Principal Gifts Lead (3 positions)
University College London
Advancement Department
London, UK
Grade 9 role with a salary of £68,284 - £85,203 pa, with a significant market supplement, where needed, to attract candidates with exceptional levels of experience. Plus excellent benefits, including a sector-leading relocation package.
UCL is a radically different university. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, we were the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. Today UCL has over 51,000 students, 14,000 staff and over 470,000 alumni, and is one of the world’s top 10 universities.
There has never been a more exciting time to join the Advancement office as we plan for our biggest ever fundraising and engagement campaign that will leverage the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that our bicentennial anniversary in 2026 presents. Since our last campaign, we have undertaken a strategic review of our programmes and have embarked on a roadmap that is building further capacity and expertise across our Advancement division. As part of this growth, we have re-imagined our Principal Gifts team and are pleased to present 3 positions to join us.
As a Principal Gifts Lead you will be part of a team that is responsible for building deep and meaningful relationships with donors and prospective supporters who have the potential to transform the future and impact of UCL. Focusing on cultivating, soliciting and stewarding a mixed portfolio of prospects with the capacity to give at the £5m+ level, these positions offer an opportunity for ambitious and experienced high-value fundraising professionals to help drive UCL’s principal giving programme forward.
You will play a key role in the successful delivery of our fundraising and engagement activities, working with key colleagues and stakeholders across the University as well as with a mission-critical senior volunteer network around the world. To be successful, you therefore need to bring well-rounded knowledge of best-in-class principal gifts fundraising, and a demonstrable track record of directly soliciting or orchestrating the successful cultivation of seven-figure philanthropic gifts for the organisations and causes you’ve represented.
With highly developed interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, and a creative and goal-orientated approach, you know how to build longstanding partnerships that help multiple stakeholders realise their ambitions. You enjoy playing the different roles in fundraising, and know how to gauge what is most appropriate – the driver or the navigator, the broker or the facilitator – as you are motivated by achieving transformative outcomes that matter. In return, you will join a team of passionate individuals who work together to achieve remarkable things with a global impact.
Our people really are our greatest asset and we invest in them so that they can fulfil their potential. Equity, diversity and inclusion is important to us. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to give their best in a place where their unique experiences, perspectives and skills are seen as valuable assets. We also prioritise work-life balance and offer hybrid and agile working as well as flexibility around working hours. We are happy to receive part-time applications for all of our job opportunities, and can consider a 0.8FTE working pattern for this role. And we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
If you’re interested in hearing more, please contact our recruitment partner at Richmond Associates on +44 (0)20 3617 9240 or you can download further details from their website https://richmond-associates.com/job/ucl-principal-gifts-lead .
Interviews with UCL will take place on an ongoing basis until these positions are filled.
Applications will be considered on arrival until 9AM Monday, 27 October 2025