Development and Alumni Relations

Grade 7: - 33797 - 40322
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 12-Apr-2021, 6:59:00 AM 

Job Family: Community, Participation and Engagement Services

OUR CHARACTERISTICS: We are a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, in a unique and historic setting.

OUR VALUES: We are inspiring, challenging, innovative, responsible and enabling.

Durham University

Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Business, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives. 

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

It is expected that all staff within the University:

• Contribute to our learning culture by engaging in mentoring, training and coaching.
• Positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Have due regard to Health and Safety requirements appropriate to grade and role.

Family key attributes

Roles in this family provide an excellent stakeholder experience for our diverse and supportive community.   

Overall family purpose

• Provide excellent student support services, development and extra-curricular activities.
• Align and deliver programmes and activities to meet operational and strategic objectives to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Respond to stakeholders at the point of service delivery, either in situ or remotely.
• Facilitate the development of excellent colleague and academic engagement.
• Provide a stakeholder focussed service designed to increase widening participation and diversity.
• Promote the Durham reputation by establishing and broadening national and international community links to enhance the cultural and economic viability of the City and region.
• Enhance the Durham wider student experience by developing extra-curricular activities.
• Contribute to and enhance active, inclusive and supportive communities of stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively and network across the University with staff in other families to ensure a smooth, timely and high-quality delivery of service.
• Engage with suppliers, consultants and specialist professionals to deliver programmes and activities to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Engage and encourage outreach and participation with external professionals, schools, alumni and donors.
• Engage and network with both internal and external stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and impact through local, national and international communities. 

Link to key strategic plan

• An economically and environmentally sustainable approach to delivering stakeholder focussed services across the University;
• A world-class student, alumni and donor experience;
• Focussed on the needs of all users working together to deliver front-line services as part of the Wider Student Experience;
• Learn from and match best practice in the Wider Student Experience around the world;
• Opening up our world-class sporting facilities to local clubs and athletes;
• Support and facilitate activities as part of the Widening Student Experience at Durham;
• A stakeholder-focused orientation, offering satisfying careers to all staff;
• Ensure that an increasingly diverse workforce is treated equally, fairly and with respect, and that all staff are demonstrably valued and actively engaged.

The Department and role purpose   

The Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) is responsible for coordinating philanthropy, alumni and supporter engagement, advancement services, and supporter communications on behalf of the University. 

As part of the Advancement function, DARO works with colleges, academic departments, research centres and institutes, wider student experience partners, professional departments, and affiliated volunteer organisations to engage over 200,000 alumni and supporters around the world. 

In support of this global operation, the Alumni and Supporter Engagement (ASE) team are ultimately responsible for maintaining lifelong connections, driving continuously higher levels of engagement, including: providing opportunities and support for our alumni; engaging and managing volunteers across a range of areas – from colleges support to global ambassadors; managing annual giving and fundraising appeals; and developing advancement communications initiatives. The ASE team consists of a dedicated team of Advancement professionals underpinning and complementing the vital work of DARO.

The ASE Manager (Annual Fund and Appeals) will specifically lead all annual fund and regular donor activity, running multiple and often simultaneous appeals across various stakeholders and markets with three aims: 1) recruiting new donors and increasing participation in annual giving; 2) retaining existing donors; and 3) increasing levels of existing support in order to create a pipeline for major and principal giving channels. This role will suit a candidate who has both the creative flair for developing inspiring communications and an eye for technical detail in developing multi-media appeals using complex data and insights.
 
The post-holder will also play a critical role within the delivery of the Durham Inspired campaign – a major philanthropic initiative which seeks to support the next generation of inspiration and leadership at Durham. 
 
Post-holders must be versatile and able to work closely and with senior University leaders, prominent and public figures, major benefactors and advocates, and senior volunteers in multiple capacities, which facilitate the regular donations and the advancement of Durham University.  

Core responsibilities:

• Recognised professional practitioner and management and/or service specialist with responsibility for the management of team members.
• Provide input to the design and development of service processes, techniques and deliverables for one or more service areas or projects. 
• Manage operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
• Contribute to the analysis of stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements, inputting to the design and planning of services.
• Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation.
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews.
• Handle the vast majority of welfare issues within a team, referring more complex welfare issues to appropriate support services/senior management.
• Delivery of ongoing coaching, mentoring and training to team members.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access.
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and sub committees at departmental and operational service levels.
• Responsible for managing small budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records and processing invoices.
• Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development.

Role responsibilities:

• Design, development, leadership, delivery and continual improvement of DARO’s Annual Giving and Appeals strategy
• Manage the Annual Fund programme - mass solicitation of low-level regular donors 
• Project management and coordination of a suite of appeals using a multitude of channels and giving mechanisms and working in collaboration with key Colleges, Departments and service delivery partners: pan-university 
• To line manage the Alumni and Supporter Engagement Coordinator (Annual Giving and Appeals), allocating tasks and monitoring progress, supervising, and training 
• To interpret data and insights to determine the most effective ways of segmenting the database and targeting communications
• To manage a portfolio of prioritised annual fund and prospective donors to raise 4/5 figure gifts - through the cultivation of strong individual relationships and implementation of solicitation and stewardship strategies
• To support the work of colleagues in the DARO Advancement Services team to: 
  • Ensure an effective and accurate system for gift administration including robust processes for the management of regular gifts, Gift Aid, etc;
  • Select, use and subsequently update prospect data from the Raiser’s Edge database;
  • Manage and oversee all follow-up action when pledges and gifts are received ensuring acknowledgements to thank all donors are distributed in a timely fashion and all requests for further information receive appropriate responses;
  • Manage and support the activities relating to disbursing the funds raised so that it operates in an effective manner in line with its remit;
  • Manage a comprehensive donor recognition and stewardship programme for donors to the Annual Fund;
  • Adhere to the highest standards of fundraising and income generation best practice;
  • Ensure that all activities comply fully with the relevant Data Protection and any other legislation in the UK and overseas;
  • Support the donor-centric culture of the Department to engage with donors and partners personally and effectively.
• Provide management for the operation of a stakeholder focussed service delivery area.
• Manage and monitor service performance and provide metrics and reports to Service Heads, making recommendations as appropriate.
• Participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working internally and externally.
• Network and engage with external and internal stakeholders to gather feedback and identify future service needs, to ensure excellence in service provision.
• Prepare and manage the service area budget or budgets and monitor expenditure to ensure cost-effective service delivery.
• Contribute to the production and analysis of statistical service metrics to identify successful delivery and areas for future improvement.
• Distribute and process key service information to all stakeholders.
• Implement continuous service improvements to enhance the delivery of stakeholder services.
• Communicate with internal and external stakeholders using appropriate media and methods.
• Contribute to the delivery of activities that generate external income.
• Develop, modify and optimise service protocols and methodologies.
• Deliver support elements of the wider student experience.  
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

The post-holder will be expected to work some evenings and weekends, particularly during extended campaign or appeal periods. The post-holder may also be required to travel nationally and internationally.

Recruiting to this post 

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the criteria required for the role in the person specification. 

How to apply 

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit

1. A CV; 
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
3. a document providing evidence and examples of how you satisfy the person specification and the Realising Your Potential Approach criteria.

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application cannot proceed to the next stage.

Contact details 

For further information please contact;

Tristan Alltimes – Deputy Director, Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving at tristan.alltimes@durham.ac.uk; or 07341 780025

Andy Harston – Director, Development and Alumni Relations at andrew.harston@durham.ac.uk 

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria

• A degree or equivalent level of qualification, or equivalent professional experience
• Significant relevant experience in direct marketing, fundraising or a similar role – leading, managing, coordinating, executing and continually improving annual giving/annual fund and appeals programmes and initiatives
• Ability to think strategically and develop long-term scalable annual giving and appeal initiatives and opportunities
• Outstanding numeracy, data and analytical skills
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally
• Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and CRM systems (please include reference to any use of BlackBaud - Raiser’s Edge)
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Experience of line managing/coaching/mentoring and developing individuals within a team/s
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines, including Data Protection and GDPR regulations

Desirable Criteria

• Successful management of annual giving, appeals, telethon, or other multi-platform fundraising programme within a Higher Education setting
• Commitment to continuing professional development, including membership and/or professional qualification of a fundraising body such as the IoF, CASE, or equivalent (please provide details)
• Experience of working with volunteers

Realising Your Potential Approach

WORKING TOGETHER - Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Applying a wide range of interpersonal skills..

1. Working across boundaries to develop relationships with other teams
2. Reflecting the principles of responsible University and the University values in dealing with people and conducting business

PROVIDING EXCELLENT STUDENT SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT - Providing the best quality service to all our students, customers and stakeholders. Building genuine and long-term relationships through everyday interactions in order to drive up service standards and to enhance their experience.

1. Establishing  challenging standards to develop services and advance the reputation of the University
2. Interpreting rules and regulations flexibly to balance customer and University needs
3. Consistently giving positive messages about the University

ACHIEVING RESULTS - Planning and organising workloads to ensure that deadlines are met within resource constraints. Consistently meeting objectives and success criteria.

1. Confidently say ‘no’ to activities that are less important or do not fit with University priorities
2. Critically evaluate the success of projects to disseminate lessons that can be learned
3. Being effective in gaining buy-in without direct authority
4. Being knowledgeable about key stakeholders and how they may influence the work of your department

DBS Requirement: Please note that the successful applicant will require DBS disclosure.