Associate Director of Charitable Partnerships
Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) – University of Birmingham, Grade 9 – Full‑time, Fixed‑Term contract up to February 2027.
Salary: £58,225 – £67,468 (potential progression to £87,974 once in post). UK travel may be required.
Closing date: 16th November 2025.
Program Overview
Background
Our University has a proud history of philanthropy stretching back to its foundation in 1900. With a clear vision to change the lives of the people of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain raised the funds required to build the University from citizens and corporations based locally and around the globe. Since then philanthropy has continued to play an essential role in shaping the University.
There have been a number of fundraising campaigns, including a £1 m urgent capital appeal after the Second World War and a £1.4 m campaign to fund the Vale ‘student village’ in the 1960s. In 2015 we closed the Circles of Influence Campaign, raising £193 million, making it the largest HE fundraising campaign outside Oxbridge and London.
The University has global reach, including several partnerships with other leading universities around the world, and is grounded in our local community, having opened the first fully comprehensive University secondary school in the country in 2015. We are an ambitious and successful research‑intensive University (one of the top 100 research‑led universities globally) and have produced 10 Nobel Prize winners, including three who received their awards in 2016. Academics here are exploring the impact of climate change, helping to address global health epidemics, and changing our understanding of Shakespeare. Our students come from nearly 150 countries and our flagship outreach programmes mean that almost 25 % of our student population come from under‑represented backgrounds – one of the highest proportions in the UK.
DARO exists to support this academic and student community by engaging, inspiring, and celebrating alumni, individuals, and charitable funders who give their money, time, and networks to support the University’s strategic priorities. The Office, which is comprised of five teams, is focused on fundraising and volunteering from alumni, organisations and individuals who are passionate about changing lives, through funding various research projects, supporting student bursaries, mentoring students, and providing internships, as well as providing a versatile programme of engagement opportunities for our global alumni community.
Key Responsibilities
* Leadership and performance
o Lead, deliver, and monitor the Charitable Partnerships Team strategy, including delivery of DARO KPIs.
o Coach, nurture and challenge the Charitable Partnerships Team to deliver against targets.
o Lead by example to ensure colleagues exhibit University values and behaviours.
o Support professional development for team members.
o Collaborate on key projects internally and across the University.
o Contribute to the office’s Senior Leadership Team, shaping strategic direction.
o Celebrate exceptional performance and address underperformance.
o Develop and implement policies promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
o Support the University’s sustainability agenda through efficient resource use.
o Perform any other duties consistent with the grade.
* Fundraising and Relationship Development
o Refine and deliver a bold, innovative, and impactful Charitable Partnerships strategy aligned to DARO’s strategy and the University’s Strategic Framework.
o Lead an expert team to build research and education partnerships between the University, charities, corporates, foundations and trusts.
o Direct line management of the Head of Charitable Funding and the Head of Corporate Philanthropy.
o Motivate the team to deliver £13 m+ annual targets, including pipeline management and KPI review.
o Champion the role of charities, trusts, foundations and corporates in delivering the Birmingham In Action campaign.
o Oversee and sign‑off all seven‑figure and/or high‑profile philanthropic asks within the donor portfolio.
o Raise significant philanthropic income from personally managed prospects, focusing on complex and ambitious relationships.
o Represent DARO in working groups throughout the University, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
o Refine and deliver systems and structures across the Charitable Partnerships team for effective day‑to‑day management and long‑term strategic leadership.
* Ethical engagement and legislation
o Ensure the University’s fundraising programme is conducted ethically and adheres to relevant regulations (ICO, Fundraising Regulator).
o Ensure all charitable partnerships are delivered in compliance with relevant legislation and University procedures.
o Provide quality assurance for collaboration with compliance activities (Due Diligence, PCI‑DSS, GDPR).
* Stakeholder Management
o Represent DARO to key internal and external stakeholders, using strong communication skills.
o Work closely with members of the University Executive Board, senior academics and other senior colleagues.
o Collaborate with Heads of College, academics and professional services to maximise income and impact.
o Manage relationships with key trusts, foundations and stakeholders UK and overseas.
* Collaborative Working and Resource Management
o Represent DARO on key committees such as the University Engagement and Impact Committee and the Global Foundations Working Group.
o Ensure the Charitable Partnerships team is directed, owns its responsibilities and collaborates across DARO and the University.
o Manage the Charitable Partnerships budget and collaborate with the Associate Director of Development Services for effective budgeting and monitoring.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
* Leadership & strategic thinking
o Proven record of leading and motivating a team.
o Ability to think and plan strategically for Charitable Partnerships strategy.
o Experience of developing innovative solutions and practical implementations of strategy.
o Creative, initiative‑driven decision‑making.
o Financial and budget management experience.
o Strong professional integrity.
o Ability to work effectively in both team and independent environments.
* Knowledge & Experience
o Strong track record of leading an income‑generating team.
o Experience of delivering 6‑figure and above gifts for charitable causes.
o Experience of building long‑term relationships with leading charities, trusts and foundations in the UK and overseas.
o Passion for, commitment to, and knowledge of higher education and philanthropy.
o Extensive target‑driven experience.
o Experience in a large, complex organisation.
o Aware of University activities and objectives – understanding of and empathy with the University of Birmingham vision.
o Active promotion and empathy toward equality and diversity.
o Use of data to identify equality and diversity issues and develop interventions.
* Communication & relationship building
o Outstanding communication skills.
o Ability to write compelling proposals for charities, trusts, foundations and corporate partners.
o Strong interpersonal skills and engagement with a wide range of audiences (senior colleagues, academics, partners).
o Experience with senior management.
o Empathy for business and academia.
o Negotiation and influencing skills.
o Confidence, diplomacy and authority in representing the University.
* General
o Proven problem‑solving capability.
o Ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise workload under pressure.
o Degree level education (or equivalent) with substantial management experience.
Role Context
Roles at this level will be senior professionals with high‑level expertise, exercising within their functional area substantial independent professional responsibility and discretion, including the development and implementation of policies and processes. The role may involve deputising for the most senior manager of the area. The incumbent will resolve problems where no precedent exists, requiring innovation and creativity and deliver major contributions to long‑term strategic planning for the area.
Core Competencies / Transferable Skills
* Planning and organising
o Lead and manage a functional area, staff and resources.
o Shape strategic direction and contribute to departmental strategic planning.
o Set quality and professional standards.
o Take accountability for service delivery or expert advice.
o Initiate and manage large‑scale change.
o Make decisions and judgements on conflicting data.
o Research, develop drafts, town‑swing ideas and produce final drafts.
o Lead and manage complex projects with significant time and financial resources.
* Problem solving and decision making
o Evaluate service provision and implement innovative solutions.
o Ensure effective resolution of all issues in one’s area.
o Identify trends and implement approaches to address them.
o Handle significant people‑management issues with sensitivity.
* Organisational understanding
o Develop deep understanding of own area and contribution of others.
o Understand how the University and academia operate.
o Show empathy with academic endeavour and encourage others.
* Relationships and communication
o Interact effectively at senior levels within the University.
o Network with fellow professionals in the wider community.
o Promote own/department work at internal and external opportunities.
o Inspire and motivate others through intermediary managers.
o Provide expert input for internal/external meetings, influencing and facilitating consensus.
o Consult with service users and others to establish requirements and priorities.
Contact & Application
Informal enquiries to Gemma Armstrong, email: g.m.armstrong@bham.ac.uk
Apply by 16th November 2025.
We believe there is no such thing as a ’typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre that continuously improves work life for everyone. We are also committed to sustainability – key to our strategy.
#J-18808-Ljbffr