Description
The Development Operations Officer co-ordinates stewardship activities for donors at all levels, including regular communication pieces, and develops and delivers the RCM Friends programme, encouraging visitor and additional giving when appropriate.
Founded in 1882, The Royal College of Music (RCM) is a world leading music conservatoire with a prestigious history and contemporary outlook. Our excellence was recognised by the 2025 QS World University Rankings, in which we were ranked as the global No. 1 institution for both Music and Performing Arts. The College has held this world-leading place in Performing Arts for four successive years, while Music is a new subject introduced to the rankings in 2024.
The RCM Development & Alumni Engagement team raises significant support from individuals, companies, charitable trusts and foundations annually, ranging from £52 Friends memberships to seven figure gifts. The Development Operations Officer co-ordinates stewardship activities for donors at all levels, including regular communication pieces, and develops and delivers the RCM Friends programme, encouraging visitor and additional giving when appropriate. We are looking for candidates who:
- Enjoy crafting succinct, accessible stories about our students and staff, including cutting edge research
- Have experience delivering complex donor stewardship, running a membership scheme or increasing visitor giving
- Can balance a diverse range of projects efficiently with excellent attention to detail
This post is offered on a permanent, full-time basis and is available from June 2025.
Salary: Grade 6, £33,350 - £36,862 per annum. Appointments will normally be made to the first point of the grade.
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in an Arts, Customer Service or Higher Education organisation
- Experience of working within a fundraising or marketing environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to organise and manage a diverse range of assignments and projects with high efficiency and excellent attention to detail
- Proven track record of planning and taking responsibility for project work including managing deadlines successfully and working effectively as part of a wider team
- High standard of IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
- Experience in at least one of the following functions: running a membership scheme, delivering complex donor stewardship, building a visitor giving programme
- Proactive in anticipating and seeking out information related to the immediate priorities of the development office
- Ability to act with tact and discretion in dealing with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality where required
- Work with the Head of Operations and Development colleagues to oversee donor recognition materials, and relationships with relevant suppliers and stakeholders. This includes ensuring sound processes are in place for gift acknowledgement and that Raiser's Edge credit lines are up to date. It also requires effective review and dissemination of supporter lists, including collating and analysing supporter information with the Development team to provide lists for the Annual Review, Upbeat magazine and other communications.
- Work with the Development team and Head of Operations to produce stewardship communications, including the Annual Review and oversee the stewardship mailings such as Supporter Newsletters, Upbeat Magazine, Events Guides, and Annual Reports.
- Work with Development team to produce gift agreements; ensuring gift agreements are accurate and we are meeting our obligations to our supporters.
- Ensure donors are appropriately thanked, and that we meet reporting requirements.
For full details of this position please read the Applicant Information Pack, available to download from the RCM website:https://www.rcm.ac.uk/about/jobs/currentvacancies/details/jobtitle,50861,en.aspx
To apply, please complete our 1) Application form and 2) Equal Opportunities form (available to download from the RCM website) and submit in Word or PDF format by email to [email protected]
CVs without an application form will not be accepted. Please ensure that you include the Job Reference Number when submitting your application.
The RCM is committed to nurturing diverse and inclusive environments for all staff and students to work and learn. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from diverse backgrounds, including race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and caring responsibility.