Development Manager/Senior Development Manager

University of Exeter

This role is available as a Development Manager at Grade F, or as a Senior Development Manager at Grade G for candidates with demonstrable experience of securing multiple six-figure gifts.

The starting salary will be from £43,482 on Grade F for Development Manager or from £50,253 on Grade G for Senior Development Manager, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

Following the successful conclusion of the Making the Exceptional Happen campaign (which raised over £71m) attention is turning to a new campaign, chaired by alumnus Sir Sajid Javid, to raise £150m in support of the University’s 2030 strategy. This has three core themes: sustainability (greener); improving human health and wellbeing (healthier); and creating an inclusive society (fairer). The campaign will launch publicly in autumn 2026. We are seeking to recruit a resilient and target-driven fundraiser to deliver our philanthropic endeavours.

You will identify and generate significant philanthropic income from individual alumni and potential supporters in the UK and overseas. You must have a natural ability to develop long lasting relationships which is critical to you achieving agreed individual income targets, the level of which will depend on the seniority of the role.

Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will fundraise across a wide range of University priorities, allying them to donor interests.

About You

With an established track record of securing major gifts you will maximise your experience to generate five and six-figure donations on a regular basis. Your excellent communication skills and the vision to work across University departments will facilitate contacts that lead to revenue generation.

You must be able to develop and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the University and our strengths and priorities. Above all, you must understand donor motivation and expand the pool of potential donors by using your own initiative.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Further Information

Please contact Jessica Greenaway, Head of Development, J.A.Greenaway@exeter.ac.uk

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Why our colleagues love working here

• Flexible working opportunities and leading parental leave initiatives
• Generous annual leave (39-41 days including bank holidays)
• Competitive pension contributions
• A genuine dedication to supporting the health and wellbeing of all colleagues – see initiatives here
• Sustainability and the environment being at the heart of what we do