"Senior Trusts and Foundations Manager"

Senior Trusts and Foundations Manager

University of Exeter - External Engagement and Global - Philanthropy

The above full-time (1.0FTE) post is available from 1st May 2026 on a permanent basis within External Engagement and Global.

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.

Summary of the role

Following the successful conclusion of the Making the Exceptional Happen campaign (which raised over £71m) attention is turning to a future campaign in support of the University’s 2030 strategy which has three core themes: sustainability (greener); improving human health and wellbeing (healthier); and creating a fair and inclusive society (fairer).

Aligned to the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, the post-holder will plan, develop and produce fundraising proposals to trusts and foundations of a consistently high quality. These bids will be tailored to the needs of a wide range of funders based both in the UK and internationally. The post-holder will influence the trust and foundation fundraising strategy and take an active role annual planning. They will have direct responsibility for securing significant new funds to support the university’s strategic objectives. The post-holder will work closely with academics and senior university leaders to create funding proposals. The post-holder will be expected to build personal relationships with key trust and foundation contacts (trustees/administrators) and to find ways to open doors to new trusts and foundations by exploring the networks of academics and supporters. The work will focus particularly on major proposals for grants of £100k or more.

With a significant track record of securing major gifts from Trusts and Foundations through your own endeavours and delivering against financial targets, you will have excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to liaise confidentially and diplomatically both externally and internally at all levels and to a range of audiences.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role, by clicking the 'apply' button.

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• 41 days leave per year
• options for flexible working
• numerous discounts at leading retailers
• onsite gyms on all of our campus’ and a cycle to work scheme
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

Further information

For further information, or for an informal chat, please contact Stephanie Cherington-Rimmell, Head of Development – Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy via s.cherington-rimmell@exeter.ac.uk.