Development & Alumni Relations

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £33,314 to £40,931 Per annum
Full Time Permanent
Closing Date:  Sunday 26 February 2023
Interview Date:   See advert
Reference:  2151723CD

At the University of Southampton, our aim is to change the world for the better, bringing together realms of academic research, creativity and knowledge to have a truly collaborative, immersive and ground-breaking impact. We care about the challenges that humanity is facing, and work to support others on a local and global scale.

In the Office of Development & Alumni Relations (ODAR), our job is to galvanise our community to solve these challenges and make a difference. Would you like this to be your job too? 

About the role 

The Legacy Manager will lead this key area of fundraising activity, developing and delivering a strategy to increase future income from gifts in wills. We already receive around £750,000 from legacies each year and over 100 alumni and supporters have confirmed their intention to remember Southampton in their will. 

Building on this foundation, your role will be varied and wide-ranging, encompassing all stages of the legacy journey. You will develop high quality communications to encourage our alumni to consider leaving a legacy, including direct mail campaigns and embedding legacy messaging in wider alumni communications. You will build strong relationships with new supporters considering a gift, ensuring they have the information they need for their will. You will deliver high quality stewardship for existing pledgers and for gifts we have already received, so families can see the impact of their loved one’s gift. Finally, you will work with solicitors and executors to receive legacy gifts into the University and ensure they make a positive impact.  

You’ll be supported by our brilliant ODAR team – with experts in communications, donor relations, data & analytics and major gift fundraising. You will be able to draw on this expertise to help you deliver on each aspect of the role.  

Gifts in wills make a huge difference at Southampton – helping to find more effective treatments for cancer and supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This role is an opportunity to take the programme to the next level and make a real difference to people’s lives. 

About you 

You will be excellent with people, building lasting relationships with our alumni and supporters. You will recognise the importance of sensitivity and empathy, whilst also being a confident ambassador for the University, writing and speaking with passion about how legacies make a difference. You will have experience of developing a programme strategy and analysing data to make informed decisions about budget and priorities. Finally, you will be comfortable working with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. design agencies) to develop high-quality communications and stewardship pieces. 

We are planning our first University-wide fundraising and engagement campaign. With the full support and investment of our University leadership, we are growing our team. 

We need people with intellectual curiosity and different ideas. We need people with direct experience or transferable skills and the interest and drive to take on a new challenge. We support a flexible approach to working. We are determined to welcome a diverse group of colleagues into our inclusive team. Every day will be different, you will meet incredible people and the rewards will be huge.    

If you’d like to have an informal chat about this role or ask any questions, please contact Richard Wilson, Senior Development Manager on 07780227715 or Richard.Wilson@southampton.ac.uk

Stage 1 interviews will be held remotely via teams on 06/03/2023 followed by Stage 2 in person interviews on the 10/03/2023.

Working at the University of Southampton:

Check out the staff benefits and why you should join us at The University of Southampton!

 Application Procedure 

The application deadline is midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need assistance, call Recruitment on  +44 (0) 23 8059 2750, or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk. Quote the advert reference on all correspondence.