Description

Ref Number
C16-00268
Professional Expertise
Fundraising and Philanthropy
Department
Vice-President (Advancement) (C16)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£54,931-£64,644
Contract Type
Permanent
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
07-Apr-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
 

As Senior Alumni and Supporter Relations Manager, Strategic Audiences, you will play a key role in shaping how UCL builds meaningful, long-term relationships with some of its most significant alumni and supporters. This is a high-profile opportunity to design, develop and deliver strategic engagement programmes for priority audience segments, helping to grow affinity, advocacy and philanthropic support for UCL at a particularly exciting moment in the institution’s history.

Working closely with colleagues across Advancement, Vice-President Offices and the wider university, you will lead on innovative engagement activity for targeted communities including women, active retirees, entrepreneurs, families and selected industry sectors. You will also oversee important flagship programmes such as UCL’s Honorary Awards and Alumni Awards, while managing a portfolio of high-value alumni and supporter relationships with diplomacy, creativity and strategic insight.

This role will be central to strengthening UCL’s alumni and supporter journey in the lead-up to our bicentenary in 2026 and the public launch of our next major fundraising and engagement campaign. With line management responsibility, you will coach and inspire others to deliver impactful work, while ensuring our programmes support both engagement and fundraising objectives across a global community.

We are happy to consider applications to work on a part-time/flexible basis wherever possible (minimum 0.8 FTE – equivalent of 4 days per week, stated salary to be pro-rata).

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

To find out more about the role, please contact Gerard Jones gerard.jones@ucl.ac.uk.

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 bring significant experience of relationship management and audience engagement, with a strong track record of building mutually beneficial relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You will be confident developing and delivering strategic programmes that deepen engagement, grow affinity and support wider organisational goals. Experience in alumni relations, philanthropy, membership, volunteer management or similarly relationship-led environments will be especially valuable in this role.

You will be an excellent communicator, able to produce high-quality written materials such as briefings, reports, proposals and strategy documents, and to influence credibly at all levels. You will be comfortable managing multiple projects at pace, balancing strategic thinking with close attention to detail, and using evidence, insight and benchmarking to inform your approach. Knowledge of fundraising, and ideally fundraising in a higher education context, will help you succeed in partnering effectively across UCL Advancement.

As a leader, you will be able to motivate and develop others, set clear direction and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture. You will bring strong interpersonal skills, sound judgement, resilience and diplomacy, alongside a genuine commitment to inclusive practice, excellent service and continuous improvement.

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 an empowering environment where personal and professional growth is invested in. We offer agile working and flexibility around working hours. Working with some of the greatest intellects in the world, UCL also offers a generous pension scheme and holiday allowance, plus closure days and bank holidays. Visit www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
Immigration loan
Relocation scheme for certain posts
On-Site nursery
On-site gym
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
 

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

Available documents
Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

download: SASRM (Strategic Audiences), JD, Feb 2026.docx