Development Officer

Important: Click Apply Now to download our application form. (Once completed and uploaded, your application will be sent to recruitment@gch.org.uk)

The Grey Coat Hospital, founded in 1698, is a Church of England school for girls aged eleven to eighteen, with a mixed Sixth Form. The historic foundation of the school and its current ethos are rooted in a confident and generous Christian faith and practice, which welcomes students and staff of all backgrounds and beliefs. The school is situated in the heart of central London close to excellent transport links. We are a heavily oversubscribed comprehensive school for girls with excellent examination results and rated outstanding by OFSTED.

Development Officer

3 days a week (term time), pro rata pay:  £14,500 approx. per annum

The Grey Coat Hospital has long raised funds from various sources in order to provide its pupils with valuable enrichment opportunities. With a growing need for this supplementary funding, the school has recently further developed its fundraising by establishing a strong case for support, an effective fundraising website, and a basic fundraising strategy. 

The Development Officer will lead on the implementation of this fundraising strategy with the support and guidance from an experienced Development Board. The role will require initiative, involve planning and administering high quality communications - through events, mailings and one-to-one contact – with parents, alumni, trusts and local companies to achieve financial targets agreed, as well as proper stewardship to ensure Grey Coat Hospital builds a pipeline of lifelong donors.  

The role involves: 

Managing all aspects of fundraising and the donor journey to achieve financial targets. This will include continuing to develop a prospect pipeline, lead on prospect and donor engagement activities including one-to-one meetings, develop written communications including stewardship reports and funding proposals, as well as submitting applications to charitable trusts and corporates. The ability to implement a regular giving and major giving programme to increase the school’s fundraising income annually. 

Acting as a central point of contact for Grey Coat Hospital’s development and alumni relations activity, and working closely with the Head, Governors and Development Board.  

Maintaining the relationship management database, managing event attendance and meetings, and producing income and pipeline reports as required by the overseeing committees. 

Developing an engagement strategy to build and maintain a strong relationship with former students and manage alumnae events to support the fundraising aims of the school, which may involve occasional work at weekends and evenings.  Experience of using social media in a professional context is desirable.

The ideal candidate will be:

Enthusiastic and self-motivated with exceptional organisational and administrative skills. They will be able to deliver on deadlines and be flexible about the duties and hours needed to fulfil the brief. Educated to degree level or equivalent, they will be a capable communicator with strong inter-personal skills. It is preferred that the candidate have a basic understanding of fundraising in the education or charity sectors. While direct fundraising experience is desirable, it is not essential but the candidate must be confident asking for money and have negotiating skills. Empathy and the ability to understand the motivations of those who might support the school is key. They will also have a basic understanding of GDPR and the need for discretion and confidentiality.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all members of staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all posts. Please note CVs will not be accepted.

For further information, please refer to the links on our website www.gch.org.uk. 

Please address any additional queries to: recruitment@gch.org.uk. 

Closing date for applications: 9th June 2022 

 Canvassing any employee, or member of the Governing Body, directly or indirectly is prohibited and will be considered as a disqualification.