Donor Relations Manager

Ref Number

C16-00337

Professional Expertise

Fundraising and Philanthropy

Department

Vice-President (Advancement) (C16)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

£43,981-£54,019

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

Yes

Closing Date

10-Nov-2026

About us

We are UCL: a diverse community with the freedom to challenge and think differently. The world urgently needs solutions to diverse problems. UCL was founded 200 years ago on the generosity of a collective of people who believed in an institution that could drive forward those solutions. The world needed collective support then, and it needs it again now.

In response, UCL has launched Here, it will happen, our biggest philanthropic and engagement campaign yet. Here, it will happen sets out our ambitions to solve global health, societal, climate and education challenges in UCL’s next century. Here, we have the determination to double down on our discoveries, translate our innovations into impact and inspire the citizens of the future.

There has never been a more exciting time to join UCL Advancement. We are a team of exceptionally ambitious, creative and passionate individuals who work together to achieve remarkable things with a global impact, and we would love for you to be part of this exciting journey and our success. Here, it will happen.

About the role

We are recruiting a Donor Relations Manager to join our Advancement Donor Relations team on a c. 8-month FTC to cover maternity leave.

In this role, you will play a key part in ensuring that UCL delivers an innovative, gold-standard experience for the individuals, trusts, foundations and companies who support the university’s work. Working as part of the Donor Relations team within UCL Advancement, you will collaborate with colleagues across fundraising, communications, events and academic departments to develop and deliver meaningful stewardship that demonstrates the impact of philanthropy at UCL.

You will take ownership of stewardship activity for a range of significant donors, developing tailored stewardship plans, coordinating reporting and engagement opportunities, and ensuring supporters remain connected to the projects they fund. The role also contributes to the wider Donor Relations strategy, helping to develop systems, processes and tools that strengthen the donor experience and support long-term donor retention.

Working closely with colleagues across Advancement, you will help curate impactful donor communications, visits and engagement opportunities, while also supporting the effective use of systems and data to track stewardship activity and measure its impact.

This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 20% on site.

To find out more about the role, please contact Laura Hughes-Onslow ([email protected]) by email.

Please use the attach cover letter upload option to tell us how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification.

For more information about UCL Advancement, please visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/giving

About you

You will have a strong understanding of stewardship and the vital role it plays in building and sustaining meaningful relationships with donors or supporters. You will bring experience of delivering complex stewardship activity or high-quality customer or donor experiences, working collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure supporters feel connected to the impact of their contribution.

You will be highly organised and motivated, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines. You will also bring excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write engaging and persuasive content for a variety of audiences.

The role requires strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to build and maintain effective relationships across diverse groups, including senior colleagues and influential external stakeholders. You will approach challenges with creativity and pragmatism, demonstrate discretion when handling confidential information, and bring a collaborative and flexible approach to your work.

We are pleased to accept applications from individuals who possess transferable skills and experience drawn from sectors outside of Higher Education.

What we offer

We know that our people are our greatest asset and in return we provide …