Director of Development and Head of Foundation

Wells Cathedral School is searching for a new Director of Development and Head of Foundation to secure long-term support, and increase their inspiring and creative approach to education.

Location: Wells, Somerset with hybrid options

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 16th December

Who we are.

Wells Cathedral School has been educating children for over a thousand years in what must be one of the world’s most beautiful and inspiring locations.

Alongside its remarkable history and provision of an all-round education, the School also has the prestigious honour of being only one of five Specialist Music Schools in the UK within the Department for Education (DfE) Music and Dance Scheme, meaning it is nationally and globally renowned for music and choristry.

The School has so many special qualities and a big emphasis on bursaries enabling it to be a diverse, creative and welcoming environment for all. The School plays a huge role in the community through many events, concerts and activities, and they have plans to develop this further.

Having launched their brand new ‘Play Your Part’ campaign to much fanfare, they now need a brilliant senior development leader to ensure its success.

About the role.

The Director of Development and Head of Foundation will execute and evolve a recently developed strategy for a significant ramp-up in the fundraising activity of Wells Cathedral School Foundation, initially focused on funding bursaries and small-scale estate developments. They will also ensure the effective work of the School’s supporting bodies and lead on building good relations with alumni and delivering a legacy programme.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Implement our strategy for fundraising consistent with best practice and the objectives of the Foundation.
• To promote and develop the Foundation as the central charity in the School’s fundraising operation.
• Undertake direct fundraising, either individually or in conjunction with the Head Master and Foundation Trustees.
• Find innovative ways of engaging alumni and other friends of the School in Foundation and fundraising activities, including liaising with the Chair of the Old Wellensian (OW) Association for the planning and overseeing the organisation of appropriate alumni events and communications plans.
• Build positive relationships with pupils, colleagues, parents and other members of the wider WCS community, both nationally and internationally. This includes OWs, Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust (WCCT), Friends of Music and Wells Cathedral Choir Association (WCCA).
• Oversee the maintenance and development of the Toucan Tech CRM and community website. Grow and maintain a database of all volunteers, donors and donor prospects that supports the engagement and fundraising strategy.
• Cultivate and continue to grow a portfolio of potential major donor prospects and deliver significant gifts from individuals, organisations and businesses.
• Strengthen existing donor networks and develop further networks.
• Recruit and organise fundraising volunteers of alumni, parents, former parents and other friends and supporters of the School.
• Ensure the Wells Cathedral School Foundation meets its budgets and targets as appropriate.

Who we are looking for.

We are searching for creative, talented and passionate senior fundraisers and development professionals who place relationships at the heart of all they do.

Wells has a multi-income strategy and campaign ready to go, so we require operational excellence and a strategic mindset to ensure their successful delivery.

Candidates who understand the unique offering of the School and who can articulate its importance to many audiences will be successful in this role. Therefore we are searching for intelligent, confident and warm candidates.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 16th December.