established schools in remaining on its original site in the centre of London. Its proximity to Parliament and Westminster Abbey, and the use of the Abbey for its chapel, together with the stimulating diversity of the South Bank and West End, account in part for its special atmosphere and outlook.

The School is one of the foremost centres of academic excellence both in this country and internationally. Central to its academic ethos is the dialogue between teachers and their pupils, whether in the classroom or in tutorials, inspiring enjoyment of intellectual enquiry, debate and search for explanation and the development of skills of rational, independent thought well beyond any standard examination syllabus. The desired environment is happy, busy and purposeful; the pupils are intellectually, socially, ethically and politically engaged, with plenty of opportunities to develop initiatives and to articulate and defend their views, in line with the enduring values of the liberal tradition reflected in the School’s Charter. That tradition is fully committed also to the nurture of each pupil’s spiritual, moral, emotional and physical development and wellbeing – with a particular emphasis on drawing out individual talent wherever it lies – and to the preparation of young people for fulfilled private and public lives beyond School.

The ethos

The ethos of the School resides in the tradition reflected in the 1560 Elizabethan Charter, which declares: “The youth which is growing to manhood [today we would properly say adulthood], as tender shoots in the wood of our state, shall be liberally instructed in good books to the greater honour of the state”.

Westminster is a highly academic school where individual and institutional excellence are expected and promoted in an atmosphere of open-minded enquiry without dogma, prejudice or unthinking conformity. This is what we mean by ‘liberal’, enshrined in a broad curriculum which supports the widest possible range of disciplines and activities and encourages the search for deeper understanding which goes well beyond any examination syllabus.

Central to Westminster’s approach is the open dialogue between teachers and their pupils, both inside and outside the classroom. This dialogue inspires passion for the subject, conveys knowledge and develops skills of informed, rational, independent thought, which sustain a lifelong love of learning. What makes Westminster so special is that enjoying one’s learning seeking true mastery of a subject, is warmly encouraged by pupils and teachers alike, supported by the administrative and support staff whose work enables everyone to flourish in an atmosphere of mutual respect, generosity and compassion.

Thus, while academic and other attainments are highly prized, the School is fully committed to the development of each pupil’s moral, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing and development. Westminster pupils are all individuals, but they tend to share a commitment to the pursuit of excellence, critical engagement and ethical action. These qualities equip them for admission to the top universities worldwide and for success and fulfilment in whatever careers they choose to pursue as well-informed, well-rounded and kind, responsible adults.

The atmosphere at Westminster is happy, busy and purposeful. The pupils are intellectually, socially, morally and politically engaged. They enjoy opportunities to articulate their views and to listen to other perspectives – in the classroom, society meetings, twice weekly services in Westminster Abbey, and in Latin Prayers. Everyone is welcome, and all may have a voice.

Just as the Founder wished, the School seeks to prepare responsible young people to lead good and useful public and private lives far beyond their formative years at Westminster.

Values

The following might be said to characterise a Westminster education. It is a series of statements designed neither to exhort nor to exhaust but hopefully to encourage.

  • Enjoying an academic education in which we are “liberally instructed in good books” and encouraged to develop intellectual curiosity, critical self-reflection and a passion for seeking truth through evidence, informed discussion and a healthy scepticism.
  • Cherishing a culture which marries ambition with compassion, integrity and empathy so that each individual, with all their particular enthusiasms, can flourish safely and happily in a climate of mutual respect and physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
  • Embracing opportunities to be creative and collaborative, recognising that through the arts, sport, spiritual exploration and service, we can develop our full range of talents and build resilience, confidence and insight as fully rounded human beings.
  • Challenging prejudice, promoting justice and committing to fairness, equality and inclusion in all our interactions with individuals and communities, proudly conscious that we are a progressive school in the heart of one of the world’s most diverse cities.
  • Promoting personal responsibility in all that we do, including our behaviour towards others and respect for our shared environment, so that subsequent generations have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a liberal education and to make a difference.

Westminster has always cherished idiosyncrasy. At the same time, we know that individual talent is stimulated and supported by the collective pursuit and celebration of excellence.

By working together with kindness, rigour and respect, we can each be nourished intellectually, physically and spiritually as we strive to be good citizens and to achieve distinction.

Vision

Broadly speaking, our vision for the 2020s can be expressed as three main objectives, ever mindful of the need for patience and humility, which is implicit in the School motto: Dat Deus Incrementum.

  1. Transforming lives
    We are committed to widening access and becoming needs-blind on entry, as well as supporting families in the School who encounter unexpected difficulties. Mechanisms to achieve these goals include the Ben Jonson Foundation and the George Herbert Fund, both of which are supported by our generous donors.
  2. Transforming experience
    We want to ensure that the experience of all our pupils – drawn from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible – continues to evolve and improve over time. This will be achieved by structural and curriculum reviews, capital expenditure, and the harnessing of digital opportunities. A commitment to increase diversity, equality and inclusion in all areas of school life will further enrich the experience of all and equip pupils for informed and sensitive engagement with the twenty-first century world.
  3. Transforming impact
    We believe in the value of liberal education and want to work with local and global partners to contribute to positive outcomes for young people in the UK and beyond. This will be achieved by existing programmes like Platform and Horizons, by overseas ventures, and by digital means in order to have the greatest impact.

Taken together, our vision is to cherish, sustain and develop a community of well-rounded scholars, irrespective of financial means, background or beliefs, who care deeply about the life of the mind and the lives of others and who have the educational wherewithal to be good ancestors for those who will build upon our stewardship.

Working at Westminster

Working at Westminster

Westminster School is a busy, purposeful and vibrant place to be and an excellent workplace. The community is made up of 750 pupils, 120 teaching staff and 108 support staff.

Westminster School is friendly and welcoming, and all newcomers quickly become part of the rhythm of life here.

There is a real sense of community here as, being a boarding school many members of staff and pupils live on site and the School’s premises are very much treated as a home away from home. School life starts before breakfast and continues way beyond the working day; as a result, there is always a lively atmosphere in and around School and always someone to share a tea and biscuit with in the Common Room. Support staff as much as teaching staff are encouraged to embrace the School’s day-to-day activities, whether that be attending an evening concert or a morning service in the Abbey.

At Westminster we will always select the best candidate for every position. We do know, however, that we can only truly choose the best person on every occasion if a broad and diverse pool of candidates see the job advertised and are encouraged to apply.

As such, we continue to work on how our job roles are encountered, and particularly welcome applications from groups who have traditionally been underrepresented here.

Westminster School is for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We hope you are encouraged to apply.

The role

Senior Development Manager (AQ2321)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

This new role is vital to developing Westminster School’s philanthropic engagement with its alumni (Old Westminsters), current and former parents, and other members of the School Community. The role holder will have specific responsibility for developing the regular giving and legacy giving programmes, through identifying potential supporters and leading compelling appeals.

You will support the Director of Development with the implementation of the School’s fundraising strategy and campaign planning, in a period of significant growth for its Development activities. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and determined fundraiser to work at a leading school. This role will take responsibility for significantly growing regular and legacy giving to Westminster.

Main duties and responsibilities

Regular giving

  • Develop and execute a strategy for growing regular giving to Westminster School.
  • Lead the regular giving programme and the management of an annual appeals programme reaching Old Westminsters, parents (Under School and Great School) and other constituents.
  • Establish strong communications across all campaign channels.
  • Keep abreast of legislation and statutory and ethical responsibilities relevant to the role and duties, including but not limited to: ICO areas of responsibility including UK GDPR and PECR; and Fundraising Regulator guidelines including the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Fundraising Promise. in order to ensure that Westminster appeals are taking advantage of the latest giving methods and responsive to donor trends.
  • Work closely with the Database and Operations Manager to segment constituent data for appeals and review and, where necessary, improve data quality in advance of planned activities.

Legacy programme

  • Create, implement, and manage a robust legacy strategy.
  • Review current legacy pledges and giving, to establish baseline data and review likely legacy audiences to ensure a targetted approach.
  • Identify further legacy prospects via: consultation with the Development team and key school staff members/leadership; liaison with Development Board members, School Society trustees, Elizabethan Club members and other lay leaders; desk research; and targetted communications to Old Westminsters, parents and other constituencies.
  • Manage legacy donor stewardship including promoting and supporting the A.A. Milne Society, a group through which legacy benefactors are recognised.

Development programme and campaign support

  • Work with the Director of Development to ensure that appeal activities are co-ordinated with the overall fundraising programme, particularly with regards to identifying leadership and major giving prospects.
  • Manage a portfolio of prospects, undertaking face-to-face meetings and other bespoke activities, with the aim of expanding engagement and securing gifts.
  • Support the delivery and execution of donor cultivation and supporter recognition events.
  • Working with the Database and Operations Manager, play a key role in co-ordinating prospect research, ensuring that regular giving data is reviewed regularly throughout the year and that prospects are flagged for further research as needed.
  • Engage the Westminster School community, including staff, students and volunteers, in fundraising and supporter engagement activities, as relevant and appropriate.

General responsibilities

  • Support the Director of Development in maximising fundraising revenue and generosity towards Westminster School.
  • Support colleagues and contribute to a happy and productive working environment, in the Development Office and where engaging colleagues from other departments.
  • Review on a continuous basis what key stakeholders expect from Westminster School and update the range of benefits, events, and communications to meet these expectations.
  • Develop outstanding knowledge of information held on the Raiser’s Edge database, and support data improvement activities, through proactively identifying work required to support improved regular and legacy giving outcomes.
  • Develop expert-level understanding of the above areas, in order to support the Director of Development, the Development team and colleagues engaging in fundraising activities.
  • Maintain confidentiality of information acquired while undertaking duties.
  • Work out of office hours during evenings when required.
  • Champion the charity’s mission, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
  • Undertake any additional work as may be reasonably required by the Director of Development or the Head Master in support of Development and Alumni Relations activities.

Equal opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

Safeguarding and child protection

Westminster School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The following criteria are all essential unless otherwise noted.

Qualifications/professional development

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent, or with significant, relevant experience.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development.
  • Proven examples of successes in working with individual donors and growing income streams.

Knowledge/experience

  • Extensive understanding of fundraising and development with experience of managing multiple giving channels.
  • Experience of managing regular giving / individual appeals.
  • Experience of engaging volunteers in fundraising appeals and managing their input. (Desirable)
  • Experience of managing legacy programmes and campaigns. (Desirable)
  • Experience of managing international giving, e.g. working with donors in key markets such as North America, Europe or Asia. (Desirable)
  • Experience of using a fundraising CRM, ideally the Raiser’s Edge.
  • Knowledge and understanding of UK GDPR regulations.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the Fundraising Code of Practice.
  • Knowledge and understanding of PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) (Desirable)
  • Experience of managing large-scale data improvement and/or prospect research projects.
  • Experience of planning and delivering events.
  • Understanding of the educational sector. (Desirable)
  • A knowledge and appreciation of the historical context around which Westminster School has developed.
  • An understanding of, and commitment to, the School’s Equal Opportunities policies and a willingness to promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of their work.
  • Awareness of safeguarding.

Skills and abilities

  • A self starter with a demonstrated commitment to leading proactively assigned areas of work, with a high degree of professionalism.
  • Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
  • Excellent written and proof-reading skills in relation to producing a wide range of print and electronic communications, with accuracy in grammar and an eye for detail.
  • Demonstrated flair for producing compelling appeals and communications, with keen awareness of relevant audiences and producing compelling messaging. (Desirable)
  • Excellent organisational skills.
  • Strong numeracy and IT skills.
  • Patient and positive under pressure, remaining flexible in a dynamic working environment with competing priorities and working to tight deadlines.
  • First-rate interpersonal skills with an ability to build relationships with people at all levels, both internally and externally, to inspire trust and to handle complaints.
  • Natural problem-solving skills.
  • Proven ability to work as both a team member and on own initiative with limited supervision.
  • A can-do attitude and willingness to contribute in all relevant ways to the success of the team.

Terms of appointment

Line Management

The Senior Development Manager will report to the Director of Development.

Hours of work

09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday, with an hour lunch break. The role holder will occasionally be expected to work evenings, as required for special events and other activities. Flexibility will be considered for the right candidate.

Remuneration

£60,000 per annum.

Holidays

25 days plus 8 Bank Holidays per annum. Annual leave should usually be taken during School holidays.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the School, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is noon on 10th February 2024.

Applications should consist of:

  • A covering letter setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the criteria outlined in the person criteria.
  • A completed Westminster School application form.
  • A CV if applicable.

Should you wish to discuss the role(s) in strict confidence, please contact Hayley Mintern on hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7596 954 387 or Elyse Turner-Pearce on elyse.turner-pearce@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7808 648 559.