Senior Grants and Major Donor Officer

Royal Devon; Exeter; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension

Flexible working hours

Hybrid role with home working

Job summary

Royal Devon Hospitals Charity is seeking a Senior Grants and Major Donor Officer to lead the development and delivery of high-value fundraising across Trusts, Foundations and Major Donor activity. The role offers autonomy to build relationships and secure significant gifts that benefit patients and services.

You will manage a portfolio of funders, develop compelling funding applications, and shape cases for support while collaborating with clinical, operational and finance teams to align to

Qualifications

• Experience delivering high-value fundraising across trusts, foundations and major donors.
• Proven ability to build long-term funding pipelines with strong donor relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, grant writing and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver high-value fundraising across the charity’s portfolio.
• Manage funder and donor portfolio, producing compelling funding proposals.
• Identify fundable projects and shape cases for support aligned to priorities.
• Build and steward long-term relationships with funders and philanthropic partners.
• Use data to manage pipelines, monitor performance and report outcomes.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Major donor

Grant writing

Relationship management

Data analysis

Portfolio management

Education

Degree in relevant field

Fundraising qualification

Job description

Royal Devon Hospitals Charity supports patients, families and staff across North, Mid and Eastern Devon by funding projects and enhancements that go beyond core NHS provision.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Royal Devon Hospitals Charity as a Senior Grants and Major Donor Officer in a newly created role, playing a key part in developing and growing high-value fundraising income. The role offers the opportunity to lead Trusts and Foundations, Major Donor and philanthropic partnership activity, building strong relationships and securing significant gifts that directly benefit patients and services. It is a strategic and delivery-focused position with a high degree of autonomy and the chance to make a lasting impact across a large and diverse region.

About the Role

More detail about the role

Royal Devon Hospitals Charity supports patients, families and staff across North, Mid and Eastern Devon by funding projects, equipment and enhancements that go beyond core NHS provision. Through the generosity of our communities, supporters and partners, we help improve patient experience, invest in innovation and make a meaningful difference to local healthcare.

As our Senior Grants and Major Donor Officer, you will lead the development and delivery of high-value fundraising across the charity. This is a newly created role, offering a unique opportunity to build and shape Trusts, Foundations and Major Donor fundraising from the ground up, establishing strong pipelines, relationships and processes to support long-term income growth.

You will develop and manage a portfolio of funders and major donors, producing high-quality, compelling funding applications and proposals that clearly articulate need, impact and value. Working closely with clinical, operational and finance colleagues, you will identify fundable projects, shape cases for support and ensure proposals are robust, deliverable and aligned to organisational priorities.

A key part of the role is building and stewarding long-term relationships with funders, major donors and philanthropic partners, ensuring excellent communication, reporting and recognition. You will use data and insight to manage pipelines, monitor performance and drive continuous improvement across your income streams.

This is a hybrid role, with a base at either North Devon District Hospital or the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, and the flexibility to work from home. You will work across North, Mid and Eastern Devon, building relationships across the region and engaging with supporters and stakeholders as required.

Working with a high degree of autonomy, you will manage multiple funding opportunities and relationships, balancing immediate income generation with longer-term partnership development. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with proven experience in securing significant gifts or grants, who is confident working independently and motivated by building a high-value fundraising programme that delivers meaningful impact for patients and services.

Working Pattern:37.5 hours per week. Flexibility required due to occasional evening and weekend events; time off in lieu provided in line with Trust policy.

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status, including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

About Us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the‑art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world‑class care to our local communities.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more

It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work‑life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.

• Salary Band 6: £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata
• Frequency Annual
• Vacancy Reference 185-63303-13976
• Contract Type Permanent
• Closing Date 27 September, 2026
• Job Category Communications