Development Manager

Buxton Opera House; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Buxton Opera House is seeking an Development Manager to lead day-to-day trusts and foundations fundraising, building a strong pipeline and developing persuasive applications that secure income. The postholder will research prospective funders and translate the organisation's work into compelling cases for support.

You will lead small and medium-sized applications and support the Head of Development on larger bids.

Qualifications

• Experience in trusts and foundations fundraising.
• Ability to translate impact into compelling funder cases.

Responsibilities

• Lead trusts and foundations fundraising initiatives.
• Research prospective funders and translate impact into cases.
• Coordinate high-quality submissions and manage grants to reporting.
• Support membership scheme development for 2027.

Skills

Trusts and foundations fundraising

Strong written communication

Pipeline management

Job description

As Development Manager, you'll lead on day-to-day trusts and foundations fundraising, building a strong and well-qualified pipeline and developing compelling applications that secure restricted and unrestricted income. The postholder will research prospective funders, translate the organisation's work and impact into persuasive cases for support, coordinate high-quality submissions, and manage grants through to reporting and renewal.

You will lead small and medium-sized applications and support the Head of Development on larger, strategic, or capital bids. This is a hands-on income-generation role requiring previous success in trusts and foundations fundraising, strong written communication, and disciplined pipeline management.

You will also play a vital part in supporting the Development team to increase restricted and unrestricted income through individual giving streams, including work to support a refreshed membership scheme in 2027.

For more information, please download our recruitment pack below.

Start date Monday 1 February 2027

Salary Up to £35,000 per annum (depending on experience)