Head of Philanthropy, Alumni & Supporter Engagement

Head of Philanthropy, Alumni & Supporter Engagement (Maternity Cover)

At the University of Salford, we're driven by a bold ambition: to enrich lives through education, innovation, research and collaboration. As we deliver our Innovating to Enrich Lives 2025-2030 strategy, we are seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Head of Philanthropy, Alumni & Supporter Engagement on a 12-month maternity cover contract.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a well-established team at a pivotal moment of growth and development. Reporting to the Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, you will shape and drive the University's philanthropy, alumni and supporter engagement strategy, building lifelong relationships and securing vital investment that advances our strategic priorities.

Leading a team of 13 professionals, you will oversee fundraising, alumni engagement, stewardship, supporter relations, insight and operations. You'll inspire meaningful engagement across our global alumni community of more than 230,000 graduates while developing compelling opportunities for donors, trusts, foundations and corporate partners to support transformative initiatives across the University.

We're looking for an experienced and collaborative leader with a strong track record of securing significant philanthropic income, developing high-value relationships and delivering ambitious fundraising and engagement strategies. You'll bring excellent communication skills, strategic vision and the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.

In return, you'll have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students, research, communities and society, helping deliver world-changing outcomes through philanthropy, partnership and engagement.

If you're ready to lead a talented team and shape the future of philanthropy and alumni engagement at Salford, we'd love to hear from you.

The role is advertised as a full-time position for 12-months; however we are open to discussing part-time arrangements with the right candidate.

Whats in it for you ?

• Competitive salary - and excellent pension scheme
• An impressive 32 days leave - plus bank holidays, additional time off at Christmas and the opportunity to buy even more!
• Flexible working - we support a culture of flexible and agile working to help you find the right balance

• Our community - there's a real sense of belonging here at Salford. We value diversity, in backgrounds and in experiences. Our difference makes us stronger, and together we share a passion for improving students' lives

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Develop and implement a multi‑year philanthropy and alumni engagement strategy that drives income growth and supporter advocacy.
• Lead, mentor and manage a team of 13 professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance.
• Build and steward relationships with individual donors, alumni, trusts, foundations, corporate partners and other supporters.
• Oversee the creation and execution of engagement programmes that deepen alumni participation and global community connections.
• Ensure robust governance, compliance and ethical standards in gift acceptance, data management and reporting.
• Collaborate with senior university leaders to align fundraising initiatives with academic and research priorities.
• Analyse donor and alumni data to identify trends, opportunities and pipeline development.
• Manage the annual philanthropic budget, forecasting, and performance against targets.
• Represent the university at external events, conferences and stakeholder meetings to promote the institution’s mission.
• Drive continuous improvement through innovation, best practice benchmarking and technology adoption.

• Proven senior leadership experience in philanthropy, alumni relations or fundraising within a higher‑education environment.
• Track record of achieving significant revenue growth and expanding donor/ alumni engagement.
• Strong people‑management skills with experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent relationship‑building and influencing abilities with senior donors, trustees and corporate partners.
• Deep understanding of governance, ethical gift acceptance and data protection regulations.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and financial planning capabilities.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience managing large alumni networks and global engagement programmes.
• Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g., MBA, MA in Fundraising, Development, or related field) preferred.
• Commitment to the University of Salford’s values and diversity, equity and inclusion principles.