Major Gifts Development Manager – Philanthropy & Impact

Educate Plus; Western Australia; On-site; AUD 121,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Generous paid leave including parental

17% employer paid superannuation

Salary packaging

Incremental progression

Discount on UWA courses

Discounted health insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The University of Western Australia is seeking a Development Manager to secure philanthropic gifts and lead major donor engagement within the Development and Alumni Relations team, advancing world-class research, student opportunities, and community impact.

Based in Perth, WA, this full-time position offers a pro-rata base salary with superannuation and a focus on managing a portfolio of major gifts, leading tailored fundraising projects, and supporting the full donor lifecycle with cross-campus

Qualifications

• Strong experience managing major gift fundraising programs, ideally within a large or complex not-for-profit environment.
• Demonstrated success in identifying, cultivating and securing major gifts from high-net-worth donors.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage sensitively and confidently with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively, managing deadlines and contributing to team success.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted, long-term donor relationships.
• Sound understanding of philanthropic fundraising in Australia, alongside proficiency in CRM systems and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major and prospective donors, securing significant philanthropic gifts of $100,000+ to advance University-wide priorities.
• Lead tailored fundraising projects, proposals and engagement activities while collaborating with DAR colleagues and cross-campus partners.
• Support the full donor lifecycle—from identification through to stewardship—ensuring meaningful donor recognition and long-term relationship growth.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor cultivation

Communication

Stakeholder management

Independent collaboration

Tools

CRM systems

MS Office

Job description

The University of Western Australia is seeking a Development Manager to secure philanthropic gifts and lead major donor engagement within the Development and Alumni Relations team, advancing world-class research, student opportunities, and community impact.

Based in Perth, WA, this full-time position offers a pro-rata base salary with superannuation and a focus on managing a portfolio of major gifts, leading tailored fundraising projects, and supporting the full donor lifecycle with cross-campus