Development Manager

The Roses Theatre; Tewkesbury; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Permanent contract

Job share welcome

5 days per week

Job summary

The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury is seeking a key income-generation professional to grow philanthropic and contributed income. You will lead programmes in individual giving, patrons, corporate sponsorship and trusts, shaping a sustainable development strategy for this arts charity with deep community roots.

Reports to the Head of Marketing and Development; hybrid working available, permanent contract. Strong donor engagement and project management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in fundraising, business development, or sponsorship.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Target-driven with proactive, organised approach.
• Experience with arts/culture fundraising is preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow individual giving and patron programmes.
• Manage relationships with patrons and donors.
• Build compelling cases for support linked to organisational priorities.
• Develop corporate prospecting and tailored proposals with the marketing team.
• Steward corporate supporters to maximise retention and value.
• Oversee the trusts and foundations pipeline.
• Coordinate budgets, applications and reporting for funders.
• Contribute to the Development Strategy with senior leadership.
• Collaborate with marketing on donor recognition and impact reporting.
• Maintain donor records and pipelines.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Sales & partnerships

Relationship building

Communication skills

Organised & target-driven

Culture lover

Spektrix

CRM/databases

Tools

Spektrix

CRM/databases

Job description

The Roses Theatre is a vibrant cultural venue presenting world-class musicians, leading comedians from across Britain, and a diverse, cutting-edge film programme. In addition to performances, the theatre offers an extensive range of events and activities for audiences and the local community. The Roses Theatre is committed to engaging, inspiring, and entertaining a wide range of audiences through high-quality artistic and community-focused programming.

Salary: £35,000 (depending on experience)

Reports to: Head of Marketing

Location: The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury (hybrid and flexible working available)

Contract: Permanent (subject to funding)

Job Share: Applications for job share arrangements are welcome.

Hours: 5 days per week

About the Role

A key income-generation role responsible for growing The Roses' philanthropic and contributed income. Working closely with the Head of Marketing & Development, you'll lead the cultivation, stewardship and growth of individual giving, corporate support, patron schemes and donor development — shaping and delivering a sustainable development strategy for an ambitious arts charity with deep community roots.

We're looking for someone with:

• Experience in fundraising, business development, sales, sponsorship, account management or relationship management.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A proactive, organised and target-driven approach.
• A passion for culture, community and making things happen.

Individual Giving & Patrons

• Lead and grow individual giving and patron programmes, recruiting, retaining and stewarding donors at all levels through engaging supporter journeys.
• Manage relationships with existing patrons and donors while identifying and cultivating new prospects to grow numbers and lifetime value.
• Build compelling cases for support linked to organisational priorities.

Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorship

• Research and develop new business prospects, creating tailored proposals with the marketing team.
• Steward corporate supporters to maximise retention and value, working with colleagues and trustees to unlock high-value opportunities.

Trusts & Foundations

• Oversee the trusts and foundations identifying prospects, writing applications and manage the trusts and foundations pipeline.
• Coordinate project information, budgets and evaluation data for applications, and ensure timely funder reporting and strong grant relationships.
• Contribute to the Development Strategy alongside the Head of Marketing & Deveopment, identifying new fundraising opportunities.
• Monitor performance against targets, report regularly to senior management, and maintain accurate records and pipelines.
• Work with marketing to ensure strong donor recognition, and collaborate on print materials and impact reporting.
• Proven experience managing and stewarding a patron or membership scheme, including recruitment and retention.
• Fundraising experience, particularly in individual giving.
• Building and maintaining professional relationships with external stakeholders.
• Managing multiple projects and priorities at the same time.
• Using CRM systems (experience of Spektrix is an advantage).
• Strong written communication skills, including persuasive proposals and reports.
• Ability to identify opportunities and develop them into income-generating outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, managing competing deadlines independently and collaboratively.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and CRM/database systems.
• Fundraising experience within the arts, culture, charity or not-for-profit sector — ideally spanning individual giving, corporate sponsorship, trusts and foundations, or supporter events. You don't need experience across every area covered by this role — but you should be able to demonstrate significant, hands-on experience in at least one.
• Knowledge of charity fundraising regulation and best practice.

Personal Attributes

• Enthusiastic, proactive, self-motivated and entrepreneurial in spotting opportunities.
• Values-driven, with a commitment to community engagement and inclusion.
• Professional and diplomatic, able to represent the organisation with credibility.
• Flexible and willing to work occasional evenings and weekends.

We offer

• Flexible and hybrid working.
• A supportive and collaborative team.
• The chance to play a key role in shaping the future of The Roses.

The Roses Theatre is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We are a Disability Confident Employer and guarantee an interview to any applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the role and has a disability. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to, people from the global majority, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented groups.