Development Assistant

About the School

Founded in 1932, St. Julian’s is a highly successful British international school for children aged 3 to 18. It is a unique and special place in character, history and location. Known for academic excellence, there are 1,256 students from more than 60 nationalities across four school sections: Pre-Prep (ages 3 to 5), Prep (5 to 11), Secondary (11 to 18) and Bilingual (6 to 15). The Secondary Section has 794 students.

Complementing academics, the school focuses on personal skills development through our 6Cs: compassion, curiosity, communication, courage, collaboration and global citizenship.

Google Apps for Education is used, and all teaching and teaching support staff are given their own MacBook Air.

St. Julian's has been recognised for the fourth consecutive year as one of the top 15 private schools in Europe in the Schools Index published by Carfax Education, and for the third year running as one of the top 10 by Spear's.

We follow the National Curriculum for England, leading to IGCSEs and the IB Diploma or Career-related Programmes.

We are accredited by CIS, COBIS and HMC.

Situated between Lisbon and Cascais, St. Julian’s enjoys an idyllic location framed by beaches and pinewoods. The extensive campus boasts exceptional sports facilities and offers a diverse range of after-school clubs, from Nature Club to ballet, chess and rugby.

The School is about to embark on a €40 million building project over six years that will see significant enhancements to the existing site.

The Opportunity

At St. Julian’s, we believe our future should be defined by the same ambition and transformative spirit that founded us. This is a pivotal moment for the school as we move towards our second century.

In 2032, St. Julian’s will celebrate its centenary. The years leading up to this milestone are a rare opportunity to celebrate our history, reconnect with alumni and former families across the world, and launch an ambitious Centenary Campaign. The Director of Development will be at the heart of shaping and delivering this.

We are seeking a leader who will drive all philanthropic initiatives, building a culture of giving among alumni, former and current parents, as well as the wider school community.

About the role

This role supports the newly appointed Director of Development in laying the foundations for fundraising at the school. The Development Assistant will provide administrative and operational support across three pillars:

• Alumni relations: You will help build and strengthen the lifelong connection between St. Julian's and its alumni across generations, from communications and events to reunions and visits.

• Centenary and heritage: You will help care for the school's archive and prepare the materials that support the Centenary campaign, so its history is preserved and shared.

• Fundraising support: You will research, track and report on alumni engagement and giving, helping the Director turn relationships into support for the school.

Key Responsibilities

Alumni Engagement and Events

• Assist the Director of Development in building meaningful relationships with alumni across multiple generations to foster community.

• Support the Director in communicating with alumni ambassadors to distribute promotional materials for school events, activities, and campaigns.

• Provide administrative support for the Alumni Advisory Committee, the Alumni Association, and the Parents Alumni Association, helping to prepare materials and ensure the smooth running of programmed meetings.

• Support the logistical organisation of alumni meetings, reunions, and special events under the Director's guidance.

• Help host alumni visits by providing guided tours and sharing information about the School's current activities and achievements.

Communications and Content

• Assist in initiatives to develop and promote alumni merchandise that aligns with the school's branding and values.

• Collaborate on creative brainstorming for merchandise offerings and marketing campaigns.

• Maintain and update the back-office operations of the alumni portal to ensure functionality for the community.

• Draft content for a regular alumni newsletter highlighting key updates, achievements, interviews, and opportunities.

• Help create engaging content for social media platforms to promote School events and alumni stories.

• Provide technical or administrative support for the development of a historical podcast featuring notable alumni.

Archive and Centenary Project

• Assist in nurturing the school's archive and preserving historical materials and documents.

• Help organise archival materials for the Director to utilise for the set up of the Centenary campaign.

Fundraising Support and Reporting

• Conduct background research on alumni achievements, potential connections, and collaboration opportunities for the Director.

• Assist the Director with alumni fundraising initiatives by managing data entry and identifying potential opportunities for financial contributions.

• Help execute structured programmes designed to engage alumni in philanthropy.

• Assist in compiling data and drafting reports on alumni activities, engagement, and fundraising initiatives for school leadership.

Mentorship and Career Support

• Help maintain and update a business directory of alumni-run companies and professional services.

• Provide administrative coordination between the Student Futures Department and the Development office to facilitate mentorship and internship opportunities.

The ideal candidate

You are at the start of a career in philanthropy, and you want to learn it properly, from the inside. An interest in archives and historical preservation would be a bonus. You are organised, curious about people and their stories, and as comfortable with an alumnus from the 1960s as with a Year 13 student. Previous professional experience is welcome but not required.

You possess:

• Foundational experience or a strong interest in alumni relations, communications or event management.

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to track several projects at once.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, at ease across generations and cultures.

• Resilience and a positive presence in the team.

• Digital fluency across websites, social media and email newsletters.

• An eagerness to learn fundraising and philanthropy.

• A real interest in education and a commitment to the values of St. Julian's School.

• Fluency in English and Portuguese.

Why join St. Julian’s?

You will join the school at a defining moment, with the support of the Director of Development and a team ready to deliver. Your work will be seen every day by our families, our staff and our wider community. Situated on the stunning coast of Carcavelos, we offer a professional environment that values academic excellence, tradition, community and innovation.

Compensation & Benefits

• A robust commitment to your continuous professional development

• A competitive salary package.

• Comprehensive private health and life insurance.

Safeguarding

St. Julian’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The offer of the role will be made subject to receipt of satisfactory references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification checks and criminal record screening including overseas (where appropriate). Further information can be found in our Safer Recruitment Policy.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

St. Julian’s School is committed to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity is a core value at St. Julian’s. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students and staff. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.

How to apply

Please see our Brochure and submit your CV and a cover letter (maximum two pages) by email to: people@stjulians.com. Closing date: 31 October 2026.