Job Description
Cheltenham College is one of the country’s leading independent co-educational boarding and day schools, educating over 1,100 pupils aged 3–18. Located in the heart of the Cotswolds in the vibrant Regency town of Cheltenham, the school is well connected, with Bristol and Birmingham under an hour away and London just a two-hour journey by train.
The College provides an exciting education which offers breadth as well as depth. The school promotes genuine personal enquiry and intellectual appetite, nurtures individual talents through the curriculum and co-curriculum and fosters a culture of respect for others. Within its beautiful setting, the school brings together a strong sense of tradition and a culture of innovation, underpinned by a warm, caring and inclusive community spirit.
Cheltenham College is seeking an exceptional Director of Development to grow College’s fundraising programmes and instil a culture of philanthropy. The current Head, Nicola Huggett, and Head-Elect, Chris Townsend, who takes up his role in April 2026, are keen to work in partnership with a highly skilled Director of Development who will bring with them a successful track record of developing and implementing impactful fundraising and engagement programmes. Beyond generating financial support, the Director of Development will build on the existing communications and events programme to strengthen engagement between the College and the Cheltonian Society.
The Director of Development will report directly to the Head and be a valued member of the College Executive Committee. The role presents an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, experienced and highly motivated fundraiser to build on the successes of the past five years. Alongside the completion of the campaign for Transformational Bursaries, the Director of Development will work with and advise colleagues across the Senior Leadership Team, Common Room and Council as to where philanthropy could play a meaningful role in the long-term development of College’s estate.
The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge of broad fundraising programmes gained from within or outside the education sector. They will demonstrate proven success in converting engagement to donations and show sensitivity to the history and strong community of the Cheltenham College family around the world.
Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange an informal and confidential discussion about the post:
Susannah Thompson, Search Consultant: SusannahThompson@rsacademics.com
Further information about the role and details of how to apply can be found at www.rsacademics.com
Closing date: 10.00am on Monday 3rd November 2025
* Cheltenham College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.
* This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
* The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure.
* RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.