Executive Assistant to the Chief Development Officer

Christian Jobs Ltd; Farnham; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Waverley Abbey seeks a thoughtful, organised Administrative Assistant to support the Chief Development Officer. This varied role blends diary management, correspondence and donor coordination with warm hospitality and careful discretion.

You will work to turn conversations into practical next steps, engaging donors, churches, trusts and foundations in line with our mission and vision.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting a senior leader in a charity or fundraising environment.
• Experience providing administrative or personal assistant support to a senior leader, including managing a busy diary and competing priorities.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to plan ahead, respond to changing needs and follow through on commitments.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including preparing clear correspondence, meeting notes and briefing materials.
• A warm, professional manner, with the confidence to build relationships with donors, partners, church leaders and other stakeholders.
• Sound judgement and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• A proactive approach, able to anticipate needs, take initiative and work independently within agreed priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining records, preparing documents and coordinating arrangements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams, and a willingness to learn new systems.

Responsibilities

• Meet regularly with the Chief Development Officer to review priorities, relationships, diary commitments and next steps.
• Manage a busy and varied diary, balancing immediate needs with longer-term planning for fundraising campaigns, travel and strategic events.
• Provide day-to-day administrative support, including managing emails, preparing correspondence and responding to updates provided by voice note.
• Coordinate meetings with donors, partners, church and business leaders, trusts, foundations and other key stakeholders. Prepare agendas, briefing papers and background information, take clear notes where needed and ensure actions are followed up promptly.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of relationships, meetings, proposals, commitments and fundraising progress.
• Support the preparation and submission of funding proposals, donor reports, presentations and other development materials.
• Arrange domestic and international travel, including transport, accommodation, itineraries, visas and liaison with hosts.
• Help plan and deliver donor visits, dinners, vision gatherings, fundraising events and overseas visits, offering the warm hospitality for which Waverley Abbey is known.
• Work closely with colleagues across Waverley Abbey and with external partners, including 24-7 Prayer International, churches, trusts and foundations.
• Support major fundraising campaigns and development projects, including the House of Prayer and Waverley Abbey's accommodation and hospitality facilities.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, wisdom and care.
• Undertake other reasonable duties that support the Chief Development Officer and the wider work of Waverley Abbey.

Skills

Diary management

Stakeholder relations

Administrative support

Written communication

Verbal communication

Microsoft 365

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

Teams

Job description

JOB PURPOSE At Waverley Abbey, our Christian faith is at the heart of who we are and all we do. As our work grows, we want to build strong, lasting relationships with those who share our vision and help make it possible. We are looking for a thoughtful, organised and relational person to support our Chief Development Officer. This is a varied role, bringing together excellent administration, careful coordination and warm hospitality. You will help turn conversations into practical next steps, ensuring that donors and partners feel valued and that commitments are followed through with care. You will join a team committed to serving others and seeing lives transformed, playing an important part in supporting the next chapter of Waverley Abbey's mission. This role will provide thoughtful, high-level support to the Chief Development Officer, helping them to build strong relationships, develop strategic partnerships and advance the vision and mission of Waverley Abbey.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Meet regularly with the Chief Development Officer to review priorities, relationships, diary commitments and next steps.
• Manage a busy and varied diary, balancing immediate needs with longer-term planning for fundraising campaigns, travel and strategic events.
• Provide excellent day-to-day administrative support, including managing emails, preparing correspondence and responding to updates provided by voice note.
• Coordinate meetings with donors, partners, church and business leaders, trusts, foundations and other key stakeholders. Prepare agendas, briefing papers and background information, take clear notes where needed and ensure actions are followed up promptly.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of relationships, meetings, proposals, commitments and fundraising progress.
• Support the preparation and submission of funding proposals, donor reports, presentations and other development materials.
• Arrange domestic and international travel, including transport, accommodation, itineraries, visas and liaison with hosts.
• Help plan and deliver donor visits, dinners, vision gatherings, fundraising events and overseas visits, offering the warm hospitality for which Waverley Abbey is known.
• Work closely with colleagues across Waverley Abbey and with external partners, including 24-7 Prayer International, churches, trusts and foundations.
• Support major fundraising campaigns and development projects, including the House of Prayer and Waverley Abbey's accommodation and hospitality facilities.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, wisdom and care.
• Undertake other reasonable duties that support the Chief Development Officer and the wider work of Waverley Abbey. .iii

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Experience supporting a senior leader in a charity, Christian organisation or fundraising environment.
• Experience of providing administrative or personal assistant support to a senior leader, including managing a busy diary and competing priorities.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to plan ahead, respond to changing needs and follow through on cornmitments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparing clear correspondence, meeting notes and briefing materials.
• A warm, professional manner, with the confidence to build relationships with donors, partners, church leaders and other stakeholders.
• Sound judgement and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• A proactive approach, able to anticipate needs, take initiative and work independently within agreed priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining records, preparing documents and coordinating arrangements.
• Confidence using Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams, and a willingness to learn new systems.
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external partners.
• A practising Christian, committed to Waverley Abbey's Christian ethos, vision and mission, and able to communicate that mission with understanding and confidence. There is a genuine occupational requirement for the postholder to be a Christian under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience liaising with donors, churches, business leaders, trusts or foundations.
• Experience supporting funding applications, donor reports, presentations or fundraising campaigns.
• Familiarity with a donor database or customer relationship management (CRM) system.
• Experience organising donor visits, dinners, fundraising events or similar gatherings.
• Experience arranging international travel and coordinating detailed itineraries.
• An understanding of relationship-based fundraising and the importance of caring for donor relationships.
• Familiarity with the work of Waverley Abbey and 24-7 Prayer.