Job Title: Development Manager
Reports to: Festival Producer
Line Management: TBC (potentially Development Coordinator) Team expected to grow as fundraising strategy develops and delivers
Works with: Festival Director, Marketing, Events, Production, Guest Services
Purpose of the Role
The Development Manager will play a crucial role in growing, broadening and sustaining sponsorship revenue and partnerships to support the strategic ambitions of Edinburgh International Film Festival. Reporting to the Festival Producer and working also with the Festival Director (the core executive team) the role is responsible for securing financial and in kind support for the Festival by cultivating strong relationships with corporate sponsors, trusts, foundations, governmental funding bodies and individual donors, as well as providing support over the coordination of creative, cultural, industry and media partnerships. The role will work closely with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to develop and maintain strong partnerships, diversify revenue streams and build financial sustainability for the organisation, along with all associated planning, reporting and evaluation.
They will be a confident, high level communicator with excellent networking and relationship management skills and have strong experience in developing and delivering significant corporate partnerships, managing relationships with public funding bodies and engaging with high net worth individual donors.
Key Responsibilities
Sponsorship Development
* Initiate and coordinate tailored approaches to potential sponsors and/or their agents, including detailed research on suitable sponsors, establishing contact, preparing and presenting appropriate proposals and supporting documentation, and maintenance of communication;
* Work with the Festival Director, Festival Producer and Marketing team to create compelling, innovative and well researched sponsorship proposals and presentations for prospective corporate sponsors, trusts and foundations and philanthropic donors;
* Ensure that any sponsorship proposals align with the Festival's brand, values, aims and objectives;
* Work with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to ensure all sponsor benefits are agreed and managed in line with organisational strategy and aims, including branding, media exposure, hospitality and activation opportunities in advance of and during the Festival;
* Work with the Marketing team, Production team and Events team to ensure all agreed sponsor activations and benefits are delivered in line with expectations;
* Negotiate and finalise sponsorship agreements, ensuring the exchange of approved contracts in a timely and efficient manner in line with internal policies;
* Build and maintain long-term relationships with sponsors and stakeholders, ensuring a positive and mutually beneficial partnership experience;
* Ensure all sponsors and stakeholders are kept up to date on all events across the year and during the Festival period;
* Work with the Festival Producer, Events team and Guest Services team to arrange sponsor and stakeholder events such as dinners and receptions;
* Work with the Festival Producer, Events team and Guest Services team to feed into guest lists and manage enquiries and expectations;
* Manage sponsors and stakeholders on the ground during EIFF, ensuring all parties are looked after and are able to make the most of their time;
* Work with the Marketing team to design and produce impact reports for sponsors and stakeholders and ensure these are issued in a timely manner after the Festival;
Fundraising Development
* Research, write and submit grant applications to secure funding from government funding bodies, philanthropic foundations, international arts organisations and cultural agencies;
* Manage the contracting process with all funding bodies;
* Work with the Marketing team to ensure all funder acknowledgements and credits are delivered in line with expectations and requirements;
* Manage and coordinate all funder reporting requirements, collating information and liaising with the Marketing team as required to meet all deadlines;
* Be fully aware of and up to date on all relevant grants and schemes as they arise throughout the year, keeping the Festival Producer and Festival Director informed of opportunities and parameters;
* Develop and implement key strategies to grow individual donor contributions, including major gifts and annual giving campaigns;
* Work with the Marketing team to design and produce impact reports for partners and donors and ensure these are issued in a timely manner after the Festival;
Partnership Development
* Work with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with local, national and international organisations to support the delivery of the Festival, e.g. hotels, venues, hospitality, travel partners etc, negotiating partnership agreements and in kind support;
* Liaise with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to coordinate and manage benefits and agreements for creative, cultural, industry and media partners in support of programme development;
* Work with the Marketing team to design and produce impact reports for partners and donors and ensure these are issued in a timely manner after the Festival;
Strategic Planning & Reporting
* Develop and implement a comprehensive sponsorship and fundraising plan to maximise income from corporate partnerships, individual giving and trusts and foundations;
* Ensure that all fundraising activities reflect the mission, values and aims of the Festival in line with the business plan and organisational strategy;
* Maintain the highest professional standards in fundraising, ensuring adherence to the Code of Fundraising Practice as required by OSCR;
* Work with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to create realistic fundraising goals and track progress;
* Maintain accurate records of all Development income and expenditure with regular reporting as required;
* Prepare and submit regular fundraising reports to the Festival Producer and Festival Director as required;
* Develop a cohesive structure for sponsor, partner and supporter acknowledgements and benefits, including managing EIFF honours board and other associated promotional assets/platforms;
* Work with the Festival's management platform, Filmchief, to oversee the development and maintenance of up-to-date databases of clients, sponsors, charities and fundraising bodies, to maximise the opportunity for data insights into fundraising activity as well as supporting guest list development;
* Track and analyse sponsorship performance, fundraising metrics and ROI for sponsors and stakeholders;
* Work with the Marketing team to develop evaluation plans and strategies for the Festival, ensuring all funder and sponsor requirements are factored into these;
* Ensure the timely and accurate fulfilment of all fundraising obligations to all funders, sponsors and stakeholders, including reporting and evaluation;
General
* Communicate effectively with colleagues and departments across the Festival to share information, achieve deadlines and promote a positive working environment;
* Attend meetings and provide progress and financial reports as required;
* Participate in the selection, induction and appraisal of direct reports;
* Work with relevant staff to set up workstations for direct reports;
* On completion of the contract, complete staff and line management report forms as required;
* Always act in accordance with EIFF policies and procedures;
* Carry out other duties as reasonably requested by your line manager.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
* Minimum of 5 years of experience in sponsorship development, fundraising and/or corporate partnerships, preferably in the arts, entertainment or non-profit sector;
* Proven track record in securing significant sponsorships and donations;
* Understanding of funding for film and arts/culture or charitable organisations;
* Experience in writing grant applications and proposals and managing reporting requirements;
* Strong writing and presentation skills, with the ability to craft compelling tailored sponsorship proposals;
* Experience with databases and CRM software;
* Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-management skills;
* Excellent attention to detail;
* Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment;
* A team player with strong collaborative skills, a positive attitude and flexibility;
* Knowledge of and passion for the film industry and international film festivals;
* Knowledge of wider arts sector, in Scotland, across the UK and internationally
View job description:
If you would like to apply for the post, please send us your CV along with a cover letter (no more than 1 side of A4) outlining why you are interested in the role and why you think you would be a suitable candidate, referring to the job description and person specification. Please also complete the online equal opportunities monitoring form.
Please email your CV and cover letter to
no later than 6pm on Thursday 9 October 2025.
We expect that interviews will take place
w/c 13 October 2025
.