Senior Manager, Philanthropy

Museums Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 129,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Museums Victoria seeks a Senior Manager, Philanthropy to lead fundraising priorities and grow income across bequests, regular giving and trusts. This role also contributes to major gift activity and oversees a small team.

Based in Melbourne, the successful candidate will coordinate programs, manage donor portfolios, ensure robust reporting and maintain high-quality donor relations within MV’s dynamic cultural and community context.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in philanthropic fundraising with structured programs across bequests, regular giving and trusts.
• Proven ability to lead donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and reporting across defined programs.
• Experience supervising a small team and coordinating priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver fundraising priorities across bequests, regular giving, annual giving, trusts and foundations, and aligned major gift activity.
• Develop donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and reporting strategies to secure philanthropy support.
• Coordinate and improve Philanthropy operations, including CRM practice, gift administration, donor records, data quality, workflows and reporting.
• Supervise direct reports by setting priorities, supporting delivery and providing feedback.

Skills

Philanthropy fundraising

Donor relationship management

Team leadership

CRM systems

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Australia's largest public museum organisation is seeking a Senior Manager, Philanthropy at Museums Victoria.

ABOUT MUSEUMS VICTORIA:

Ever dreamed of working in a place where dinosaurs roam, stars explode, and the world’s most intriguing stories come to life? Welcome to Museums Victoria (MV)—where curiosity, discovery and trusted knowledge shape everything we do. As one of the southern hemisphere’s largest and most iconic museum organisations, we care for the State’s scientific and cultural collections, create knowledge, and connect people with stories that deepen understanding of our world.

Home to Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum, Scienceworks and the World Heritage–listed Royal Exhibition Building, MV brings together extraordinary collections, research, learning and public programs. Join a passionate team committed to sparking curiosity, sharing diverse perspectives and creating lasting social, cultural and educational impact.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Senior Manager, Philanthropy is a senior fundraising practitioner and people supervisor responsible for translating agreed fundraising priorities into practical delivery, reliable coordination and sustainable income growth. Working closely with the Head, Philanthropy, the role leads defined programs across bequests, regular giving, annual giving, and trusts and foundations; contributes to aligned major gift activity; supervises direct reports; and ensures disciplined donor coordination, operations and reporting.

Some of the key duties include:

• Coordinate and deliver agreed fundraising priorities across bequests, regular giving, annual giving, trusts and foundations, and aligned major gift activity.
• Manage assigned donors and prospects, developing tailored cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and reporting strategies to secure philanthropic support.
• Develop, implement and evaluate structured fundraising programs, including donor acquisition, conversion, retention, income reporting and stewardship.
• Coordinate and improve Philanthropy operations, including CRM practice, gift administration, donor records, data quality, workflows and reporting.
• Supervise direct reports by setting clear priorities, supporting delivery, monitoring performance, and providing coaching and feedback.

The successful applicant will have:

• Significant experience in philanthropic fundraising, with demonstrated results across structured giving programs, donor pipeline development, income generation and stewardship in a complex organisation.
• Proven ability to lead donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and reporting across defined fundraising programs and assigned donor portfolios.
• Demonstrated experience developing, managing or improving bequest or planned giving, regular giving, annual giving, and trusts and foundations programs.
• Experience supervising direct reports or coordinating a small team, including clarifying priorities, supporting performance, providing constructive feedback and maintaining high-quality delivery.

OTHER INFORMATION

This is an ongoing, full-time position. The salary on offer is aligned with VPS Grade 5, Value Range 2 base of grade $128,635 + 12% superannuation.

OUR COMMITMENT

Museums Victoria is strongly committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. We create and maintain a child safe environment and have zero tolerance for child abuse. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check and a Working with Children Check, and be assessed as suitable.

Museums Victoria is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate all communities. Museums Victoria is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and people of all ages, gender identities and sexual orientations.

We are committed to an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. If you require adjustments or support to participate, please contact Job at ***@museum.vic.gov.au.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 28 October 2026 (11:59pm)