Senior Philanthropy Manager

National Museums; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work

Career growth

Work/life balance

Healthcare cash plan

Wellbeing support

Colleague networks

Enhanced pension

Interest-free loans

Museum discounts

Job summary

Science Museum Group seeks a Senior Philanthropy Manager to lead relationships with major donors and develop a portfolio capable of six-figure and larger gifts. You'll shape the major donor strategy, collaborating with the Head of Philanthropy andDirector of Fundraising and Partnerships to secure support for exhibitions, core activity and capital projects across the Group.

This is a hybrid role with at least 40% on-site work at the Science Museum in London, with travel to other Group locations

Qualifications

• Experience in major gifts fundraising and delivering pitches at the six-figure level.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of individual donors and develop engagement plans.
• Strong project management and communication skills; collaborative approach to sharing knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead relationships with significant existing and prospective supporters and manage a donor portfolio.
• Shape the major donor strategy and align donor interests with Science Museum Group ambitions.
• Develop cultivation, solicitation and stewardship approaches for exhibitions, core activity and capital projects.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders across the organisation and steward the Foundation Board Trustees.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Relationship management

Portfolio management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Communication skills

Job description

Could you build the relationships that help make ambitious ideas possible?

About us

Across the Science Museum Group, philanthropy helps turn ambition into reality. From new galleries and exhibitions to learning programmes that reach and inspire our audiences, the relationships we build with our supporters enable us to do more.

More than five million people visit our museums each year, exploring stories of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. We're looking for a Senior Philanthropy Manager who can build on that reach, developing meaningful relationships with individuals who share our ambitions and have the potential to make six-figure and larger gifts.

About the role

As Senior Philanthropy Manager, you'll lead relationships with some of our most significant existing and prospective supporters, developing a portfolio of individuals with the potential to make six-figure and larger gifts.

Working closely with the Head of Philanthropy and Director of Fundraising and Partnerships, you'll help shape our major donor strategy and identify where a supporter's interests and our ambitions come together. You'll develop thoughtful approaches to cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, securing support for exhibitions, core activity and major capital projects across the Science Museum Group.

Relationships are central to this role, both externally and across the organisation. You'll work with colleagues in Philanthropy and Prospect Development, senior stakeholders, volunteers and existing supporters to develop new connections and build long-term engagement with our work. You'll also steward the Science Museum Group's Foundation Board Trustees and line manage a Philanthropy Manager.

This role follows a hybrid working pattern, offering the flexibility to work from home. You'll spend a minimum of 40% of your working hours on site at the Science Museum in London, with travel to other Science Museum Group locations when required.

About you

By joining us, you are someone who enjoys building genuine, lasting relationships and can combine strategic thinking with the confidence to engage people at all levels. You'll bring experience in major gifts fundraising, including developing and delivering compelling pitches and proposals at the six-figure level and above, alongside experience of managing a portfolio of individual donors.

You'll be comfortable collaborating with senior stakeholders, balancing different expectations and turning longer-term ambitions into clear plans. Strong project management and communication skills will enable you to keep activity moving, engage different audiences and measure progress towards your goals. You'll also bring a collaborative approach to sharing your knowledge and developing others.

What we offer

• Meaningful work. We're a mission-led organisation where the work you do supports us in Inspiring Futures.
• Career growth. We offer enhanced support with personal and professional development.
• Work/life balance. We offer 27 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, along with flexible policies which support you and your home life.
• Healthcare cash plan. Digital health tools, gym discounts and cashback towards your everyday healthcare costs.
• Wellbeing. All our colleagues can access an employee assistance programme and other wellbeing support.
• Colleague networks. Our colleague-led networks are an informal forum for colleagues to come together to discuss topics of shared interest and lived experience. They create a space for people to exchange ideas, discuss best practice, socialise and build a sense of community.
• Enhanced contributory pension. To support you in saving for the future.
• Interest-free loans. When you need a little extra cash for life events or home improvements.
• Great discounts. Free entry to exhibitions, discounts in our shops and cafes, and access to other museums in the NMDC network.

Open for All is one of the Science Museum Group's five core values and sets out our important aspiration to be a place for everyone. We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to develop a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation, capable to continue to Inspire Futures.

National Museum Directors' Council, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, WilliamBrown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN