Development Assistant, WIGMORE HALL

Guardian Jobs; London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cultural organization in London is seeking a Development Assistant to support donor and membership activities. The role involves providing administrative support, maintaining donor data, and assisting with events. Ideal candidates will have strong customer service and organizational skills.

Benefits

22 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays

Company Pension Scheme

Private health care cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Opportunities for training and development

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills required.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Professional but friendly communication style.

Responsibilities

• Support the Development Department in donor and membership activities.
• Provide administrative support for Development campaigns.
• Assist with donor events and maintain donor data.

Skills

Customer Service

Organisational Skills

Time Management

Communication

Job description

The applicant should have excellent customer service skills, strong organisational skills and time management skills, with a professional but friendly communication style.

The role will support the team in all donor and membership related activity, and provide administrative support for all Development campaigns.

Please visit the Wigmore Hall website for the full job description and application form.

Application deadline: 9.00am on Thursday 29 May 2025.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 3 June 2025.

Job Overview

Wigmore Hall is one of the world’s foremost recital venues, and a registered charity. Each season, the Development team must help raise approximately £3.5 million to support Wigmore Hall’s programming, as well as its work within the community.

The Development Assistant is responsible for helping to maintain a high standard of customer service for members and donors, administering and processing donor data, and providing important administrative support for the day-to-day running of the Development Office. They will assist with donor events at Wigmore Hall, as well as supporting the department to facilitate donor acquisition, retention and stewardship.

The successful candidate will support a wide range of activity within the department, whilst helping to drive improvements to processes and customer service. As well as gaining insight into the vital role Development plays within a cultural organisation, they will also work closely with other departments, including Marketing and the Box Office.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supporting the Development Department in all donor and membership related activity
• Dealing with general enquiries and development related enquiries on the telephone, in writing or by email, escalating issues where necessary
• Providing administrative support for all Development campaigns, including the Hall’s Audience Fund appeal, Digital Broadcast Fund appeal, Director’s Fund campaign and Gift Aid
• Attending operations meetings to discuss relevant event logistics with House Management and Restaurant staff
• Welcoming donors and assisting at occasional evening/weekend events as and when required (time off in lieu is available)
• Maintaining donor credit listings in Wigmore Hall brochures and online
• Maintaining the general efficiency of the Development Office, liaising with Development staff and co-ordinating tasks as appropriate
• Assisting the Friends Office as necessary
• Facilitating the delivery of key membership processes when necessary, including:
  • Processing membership applications, membership renewals and donations
  • Accurate data recording: ensuring all records are up to date and data processing protocols are adhered to at all times
• Managing the production and dispatch of renewal mailings, receipts, invoices and acknowledgement letters
• Working with the Friends office to take payments across a number of channels and managing monthly Direct Debit collections
• Processing monthly Gift Aid claims and supporting the Head of Membership and Appeals with Gift Aid administration
• Supporting the Director of Development (Consultant) and Head of Membership and Appeals with the administration of American Friends of Wigmore Hall
• Co-ordinating the CAVATINA ticket scheme

Person Specification

Essential:

• Excellent customer service skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work proactively in a warm, friendly and enthusiastic manner
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Ability to work effectively to deadlines
• Professional but friendly communication style – on the telephone and in person
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
• Willingness to work evening/weekend events as and when required
• Desire to learn and become an integral part of a close-knit team

Desirable:

• Appreciation for music and the programme at Wigmore Hall

Salary:£27,300

Contract Type:Full-time

Benefits:

• 22 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Enrolment onto Company Pension Scheme (after 3 months)
• Private health care cover once probationary period of 6 months is completed successfully
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities for training and development
• Hybrid working is currently possible, but a regular presence at Wigmore Hall is required