CE Patrons Lead - India

As a valued employee of the British Council, you already help us deliver our mission to support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For over 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

You are part of our organisation in over 200 countries and territories and where we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

The Role:

To manage and grow India based membership of our Patrons Global Circle.

Responsible for all aspects of donor acquisition and stewardship in country, working closely with our UK Patrons Chair and our Head of Individual Giving (HNWI) to meet our annual partnership targets and grow our supporter circle.

Works closely with global teams to ensure prospects and donors are aligned to the organisations values and ethics; donor engagement programmes are designed and delivered to leverage our portfolio of global programmes in the UK and internationally; targets are met and due diligence, financial and data management processes are maintained accurately and shared with the wider corporate, pillar and partnerships teams.

The India Cultural Engagement Patrons Manager will contribute to the development of the British Council integrated fundraising strategy and advise on the philanthropic potential of our portfolio of Global Programmes and the design of specific elements with regard to ensuring maximum opportunities for support.

Accountabilities:

This role is responsible for growing and managing philanthropic support from Indian high-net-worth individuals by developing and delivering fundraising strategies, cultivating and stewarding donor relationships, identifying new funding opportunities, and securing philanthropic income aligned to British Council priorities. The post-holder provides expert guidance on individual giving, ensures compliance with fundraising regulations and tax-efficient giving requirements, manages fundraising programmes, budgets and risk, and works closely with internal and external stakeholders to maximise donor engagement and impact. The role also supports strategic planning, contributes to organisational leadership, and promotes an inclusive culture while ensuring effective governance, reporting and delivery of fundraising objectives.

Requirements of the role:

• Experience of managing a membership or individual giving scheme within a charity.
• Substantial experience of face-to-face fundraising with a proven record of cultivating gifts and ‘making the ask’ for five figures minimum GBP or equivalent.
• A demonstrable commitment to excellent donor stewardship at the highest level.
• Experience of close working with programme teams and ability to identify and re-shape existing activity and offers into compelling fundraising opportunities
• A broad range of contacts within the UK Development sectors
• Experience of writing copy and corresponding with donors demonstrating strong literacy skills and the ability to create a compelling case for support, both written and verbal.
• Experience of budget management and presenting financial information to philanthropists
• Experience of reporting to Trustees and Senior Leadership and managing internal senior stakeholders to drive a fundraising culture internally.
• Experience of managing fundraising systems and processes (e.g. CRM, due diligence).
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and presentation skills, and the ability to communicate complex ideas in appropriate ways to a range of audiences, including Ultra-high-net-worth individuals
• Robust donor research skills and the ability to think creatively to identify new fundraising opportunities

Closing Date: Applications will close on 9th November at 23:59 UK Time.

You must have the legal right to work in the listed locations at the time of application.

Important Information:

Contract type: 2 years Fixed Term Contract

Pay band: 8

Location: Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai

Requirements:
Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the listed locations at the time of application.

Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989. Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org