Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering Candidate Information Pack
in partnership with
Introductory Letter Dear Candidate Thank you for your interest in the role of Head of Philanthropy, College of Science and Engineering. This is a very important appointment so we’re delighted to be working with Execucare to find the best possible candidate to join our team. It’s an exciting time to join the Philanthropy team here at Edinburgh. The University has had a long history of commitment to and success in fundraising-- having established one of the first professional fundraising departments in the UK-- but in the past few years we have begun to deliver a real step change in both our results and our ambition. Building on solid foundations, cash income grew by 25% between 2015 and 2016, and this year will be the most successful in our history. As one of the world’s top 20 universities, we are engaged in world-leading education and research across an impressive breadth of fields, and we have a powerful story to tell about the role philanthropy can play in accelerating our impact on people and communities in Scotland and around the globe. We are driven by core values on philanthropy. We appreciate every gift, no matter the size. We see our relationship with donors as one of partnership, better represented by a handshake than a plea— because together we achieve things that neither of us could do on our own. We are proud to offer donors the opportunity to partner with us, knowing in particular that philanthropy can be one of the most meaningful ways for people to express their values. We see ourselves as facilitators who connect those with great potential with others who want to help realise that potential—and to do so, our ability to listen is just as important as our ability to communicate. Integrity is at the heart of every interaction with donors, which is fundamental to building trust and confidence for the long-term.
You will be joining a flexible and innovative major gifts team within a wider Philanthropy & Donor Relations team—which is itself part of a wider Advancement department. While all department staff have particular priority areas and agreed personal and team targets, all are also expected and encouraged to resist a “lone wolf” mentality and contribute to the success of their teammates, the department, and the university as a whole. This is an environment for someone who is keen to stretch themselves and to learn from others. We aspire not only to achieve best practice but to lead in defining it—through risk-taking, asking hard questions, and challenging each other to be bold and creative. We’re looking for a highly collaborative, dynamic, and entrepreneurial major gifts fundraiser, manager, and strategist. You will develop close working relationships with colleagues in the Advancement department, academic and other senior leaders across the College, and members of the wider university community. You will sometimes play a lead role in bringing particular major gifts to fruition and sometimes play a supportive role in mentoring and empowering your team to develop their own leadership skills. This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a worldleading university and build transformational programmes and partnerships. We look forward to discussing the successful short-listed candidates with Execucare and hopefully speaking with you soon. Chris Cox Vice-Principal for Philanthropy & Advancement
Liz Reilly Director of Philanthropy & Donor Relations
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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The Opportunity
The University of Edinburgh is seeking an exceptional major gifts fundraiser for this very exciting leadership position working with one of its three colleges. The Head of Philanthropy, College of Science and Engineering, will be responsible for leading and managing the philanthropy and donor relations strategy for one of the largest science and engineering institutions in the UK. The College is comprised of seven Schools: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, GeoSciences, Informatics, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy; it has over 8000 students and employs over 2700 staff. From the discovery of nitrogen to the development of the Hepititus B vaccine, the College’s work has shaped and enhanced our understanding of the world since sciences were first studied at the University in 1583. Since 2002, it has been known as the College of Science and Engineering. Current research is at the forefront of addressing global issues, from climate change and energy research, global access to the internet, new approaches to disease prevention and world-leading robotics and data science programmes. Staff and alumni of the College have included Charles Darwin, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Graham Bell and James Hutton. The College is one of the largest science and engineering institutions in the UK. Of seven submissions to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2014, three were ranked top in the UK: Geosciences, Informatics, and Engineering (jointly with Heriot Watt). All seven were in the top five in their discipline in the Times Higher Power rankings.
The Head of Philanthropy will manage and inspire a team of highly motivated fundraisers, building their confidence and skills to facilitate their own success and career progression and modeling excellent relationship building both internally and externally. Working closely with the new Vice-Principal and Head of College, Professor Dave Robertson, and the College’s senior leadership and key academics, s/he will engage high level potential donors with the College’s priority research, teaching, capital, social responsibility, student scholarship and other programmes for philanthropic support. The College currently has over 65,000 alumni and over 5,000 individual donors. This is an extremely pivotal role for the College as it seeks to create a long term strategy for philanthropic fundraising and to diversify its income streams, focusing on increasing revenue from individual major donors, while also maintaining and growing relationships with corporates and trusts. This is an exciting opportunity to facilitate and increase the impact of ambitious, cutting-edge scientific research.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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The University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh is an ambitious and innovative university with a bold and strategic vision, located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. Driven by creativity and curiosity, it strives to fulfil social, cultural and economic obligations to Edinburgh, Scotland and the world. It is truly a global University, making a significant contribution to the world through global partnership, exchange and engagement. It has 200,000 graduates around the world and 42% of its student population comes from 156 nations, with 33% of staff coming from 105 nations. The University provides an educationally outstanding experience for its students. Founded to advance knowledge for the public good, the breadth and depth of its scholarship, learning and teaching, and its entrepreneurial and creative culture enables the University to make a positive difference to people’s lives – both close to home and globally. For more than four centuries, the University of Edinburgh’s people and their achievements have made history time and again. They’ve explored space, revolutionised surgery, published era-defining books, paved the way for life-saving medical breakthroughs and introduced to the world many inventions, discoveries and ideas, from penicillin to Dolly the sheep. Today, in a fast moving, ever changing geo-political climate, the University is committed to making a sustained and enhanced global impact through an approach shaped by innovations and excellence. It is committed to ensuring the strongest culture of philanthropic support focused especially on its students and on outstanding research capabilities. One of the world’s leading universities, the University of Edinburgh has been at the forefront of international research across the arts and sciences for centuries. The research, discoveries and ideas born at the University have changed the way we understand the world. The University of Edinburgh is world-renowned for the quality of its teaching, research, and wider economic and social impact. The latest Research Assessment Framework highlighted the University’s place at the forefront of international research, rating Edinburgh fourth in the UK for quality and breadth of research, and by far the most successful university in Scotland.
It is ranked the 23rd most employable university in the world by the 2015 Global Employability University Ranking and is a member of both the Russell Group and the League of European Research Universities. The University is organised into three colleges, the Colleges of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS), Science & Engineering (CSE) and Medicine & Vet Medicine (CMVM). Within these colleges are twenty schools. Together they offer more than 500 undergraduate and 160 postgraduate courses to over 30,000 students each year. Professional services are as critical to this success as the world-class teaching, research and student facilities. In fact, the University is one of the top employers in Edinburgh, with over 11,700 people spread across a wide range of academic and supporting roles. The University of Edinburgh has a clear strategic vision, published in its Strategic Vision 2025; this helps focus and drive all decisions made at the University, and holds it accountable to ambitious key performance indicators. Included in the Strategic Vision 2025 is a clear commitment to philanthropic support and the engagement of the University’s global alumni community. As a world-changing, world-leading university, the University of Edinburgh is an exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. The University will give you support, nurture your talent, develop and reward success and integrate academic, professional and personal career goals, as well as give your career the benefit of a great and distinguished reputation.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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City of Edinburgh
Scotland is a distinctive and fiercely ambitious country while Edinburgh is a cosmopolitan city and one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals. As a great civic university, The University of Edinburgh especially values its intellectual and economic relationship with the Scottish community that forms its base and provides the foundation from which it looks to the widest international horizons, enriching both itself and Scotland. The University is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city of Edinburgh with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the University.
With a population of approximately 450,000 (1 million in the city region), the city manages to combine
both ancient and modern in a uniquely Scottish atmosphere. Edinburgh combines medieval relics, Georgian grandeur and a powerful layer of modern life with contemporary avant-garde. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also the leading festival city in the world, based at the heart of an international transport network that connects the city to major UK, European and global destinations. The University is a major partner and contributor to the city and region, attracting the best minds, the best facilities, and the best academic and business connections.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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The Development and Alumni Department The Development and Alumni Department of the
The Philanthropy team has big ideas for the future
University of Edinburgh has one of the largest and
and is currently recruiting several additional senior
most successful teams in the UK Higher Education
major gifts fundraisers - including the new Head of
sector.
Philanthropy, London - to play an integral role in
In 2016, Chris Cox joined the University as Vice Principal, Philanthropy & Advancement, to lead an ambitious advancement programme that will match the ambition of the University. As one of the first universities in the UK to appoint an advancement professional at this level, the University has underlined its commitment to advancement and the importance it places on alumni and donor engagement as part of the University’s future. The Development & Alumni department’s (D&A) mission is to help alumni and friends to shape the future by supporting and inspiring Edinburgh students and researchers, maximising the University’s impact on
developing and implementing our strategy. The postholder’s objective will be to develop and build relationships to secure significant philanthropic support. S/he will manage a portfolio of potential major donors and will be expected to seek donations focused on six-figures and above. S/he will be responsible for developing and implementing long- term strategies to double philanthropic income to College priorities over several years and ensure high- quality, strategic engagement of individual donors. The post holder will manage some of the University’s most important relationships with current and potential major donors.
Scotland and the world. It exists to build a network of
Edinburgh’s work has a big impact on real people and
friends and supporters throughout the world and to
critical world challenges. Now is an exciting time to
enhance the work of the University. This is achieved by
work for this world-leading institution and to promote
building long-term relationships with alumni, creating
philanthropy as it increasingly supports the ambitious
imaginative fundraising programmes and events, and
goals of staff and students.
working in partnership with all areas of the University. The department fundraises in order to ensure that the University can continue to provide ground-breaking research; world-class facilities for students and staff; and scholarships to attract the very brightest from Scotland and around the world to Edinburgh. Fundraising staff focus on building long-term relationships by understanding the motivations of donors, identifying the areas of most interest to them, and ensuring that their donations are used effectively to make a difference. Edinburgh has a long history of successful fundraising (having been one of the first universities in the UK to set up a professional fundraising operation) but is in the midst of a real step change and is on track to double philanthropic income in just a few years. The team is currently developing exciting giving opportunities to help the university achieve its overall stated goal of impact on society. These are organised in the following five thematic areas in which Edinburgh is world-leading and in which philanthropy could have considerable impact: Global Challenges, Dynamic and Creative Thinking, One Health, Digital Transformation, and Life-changing Learning.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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Staff Diagram Vice Principal, Philanthropy & Advancement & Executive Director, Development & Alumni
College Registrar, CMVM
Head of External Engagement & Communications, CMVM
PA to Vice Principal & Executive Director
Director, Development & Alumni Services
Director of Philanthropy & Donor Relations
Development & Alumni Services Team
Development Assistant
Director of Alumni Relations Fundraising & Communications Team, CMVM
Alumni Relations Team
Philanthropy & Donor Relations Team
Head of Philanthropy, CAHSS
Head of Philanthropy, CSE
Head of Philanthropy, London
Head of Philanthropy
Philanthropy Manager, CAHSS
Philanthropy Manager, GeoSciences
Development Associate
Development Officer, CAHSS
Development Officer
Development Officer
Development Assistant, CAHSS
Development Officer, Biology
Development Officer
Development Officer, CSE
Development Manager, Supporter Engagement Development Officer, Supporter Engagement Development Officer, Lib & Collections
Philanthropy Manager, Trusts & Foundations
Donor Relations Manager
Development Manager, Legacies
Development Officer, Trusts & Foundations
Donor Relations Officer
Supporter Engagement Administrator
Key CAHSS = College of Arts, Humanities & Social Science CSE = College of Science & Engineering CMVM = College of Medicine & Vet Medicine
Head of Philanthropy, North America
Community Fundraising Officer, Supporter Engagement
Development Coordinator, Supporter Engagement
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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Job Description Title
Line Manager
Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering
Director of Philanthropy & Donor Relations
School/Support Department Development & Alumni
Job Purpose
Main Responsibilities
The Head of Philanthropy (CSE) will lead and manage the
1. Manage his/her own portfolio of current and
high-level philanthropy and donor relations strategy for
potential future high level private donors and
the College, leading and inspiring a team of fundraisers
will work closely with the Head of College of CSE,
and working closely with the Head of College and
Director of Philanthropy and Donor Relations,
Vice-Principal, the College leadership team, and key
College Registrar, senior academics, and influential
academics in confirming priority research, teaching,
volunteers to attract major gifts for the College,
capital, social responsibility, student scholarship and
focusing on 6-to-7 figure gifts.
other programmes for philanthropic support, and engaging high level donors in these and other plans across all Schools in the College.
2. Develop a close working knowledge of current and emerging research, teaching and social responsibility priorities across the College. He/she will work
The scope of the role is large and will include overseeing
closely with the College’s Senior Management Team,
preparation for and implementation of several major
and particularly the College’s Head, Registrar and
strands of strategic philanthropic activity concurrently.
key academics, to identify the programmes with
The post holder will focus on developing the College’s
the most potential to match the motivations and
activities to diversify its long- term income streams
priorities of private donors and to agree on annual
by increasing philanthropic income specifically from
deliverables. He/she will also draft and implement
individual major donors, while occasionally working
long-term strategies to bring about a step-change
with key companies and with the Trusts team on key
in philanthropic income and high quality, strategic
foundation proposals. The postholder will champion
engagement of donors for the College and prepare
philanthropy whilst finding creative ways to use it to
regular progress updates.
leverage other possible income sources. The College and University have ambitious plans where philanthropic support can be pivotal in increasing the impact of the University’s work in addressing global issues, ranging from climate change and energy research, global access to the internet through Edinburgh ‘LiFi’ technology, and new approaches to disease prevention through the biological sciences, through to world-leading programmes relating to robotics and data science, with their potential to transform societies and the delivery of public services, and a bold new vision for an Engineering Village on campus. Support for undergraduate, Masters and PhD students across the full range of disciplines, with a particular focus on supporting those from non-traditional backgrounds or with significant financial support needs, will also be a key priority.
3. Manage a major gifts fundraising team working across the College and specific Schools within it and focused on 5-7 figure gifts. Inspire and lead the team in a consultative, supportive and energising manner, encouraging creative approaches to developing highly effective campus-wide programmes to engage alumni and non-alumni in the furtherance of the College’s and the University’s goals. 4. Liaise with the Research and Donor Relations teams to thank and maintain long term relationships with major donors, including correspondence, invitations for private campus visits and University events, other personal meetings and publicity as appropriate. 5. Contribute to the wider work of the Development and Alumni Team including contributing, where appropriate, towards Alumni Relations, Regular Giving and Legacies. 6. Keep abreast of charity law, legislation and best practice in fundraising for Universities.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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Job Description Planning and Organising A key manager in the Development and Alumni team, the post holder will: •
Manage and influence long-term relationships between key major donors/senior stakeholders with the relevant parts of the College at all levels, often at Principal/Head of College level, developing and implementing effective engagement strategies.
•
Develop and implement an overall fundraising strategy to more than double fundraising returns for the College in the next five years, focusing on priorities identified in partnership with the College’s Senior
•
Management, and including producing regular
Problem Solving •
academic partners and funders to develop robust,
reports on progress. These plans will support the
competitive and compelling programmes for support.
College’s strategic plan and the post holder will
This requires long-term vision, diplomacy and drive.
require expertise in high-level planning and strategy, including but not limited to capital projects. •
•
College, College Registrar and Heads of School, in order to best use the time they allocate to engaging
Contribute to the long-term success of the College
with current and potential donors. This will involve
by developing a robust and reliable pipeline of
identifying and pursuing philanthropic opportunities,
philanthropic funding over the next 10 years. •
The post holder will manage the involvement (and expectations) of Senior Staff, including the Head of
Line-manage a fundraising team to ensure that their work supports the overall College priorities.
•
A crucial part of this role is working closely with
as well as managing expectations of academic staff with varying degrees of engagement in philanthropic
Manage the Major Gifts budget for the College.
activity. Care, tact and excellent influencing skills are crucial. •
The post-holder will be active in the development of major interdisciplinary research programme proposals spanning the University’s three Colleges, sometimes as the lead for proposals led by CSE, sometimes in support of interdisciplinary proposals led by colleagues within the other Colleges and those with University-wide responsibilities. This will include being a key team member in the development of seven and eight figure donor proposals relating in full or in part to the College of CSE with the VicePrincipal for Philanthropy and Advancement and the Director of Philanthropy and Donor Relations. This will involve bringing together the interests of the College with those of specific donors, seeking to influence and shape successful proposals, dealing with blockages and problems as they arise.
•
The post holder will be expected to anticipate difficulties and take timely action to overcome obstacles and manage risk.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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Job Description Decision Making
Relationships
•
•
The post holder will advise on and influence all aspects of philanthropic strategy for the College.
•
a flexible and creative philanthropy team across the College and the University more broadly, in
The post holder will work to agreed financial and
an environment where all post-holders will have
activity targets to achieve shared team goals. In
particular priority areas and agreed personal and
order to do this they will lead their team using
team targets, but are also expected and encouraged
judgement to implement a variety of approaches
to promote and see through philanthropic
including instigating face to face meetings,
opportunities across the University.
encouraging and over-seeing campus visits by donors to ensure meaningful engagement with key
•
the Director of Philanthropy and Donor Relations.
proposals on an iterative basis with both academic
The post holder will line-manage their fundraising
and donor communities, and conducting formal
team which sits within the Major Gifts team of the
presentations. The post holder will be required
Philanthropy and Donor Relations Team in the wider
to advise on meeting structure, provide detailed
Development & Alumni department. The post-holder
briefings and make informed judgements as to
will spend time flexibly with the College leadership
appropriate pacing and scale of ambition for each
team, including hot-desking and attending selected
donor proposal and wider relationship, supported by
meetings relevant to philanthropic strategy for the
appropriate mechanisms for donor recognition and
College.
University frameworks.
•
gifts and above. In the main, however, he or she
regularly. •
required to contribute to on-going management of
supervision.
the team and the University’s fundraising efforts as a whole. While the post holder will focus on Major
Dimensions and Context
Gifts, he/she will collaborate with other teams in the
The post-holder will be responsible for major gifts
department to ensure the College’s overall ambitions
fundraising within the College and will be required Management Team. This is a senior-level role, with
for philanthropy are realised. •
College and other senior staff across the university,
priority for the College.
including those who are involved in industry
The post-holder will be expected to lead their
relations, such as the Edinburgh Research &
team by example by promoting these and other broad College priorities and specific projects with donors and engaging them in flexible, creative and
Innovation (ERI) team. •
wider funders.
match donor passions and motivations with the most
•
The post holder will manage some of the University’s most important relationships with major donors and
imaginative ways. The over-arching priority is to relevant and outstanding programmes and academic
The post holder will develop strong relationships with the Directors of Professional Services in the
wide-ranging responsibilities to deliver a strategic •
The post holder will also sit on the Philanthropy and Donor Relations Management Team and will be
will use their own judgement and act without
to work very closely with the College’s Senior
The post holder will agree priorities and goals with the College Registrar and communicate progress
The post holder will liaise with the Director of Philanthropy and Donor Relations on seven-figure
•
The Head of Philanthropy (CSE) is line-managed by
academics and other leaders, writing and developing
active stewardship, in line with current and evolving •
The post holder will play a crucial role in developing
•
Excellent inter-personal skills are essential for
leaders across the College.
dealings with staff on every level. This post has
The international opportunity for major gifts is
line-management responsibility and it is expected
considerable; as such, the post holder will likely be a lead organiser and participant in several international trips each year.
that both people management and influencing skills will be required to ensure that the University’s fundraising aims are achieved.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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Person Specification Knowledge, Skills and Experience Qualifications/Training A University degree is essential. Experience The post holder requires extensive experience of fundraising in Major Gifts and must have a significant track record of securing individual donations in the five+ figure region. A proven track record of proactively seeking and taking forward meetings with potential major donors, and of engaging them productively and constructively with the wider University community towards high level philanthropic support is crucial for the successful post holder. The post holder must have considerable experience developing detailed fundraising plans and associated communications, including conducting analysis of philanthropic potential and writing compelling cases for support. Experience of managing and motivating a major gifts fundraising team is essential for this role. Knowledge, Skills and Competencies A deep awareness of and commitment to ethical fundraising practices is essential, as is a drive for excellence and innovation and an inspiring sense of optimism. A sense of pride in the development profession and the transformative power of philanthropy is also a must. A detailed understanding of Universities as complex organisations straddling the public and private sectors is essential as is an interest in and knowledge of factors affecting higher education in the UK and elsewhere. Personal Attributes The post holder is required to promote the complex work of the College to potential major donors with the utmost enthusiasm, clarity and integrity. Gravitas and the ability to negotiate with and inspire confidence in a variety of senior stakeholders is a must. Enthusiasm for and understanding of the role of both pure and applied science, engineering, technology and data in the wider world is essential, as is a commitment to life-long learning.  
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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Terms & Conditions Location
Equality of Opportunity at the University
Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1HT and some regular hotdesking at the College
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity.
Salary ÂŁ competitive
The link below provides further information on equality and diversity -
Hours of Work
http://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
35 hours. At this level, the postholder will be required to be flexible with working hours, and on occasion weekend and evening work will be required. Occasional travel will also be expected. Probation period One year Annual leave 36 days per year. Pension eligibility You will be automatically enrolled into the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) with effect from first day of employment. If you do not wish to remain a member of USS you will need to opt out.
Application Process Please apply by submitting a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Covering Letter highlighting your suitability for the position by email to:
For an informal conversation prior to applying to this role, please call either Nicola Reames on 020 3621 1540 or Joanna Logan on 020 3589 0467.
claire.reynolds@execucare.com
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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Candidate Information Pack created by the Execucare Design Team
Candidate Information Pack Head of Philanthropy, College of Science & Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
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