Head of Development and Alumnae Relations

Package Description

Competitive remuneration and benefits package including:-

• Reduced school fees and wraparound care at St George’s School
• Pension Contribution
• Staff lunches- during term time 
• Access to school buses on school bus routes for all staff (small charge payable)  
• Professional learning and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Opportunity to benefit from the use of the many school facilities; libraries; sports facilities etc
• Death in service benefits all staff
• Opportunity to join our community and contribute to social, music, drama and other events and activities.

The Role

The Head of Development and Alumnae Relations will, with the Head and Development Committee, develop and implement the school’s strategy for the development and fundraising, oversee donor stewarding, events and alumnae relations, with the support of the school’s alumnae officer. To start with we envisage the role being a 0.5 equivalent, with flexibility in hours to suit both the postholder and school. It is envisaged that, with achievement of the main role objectives, the size of the role will increase.

Main Responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following provides a main overview and indication of the varied duties and responsibilities expected that the post holder may be asked to undertake but is not exhaustive and will develop as the school’s development strategy evolves.

Supporting the school’s vision, ambitions, and achievements through fundraising and, specifically:

• Contribute to and support the delivery of the school’s Development Strategy as defined by the Development Committee
• Support the School’s vision and current objectives as outlined in the School’s Strategic Plan. (Future Growth at St George’s - All Girls’ School Edinburgh)
• Continue to raise the profile of the Foundation Office and develop a culture of fundraising at the school and within the extended School community.
• Create awareness of the importance of the work carried out by the Foundation Office within the extended School community and ensure that the school community are kept informed of its work.
• Support the organisation of alumnae, fundraising and other development events and attend in order to foster relationships with potential donors.
• Develop contacts and networks in Edinburgh and beyond who share or support the School’s vision and purpose and may be future supporters of the School’s work
• Maintain relationships with other similar post holders in Edinburgh, in order to share good practice

Fundraising Programmes and specifically:

• Working closely with the Development Committee to:

• Support the development and delivery of fundraising strategies including strategies for different donor and potential donor types.
• Support the development and the delivery of donor stewarding and contact strategies, for all donor types.
• Including (but not limited to) legacy and major gifts, regular giving, trusts, businesses

• Build meaningful on-going relationships with donors who may include new and current donors, friends of the School, former parents, alumnae, trusts, current and former staff, and businesses and industries who share our objectives.

• Devise, implement and co-ordinate gift acknowledgement.

• As agreed with the Head and Development Committee, articulate the needs of the school, both orally and in writing, to potential supporters, including specific details of projects for which the school is seeking funds, representing the school, its ethos and culture appropriately and effectively.

• In conjunction with the school’s marketing team, develop and implement an ongoing PR plan for all aspects of the development team’s activity including social media, Toucan Tech online platform, and Foundation Office updates.

• With the Alumnae Officer, undertake market research to further monitor alumnae engagement, explore what different segments of the alumnae want from the school and to identify potential new donors. Use the feedback to steer content for communications and delivering pipeline information for possible fundraising opportunities.

• Oversee and support fundraising and awareness events (including virtual events), Parent Social Committee organised fund-raisers, alumnae reunions, and entertainment of prospective and existing donors.

 • Be present at School events such as Speech day, major concerts, alumnae sporting fixtures, community lectures, project launches and productions where donors and potential donors may be present in order to steward, forge and maintain relationships.

• Undertake all St George’s fundraising activities in accordance with the regulations and guidance set out by the Fundraising Regulator.

• Undertake relevant research to understand better potential donors’ attitudes and needs to influence future campaign planning.

Management of the Foundation Office and, specifically:

• Line management of the Alumnae Officer, working closely with the Marketing team and maintaining excellent working relationships and building team spirit.

• Maintain, improve, and develop administrative systems to ensure accuracy of records including ToucanTech.

• Manage the Development budget and methods for donations and ticket sales in liaison with the Business Director and Finance Officers

Oversight of Alumnae Relations, specifically:

• Take a lead on implementing, developing and subsequently the day to day running of the St George’s Foundation website and CRM system (ToucanTech) Home | St George's Alumnae ensuring that the website has maximum appeal to alumni and up to date content

• Undertake the relevant training/networking to ensure that we are using the software in the most efficient manner, respecting GDPR regulations and benchmarking against other relevant peer groups.

• Use ToucanTech to:

• Control data – ensure we can segment data as required and data of staff and student leavers is effectively collected, in line with GDPR requirements
• Track all activity - financial and socially.
• Grow the St George’s alumnae/community including subgroups (e.g., by location/university)

• Communicate with the community in tailored formats.
• Manage events, including ticketing and seating plans
• Promote and supporting mentoring and career/lecture events
• Run fundraising campaigns
• Run performance and exception reports to support actions and decision making.

• With the Alumnae Officer, maintain excellent links with the alumnae who have served in the Old Girls’ Association and support a new way of working with the Old Girls, now that the association has been brought in-house

• Ensure that Alumnae (and key donors) are welcomes to and stewarded at school events.

• Maintain and improve Alumnae engagement, at all ages, including current students to maintain lifelong links with the School.

• Oversee the work of the Alumnae Officer to ensure that former students receive regular information about the School, promote opportunities for alumnae to contribute to the life of the School, recording these as appropriate.

• Support and promote the work on the Archive, conducted by the volunteer archivist, including the digitalization project (St George's School | Digital Archives)

General Whole School duties (as required)

These include but are not limited to being directed to:

• Become familiar with and practice school policies, in particular those relating to Health and Safety, and Child Protection;
• Be collectively responsible for a safe, healthy environment;

• Maintain high personal standards of punctuality and appearance;
• Help to create and promote an image of the school which is in accordance with its ethos and aims;
• Attend meetings with colleagues, as required;
• Participate in all aspects of staff development as required;
• To seek the Head’s authorisation for any anticipated absence from School; to give as much notice as possible of unavoidable absence through sickness.

Addendum

1. The above responsibilities are subject to the general duties and responsibilities contained in the statement of Conditions of Employment. Further details of duties, responsibilities and procedures can be obtained from the Staff Handbook.

1. The job description allocates duties and responsibilities but does not direct the particular amount of time to be spent on carrying them out and no part of it may be so construed.

1. The job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post.   It will be reviewed as appropriate and it may be subject to modification or amendment at any time after consultation with the holder of the post.

The Ideal Candidate

Person specification:

About the school/organisation

As Edinburgh’s only all-through independent school for girls aged 3-18, St George's is a place of possibilities: where everyone is clearly heard; pupils feel empowered to be themselves; and innovation is constantly encouraged.  

The courage of our founding mothers, who pioneered women’s education in Victorian Scotland, still echoes defiantly through our corridors. That’s why amplifying the voice of every girl remains part of our DNA today as a loyal school community with a unique spirit of pride. 

Over 90% of our girls achieve their first-choice post-school destination: leaving us as robust, empathetic change-makers, ready to take on the world…