Development and Alumni Relations Manager

We are seeking an experienced and charismatic individual as our new Development and Alumni Relations Manager. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of success in strategic development and fundraising. Ideally, they should have first-hand experience of the implementation and running of a major ‘Capital Campaign’, preferably in a comparable (charitable or educational) organisation.

The successful candidate will work with all the constituent groups of the School: our Alumni body; the Court of Directors; parents; staff and senior pupils. The Development and Alumni Relations Manager will be required to engage these different constituencies appropriately to ensure the greatest success is achieved in a sustainable way. There is a need to meet short-term expectations as well as manage long-term donor cultivation and engagement.

The Development Office works in close partnership with the Edinburgh Academical Club (EAC). It co-ordinates, facilitates and supports the activities of the EAC and all other friends and contacts of the School. Collaborative working with the Academical Club and members enables the Development Office to strengthen relationships and to expand the role it plays in maintaining a strong and sustained evolution of the School. The Academical Club is managed by an Executive Council with a President, Vice-President and Secretary.

The successful candidate will play a key role in raising support for our Bursary and Scholarship Fund, helping to make an Edinburgh Academy education available to a wider range of students. They will also play a significant role in delivering the objectives of the 5-year strategic plan together with transformational improvements to the school estate as a celebration of the School’s bicentenary, during 2024-25. The successful candidate will be actively involved in supporting the delivery of the new facilities for sport, a new Design and Technology Centre, both of which we hope to start in 2025.

The Development and Alumni Relations Manager is the Secretary to the Board of the Edinburgh Academy Foundation (EAF). The Foundation’s objectives are the promotion and advancement of education of pupils of The Edinburgh Academy, aiming to raise funds for specific projects within the school and to support the Bursary and Scholarship Fund. The post will be line-managed by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of The Edinburgh Academy but will also work closely with the Rector, Headteacher of the Junior School and Senior Deputy Rector.

The core functions of this post are fundraising and supporter engagement, and as such this role will suit an experienced development professional. An understanding of schools and education may be an advantage, but this is an ideal opportunity for an able, diligent and enthusiastic individual to become a key member of staff in a successful, forward-thinking and ambitious organisation.

Reporting to the COO, the key purpose of this role is to foster relationships with the dual aim of obtaining financial support for the School’s development from external sources and enhancing engagement with our community. The following requirements will be central to the role:

Development Office:

• To work with the Rector, Headteacher, Chief Operating Officer and Court of Directors to develop and implement a sustainable development strategy to support the school’s wider vision in both short and long-term targets.


• To develop and be responsible for a comprehensive fundraising strategy, ranging from annual giving through to legacies. The Development and Alumni Relations Manager must be prepared to develop this fundraising strategy for approval by the Rector, COO and Court of Directors and to agree income targets and KPIs with them. This will include Major Donor Development, Legacies, Supporter Fundraising and Annual/Regular Giving Funds for both identified Capital and Bursary Projects and associated ‘Cases for Support’.


• To develop overarching plans for all existing fundraising within the School, ensuring the sustainability of an ongoing effective and integrated programme.


• To manage effective research, stewardship and cultivation of prospects and supporters.


• To ensure supervision of robust gift management systems for entering, tracking, reporting, tax reclaim and thanking donors. To oversee the maintenance and accuracy of the alumni and fundraising ThankQ database.


• To prepare and manage the annual Development budget ensuring robust financial management of both income and expenditure.


• To report in writing on all development activity to the Court of Directors and relevant sub-committees in consultation with the COO. Provide regular management reports on all aspects of the brief to monitor progress against targets to the Court of Directors and appropriate committees. In particular, the Manager will establish new systems to provide detailed analysis of actual fundraising results and potential future support.


• Alongisde the COO, develop and take responsibility for a portfolio of major gift prospects and work with others (senior management and volunteers) to ensure the systematic, appropriate and planned solicitation and cultivation of prospects is undertaken. To ensure an ongoing engagement with potential and existing donors with individual visits both nationally and internationally


• To ensure that all activities undertaken by the Development Team are performed to the highest standards and in accordance with best practice as established by professional bodies such as the Institute for Fundraising, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Institute of Development Professionals in Education.


• To provide leadership for, and management of all staff involved in fundraising, and to coordinate the activities of senior staff and volunteers, including Trustees and others.

Alumni Office:

This is supported by the Alumni Relations Officer (ARO) and a shared Administrative Assistant is currently under recruitment, with .5FTE allocated to the Development Team to support events, prospect research and database management. The Development and Alumni Relations Manager role is:

To engage with Academicals around the world and extend Academical networks, develop our Alumni database and improve Academical communication across all constituents.

• To work closely with the EAC, continuing to build strong relationships and support in a wide range of activities.


• To support the maintenance of the alumni networking programme offering careers guidance to the Academicals’ community and developing appropriate means of effective engagement with them.


• To lead the school’s engagement activities with alumni, parents and the local community; deliver a suitable annual events programme for cultivating productive relationships with potential and existing donors.


• Play a significant “Front of House” role at Alumni events in school and elsewhere.


• To be responsible for the Development Office webpages and the delivery of The Academical magazine, as well as relevant ‘Case for Support’ documentation.


• Together with the COO, ensure that the School is compliant with all aspects of GDPR legislation in its engagement with its Alumni body/friends and supporters. This includes the management of the ThankQ database.

In addition, the Development and Alumni Relations Manager will:

• Represent the school professionally and in keeping with its ethos in all relationships, with parents, alumni, staff and students.


• Provide a supporting and enabling environment for the Development and Alumni team to thrive and develop into a professional and motivated team.


• Provide support to the COO, Rector and other senior staff with regard to managing the outward-facing aspects of the school. S/he is expected to attend meetings of the Court of Directors and any internal School Committees, as required and appropriate to the role.


• To undertake any other duty as reasonably requested by the COO.

Our ideal candidate will have the following skills, knowledge and qualities

Essential

• In depth experience and appreciation of the principles and practices of fundraising and development with an understanding of the legal framework of charity fundraising.


• A demonstrable track record of generating revenues for an institution on a commercial and/or philanthropic basis for either a capital project and/or an ongoing fundraising programme or an ability to demonstrate a track record in a complementary area which would translate easily into this context.


• A demonstrable track record of working within an Alumni Relations environment, engaging with different genres within a community and matching events, communications to meet the varying needs to enhance their experience.


• Strategic planning experience coupled with the energy and ability to lead, motivate and guide others to achieve strategic goals.


• The ability to build rapport and interact with people of all levels with a high degree of diplomacy, discretion and tact.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - the ability to write and speak in a way that is clear, convincing and inspirational.


• A positive attitude, and a willingness to engage fully with all elements of a busy school, which will include some ‘out of hours’ working and some international and national travel.


• University graduate or equivalent.


• Leading and managing a team with the ability to motivate staff and volunteers.


• Successful experience of planning and securing gifts and of managing a portfolio of relationships over a 18-24 month period.


• Able to provide a high level of care to both donors, potential supporters, friends and alumni.


• Knowledge of the regulatory framework for fundraising and charities.


• Highly motivated and target-driven.


• Strong ICT skills, comfortable with updating and extrapolating information from databases.

Desirable

• Knowledge of database systems commonly used in fundraising management e.g. ThankQ


• Interest in, and understanding of, the broader educational landscape particularly within the independent sector.


• Experience in school fundraising and development.


• Fundraising for a major capital campaign.


• Alumni relations within an educational institution.


• Awareness and understanding of the safeguarding and welfare of children.

The school prides itself on its warm and welcoming community, inclusive of all staff.  Our teaching staff work alongside the operational teams to ensure the smooth running of the school.  We value the contribution of all team members. 

Through involvement in the co-curricular programme all those who work with us can bring their passions to work. Developing our talent is important to us.  Access to training and professional development is available and encouraged.

Our reward package includes:

• Generous DC Pension (11% Employer Contribution)


• Access to onsite gym


• Employee Assistance Programme


• Employee Benefits Programme including discounts to a number of major retailers, holiday, electric car and cycle to work schemes, as well as health and well-being option


• Fee discount