School of Geography and the Environment Building, Oxford, OX1 3QY and University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD Job title: Head of Development - Geography Location: Oxford, UK, with hybrid working options Salary: Grade 9: £55,636-£64,228 with possible extension to £70,029 (includes an Oxford University weighting of £1,500 per annum Contract: Permanent and full-time role Oxford is excited to invite applications for a newly created role that will lead fundraising for its School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE). The Head of Development will be a key member of the Social Sciences Development team within Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE), who will work closely with SoGE and DAE leadership to establish a small Geography team, and to develop a fundraising strategy that serves the School’s goals and grows its philanthropic support. SoGE is one of the foremost geography and environment university departments in the world, internationally recognised for the quality of its research and teaching. Geography at the University of Oxford is a large, vibrant and intellectually diverse community comprising the core academic department of the School of Geography and the Environment, its three research centres: the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), the Transport Studies Unit (TSU) and the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment (SSEE) and several geographers based elsewhere in the wider university. This is a special opportunity to work collaboratively with academic colleagues who craft robust, imaginative and forward-looking answers to pressing questions about the environment, technology, geopolitics and socio-economic change. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced major gifts fundraiser who is looking to grow their career in Higher Education through a senior role combining significant fundraising with management of a small team. You will be a collaborative fundraiser with expertise in major gifts and a strong track record of securing complex philanthropic support. Thriving in a fast-paced environment, you will be a strategic thinker and a skilled operator—communicative, adaptable, and adept at building strong, lasting relationships. Your ability to establish credibility and foster trust across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders will be key to your success, as will be a knowledge of and passion for issues relating to the School’s work, and that of the Social Sciences more broadly. Experience in Higher Education or the charitable sector, as well as of managing staff, is desirable. Above all, you will share Oxford’s mission and be driven to create meaningful impact through strategic philanthropic partnerships. What We Offer Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as:
1. 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.
2. One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave.
3. A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.
4. An excellent contributory pension scheme.
5. Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.
6. Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.
Sponsorship and Right To Work This role may meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa. The University will meet the cost of the Skilled Worker visa and NHS surcharge for applicants that require a visa.