Development Operations Manager

The British Academy; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The British Academy is seeking a Development Operations Manager to join the Fellowship and Development directorate. The role focuses on managing our fundraising systems, data and insights to enable donors to be managed effectively and to support fundraising performance.

You will lead Salesforce and other fundraising platforms, champion data quality and reporting, and work with colleagues to improve processes and operational best practice. This is a pivotal role for our 125th Anniversary Campaign.

Qualifications

• Experience in CRM management and donor stewardship.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Experience with fundraising systems and donor management.

Responsibilities

• Lead on Salesforce and fundraising systems, ensuring data quality and reporting.
• Provide insight to support donor relationships, stewardship, and fundraising performance.
• Improve processes, data use, and operational best practice across the team.
• Translate complex information into clear, actionable insight for colleagues.

Skills

CRM management

Data analysis

Fundraising operations

Donor reporting

Tools

Salesforce

CRM systems

Job description

The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Development Operations Manager to join our team in Fellowship and Development directorate, responsible for managing our important systems infrastructure to aid in successful fundraising.

The role

The Development Operations Manager is a new role within the British Academy's Development Team, responsible for managing the systems, data and insight that underpin successful fundraising. As we prepare for our 125th Anniversary Campaign in 2027 and the next phase of philanthropic growth, the postholder will ensure colleagues have the tools, information and support they need to manage donor relationships, stewardship activity and fundraising performance.

The postholder will lead on Salesforce and other fundraising systems, championing data quality, reporting and operational best practice across the team. They will work closely with colleagues to strengthen processes, improve the use of data and provide the insight needed to support fundraising decisions and long-term relationship management.

We are looking for someone who is proactive, organised and solutions focused, with the confidence to translate complex information into clear and actionable insight. They will also bring strong CRM expertise and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the operational foundations of a growing fundraising programme and join the Academy at a pivotal moment in its development. We are seeking applicants with experience of CRM management, data analysis and fundraising or supporter focused operations, who are keen to make a lasting contribution to the Academy's future success.

Closing date: Noon on 12 October 2026.

Interviews: 28 October 2026 (may be subject to change).

We may close this role sooner if we receive a high volume of applications. In these circumstances we will give those who have shown interest 24 hours’ notice of the change of deadline.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with our commitment to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, promote equal opportunity, and address under-representation. We will make reasonable adjustments to support disabled job applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the minimum selection criteria.