Senior Corporate Development Manager
Maternity cover
£34,000 - £37,000 dependent on experience
We're seeking a passionate and strategic Senior Corporate Development Manager (Maternity cover) to lead corporate fundraising at Chichester Festival Theatre. Contributing to our £1.8 million annual target, of which c£300,000 is corporate income, you will be responsible for driving innovative sponsorships, memberships, and partnerships.
This is an exciting time to join CFT as we launch a bold new business plan and have recently opened a brand-new fringe venue, The Nest. You will play a pivotal role in building and expanding relationships with local and national businesses to support our productions, Learning, Education and Participation (LEAP) programme, and wider community engagement.
The Senior Corporate Development Manager will lead the planning and delivery of CFT's corporate fundraising strategy. You will secure new sponsorships, steward existing relationships, and develop high-value, multi-year partnerships that align with both CFT's priorities and our supporters' objectives.
As line manager to the Development Officer (Corporates & Trusts), you will provide guidance, support and opportunities for professional growth, ensuring best practice in fundraising and partnership management across the organisation.
To apply:
Please send your CV and a covering letter, or video, to by 10am on 20 October quoting job reference: 2509SCDM in the subject line. In your covering letter or video, please let us know why you are applying for the role, what excites you about joining CFT and how your experience and skills match the person specification.
We'd love to hear about what makes you a great fit in your own words. We encourage candidates not to rely on AI for their applications, as a more personalised approach gives us a better sense of who you are.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic
* Lead on the development and delivery of CFT's corporate fundraising strategy, setting income targets and KPIs with the Director of Development
* Create compelling and innovative partnership opportunities for corporate supporters
* Contribute to the wider Development strategy and annual Business Plan
Fundraising & Relationship Building
* Meet the annual Corporate Development target, currently c£300,000, along with the support of the Development Officer
* Secure sponsorship for productions, seasons, and organisational priorities
* Identify, cultivate and convert new corporate supporters, building long-term, high-value relationships
* Devise and deliver tailored cultivation and pitching strategies, including for national brands
* Draft and negotiate contracts for all corporate partnerships
* Host cultivation events and support the Development Committee, Executive and senior managers in engaging prospective sponsors
* Ensure due diligence in line with CFT's Donation Acceptance Policy
* Support the Development Officer in managing and growing CFT's Corporate Membership network
Donor and Partnership Management
* Manage CFT's portfolio of corporate supporters, ensuring timely delivery of benefits, publicity and events
* Oversee reporting to sponsors and partners, demonstrating impact and value
* Work with colleagues across CFT to develop and deliver bespoke partnership opportunities aligned with corporate social responsibility priorities
Marketing & Communications
Collaborate with the Marketing Department to deliver sponsorship benefits and ensure accurate representation of sponsors across CFT platforms
* Develop creative branding opportunities and report on sponsorship reach
* Coordinate sponsor advertising and communications, with support from the Development Officer and Marketing team
Management
* Provide coaching, training and support to the Development Officer to ensure professional growth and high performance
* Model excellence in fundraising practice and collaboration across CFT
* Manage budgets within the corporate fundraising portfolio and contribute to organisational efficiency and effectiveness
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
* Proven experience of securing and managing high-value corporate partnerships or sponsorships
* Demonstrable track record of successful prospecting, proposal writing, and pitching at senior level
* Strong negotiation, presentation, and public speaking skills
* Excellent relationship management skills with commercial awareness
* Experience of using CRM systems to manage partnerships (ideally Spektrix)
* Ability to work to financial targets, prioritise effectively, and problem-solve creatively
* Strong interpersonal skills with diplomacy, tact and integrity
* Tenacious, target-driven, and a confident self-starter
* Excellent time management and organisational skills
* Commitment to CFT's values: Creatively Ambitious, Community Driven, Inclusivity Champions, Sustainably Minded
Desirable Criteria
* Knowledge of the arts sector and an understanding of theatre
* Experience of event management
* Familiarity with Spektrix CRM system
Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: £34,000.00-£37,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person