Candidate Information Pack
Development Director
in partnership with
Letter from the Master Darwin College is a very special community of graduate students, researchers and scholars, in the University of Cambridge. Because it is a graduate college, very deeply international, very highly skilled, it is quite different from other UK higher education institutions. Our current students are 700 of the brightest young minds of their generation, as were those who preceded them - our alumni community of over 8,000 alumni from around 80 countries. They’re really special, and they regard Darwin as special: an intellectual home, a place of affection. I should explain who I am. I’ve been the Master for four years after working in higher education in the UK, Canada and Switzerland. When I came back to Cambridge it was with delight, but tinged with anxiety. I am myself a Darwin PhD: I was worried that the College might not still be the same relaxed, cheerful, informal and very international place that it had been forty years earlier. I was soon reassured. The College has grown but the Darwin community ethos is very strong. Meeting alumni in the UK and around the world, it is clear how much they cherish their time in the College. Darwin is the basis of their careers, but it has also fostered a wonderful network of friendships (and many marriages). Those networks endure across years and now wrap around the world.
Though our students are very broadly spread across the many University Departments and associated research Institutes, most are clear that Darwin is their home in Cambridge. And they do not forget their home. We are young by Cambridge standards. Fundraising will be the key to our ability both to sustain the College’s special spirit, and to help the College grow in quality of provision. We need substantially to improve our accommodation, scholarships and facilities to support our members, now and into the future. Quite simply, we want this to be the best place on the planet to be a graduate student. We have not hitherto had a professional Development Director. We are seeking someone who will join and understand the College and help us achieve our goals. It matters immensely to us that we bring into our community someone who can help us to meet the challenges. Thank you very much for your interest in Darwin College.
Professor Mary Fowler Master
Candidate Information Pack Development Director, Darwin College
Introduction
Darwin College is one of the thirty-one Colleges of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1964 as the first college exclusively for graduate students, it was also was the first mixed college at the University. The College comprises a Master, 50 Official and Professorial Fellows, 20 Research Fellows, some 30 Research Affiliates and Associates, some 700 graduate students and 50 support staff. It is now one of the larger Cambridge colleges and is one of the most popular with graduate applicants. The Fellows (members of the University and associated Research Institutes) and students study the whole range of disciplines within the University, while the alumni, now over 8,000 in number, are drawn from and now spread over 100 countries or more. The main College site is in central Cambridge, on the west banks of the River Cam at the southern end of ‘The Backs”, with additional residential property nearby. The College, named after the Darwin family, is centred on the family home of Sir George Darwin - mathematician and astronomer and one of Charles Darwin’s sons. About one third of the students live in College property close to the main site. Among the Fellows, former Fellows and graduates are many individuals who have achieved eminence in research, scholarship and public life, including Nobel Prize winners. This friendly academic community of excellence, in its beautiful home, has a quietly informal spirit and a strongly international focus.
Candidate Information Pack Development Director, Darwin College
Authority in the College is vested in the Governing Body, of which all Official, Professorial and Research Fellows are members. The Fellows on the College Council are the Charity Trustees. The College’s administration and business is the responsibility of the College Council and is exercised through a number of committees, each comprising a mix of Fellows and elected student representatives, with the appropriate College Officers, supported by the administrative staff. The main College Offices are filled by Fellows and with the exception of the Bursar, the Domestic Bursar, and this new post, are part-time appointments.
The Post This is a newly created post; the function of Development Director was previously undertaken by the College Bursar. The Development Director will work closely and regularly with the Master of the College, Professor Mary Fowler, and will report to the Bursar and College Development Committee. The commitee comprises of the Master (Chair), Development Director, Bursar, three or more current fellows, plus up to two emeritus fellows and up to four external members. The Committee’s remit is to advise on the cases for support, objectives and priorities for fundraising in accordance with the College’s strategic goals, and to advise and support the Development Director. The College’s development objectives are to provide the College with a financial base sufficient to support and enhance its academic activities and to increase its accommodation and facilities, and thereby consolidate Darwin’s position at the forefront of provision for graduate students in the University; specifically: •
To accommodate 90 per cent of students on Masters courses and 50 per cent of students on PhD courses, meaning in practice an increase of some 160+ student study bedrooms and flats;
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To conserve, improve and expand the facilities on or near the main College site;
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To provide bursaries and scholarships (balanced across academic disciplines) to support students who might otherwise be prevented from coming to Cambridge by financial constraints;
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To create further research fellowships and increase post-doctoral membership (balanced across academic disciplines) to benefit academics at the start of their careers;
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To continue to build Darwin’s invested endowment to generate income to fund projects and academic initiatives.
Candidate Information Pack Development Director, Darwin College
The Development Director will lead the Development Office with two personnel reporting: the Deputy Development Director and an Alumni Officer. It is anticipated that additional administrative support may be needed in future. The Development Office is the first point of contact for the College’s alumni and currently produces one printed publication each year (the editor-inchief is a Fellow) as well as e-bulletins, and other material as required. It also hosts the alumni section of the College website and social media to engage alumni and current students. The College uses the Donor Strategy software for its alumni database and management of donor records, and it proposing to move to the University bespoke ‘Amicus’ software in 2017. There is an ongoing legacy campaign; all significant legators are members of 1885 Society and are invited to select dinners and events in College. In addition to regular communication from the College, alumni also have generous dining rights enabling them to visit the College. There are a number of set piece events each year, including the Darwin College Society (to which all alumni automatically belong) dinners and other events, as well as the College alumni weekend, which coincides with the University’s alumni weekend. There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the Colleges and the University about development activity around alumni.
Job Description Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Person
The duties and responsibilities of the Development Director will be as follows:
This is an exciting and hands-on post, which would suit an achievement-driven individual with the gravitas and intellect required to operate effectively at a senior level in an academic research community.
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Review the Development Strategy for the College with the Development Committee and College Council and build the case for support
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Recommend, and gain acceptance from the Fellowship for, strategies and tactics for fundraising, reporting to College Council and Governing Body as appropriate
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Manage and lead a professional fundraising office for the College, including setting the priorities, administration and budget control of that office Develop and implement a major gifts programme, and shape and oversee fundraising campaigns and regular giving for the College
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Steward donors through individual meetings, reports and regular communications
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Work with the Master, Fellows and students to build effective relationships for the long term
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Increase the number of legacy pledges
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Oversee the College’s alumni relations activity
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Represent the College on the relevant intercollegiate bodies
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Maintain a public profile for the College, in conjunction with the Master, Bursar and other senior officers
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Any other reasonable duties that may, from time to time, be required by the Bursar.
Essential prerequisites include: • Substantial and demonstrable knowledge and experience of all areas of development • A track record of establishing and achieving fundraising targets through securing major gifts through face to face fundraising • Excellent negotiating and influencing skills • Experience of initiating and building productive relationships • A proven record as a team player and the ability to work with a large number of colleagues in a complex organisation • An ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with the fellowship, staff, students, alumni and others • Experience of working in an academic environment would be beneficial, as would the ability to understand and clearly articulate the aims and needs of the College • Budget management experience with an ability to analyse financial information quickly and accurately and the ability to think strategically and show good judgment; IT and database literate • Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills • Strong leadership skills inspiring confidence • Reliable organisational skills • Keen attention to detail • Educated to degree level This job description will be reviewed periodically when additions and amendments may be made.
Candidate Information Pack Development Director, Darwin College
Terms & Conditions •
Competitive salary and benefits
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Statutory retirement age of 67 for all College Officers and Fellows
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The Development Director will be elected a Fellow of the College (and thus a member of the Governing Body) and will enjoy the rights and privileges associated with that position
How to Apply Please apply by submitting a copy of your CV and a Covering Letter highlighting your suitability for the position by email to:
To discuss any aspect of the role, please call Joanna Logan of Execucare on 07885 658764 or Nicky Reames of Execucare on 077877 428832.
Claire Reynolds, Project Manager claire.reynolds@execucare.com
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Candidate information pack created by the Execucare design team Candidate Information Pack Development Director, Darwin College