Overview

The Campaigns and Alumni Relations Office (CAR) at the University of Sheffield is dedicated to inspiring alumni (former students) and supporters to make philanthropic gifts, as well as giving their time and expertise. A donation to the University of Sheffield can change lives, from supporting students in financial need to furthering world-leading research.

As part of the Individual Giving team in CAR, this role encourages people to make gifts of up to £10,000 using a data-driven approach and a range of communication and fundraising channels. The Fundraising Officer will also coordinate our community fundraising and in-memory programme to typically raise over £150,000 per year, as well as project managing direct mail, digital appeals and stewardship communications.

Acting as an advocate for philanthropy, you’ll support and motivate volunteer fundraisers and play a significant role in delivering the University’s flagship fundraising event, the Big Walk. You’ll also support the team to deliver fundraising and donor impact communications using a range of channels (email, print, web and video). On an ad-hoc basis you’ll manage our team of scholarship ambassadors to help engage donors, this may include coordinating small telephone fundraising sessions. 

This role would suit someone who excels at managing relationships and is confident interacting with donors and fundraisers on a daily basis. The successful candidate will also be a skilled project manager and communicator, able to juggle multiple tasks and think creatively to overcome problems.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Plan and deliver key fundraising projects using a range of channels (email, direct mail, events) to make direct asks for support through gifts and community fundraising.
• Ensure that all supporters have an exceptional experience and coordinate activities that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy in a meaningful and personal way to retain all donors.
• Support the wider team with elements of larger, multi-channel appeals. This will include building relationships with beneficiaries, suppliers, copywriting, using our mass email platform and manipulating data to personalise appeals. 
• Deliver community fundraising activities primarily the Big Walk, supported by the Individual Giving Manager and the Communications & Events team.
• Manage relationships with long-standing community fundraisers, as well as supporting ad-hoc fundraisers to maximise donations, showcase the University’s work and raise awareness of philanthropy. Proactively identify opportunities to build the supporter community and increase participation in fundraising.
• Manage relationships with corporate partners capable of sponsoring or participating in our fundraising activities, such as the Big Walk.
• Work with the team of scholarship ambassadors (students who have benefitted from donations) to gather and create content that tells their stories and demonstrates impact to donors.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of ad-hoc telephone fundraising sessions. Including training and motivating the students, enabling them to make direct asks.
• Coordinate the fundraising team’s shared inbox and phone line, including delegating to other members of the team. Act as a key point of contact for donor and fundraiser enquiries, ensuring each supporter receives the highest level of customer service and
• Ensure that accurate records are maintained on the CRM database, Raiser's Edge and use JustGiving to optimise fundraising. Work with large datasets to personalise appeals and communication approaches, working to a data processing brief.
• Ensure fundraising activity fulfils its regulatory and statutory obligations (GDPR and Fundraising Regulator Code of Conduct) and its obligations for the health and safety of fundraisers and event participants.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

*This role will involve some flexible working for telephone appeals and events, outside of core hours - time off in lieu will be granted.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• Experience in fundraising, volunteer management, marketing or a relationship focused role (assessed at application / interview)
• Experience building and managing supporter or customer relationships with integrity and sensitivity (assessed at application / interview)
• Experience delivering communications or marketing projects to different audiences across a range of channels including print and email (assessed at application / interview / selection task)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make direct asks for support through written communications (assessed at application / interview / selection task)
• Experience of working collaboratively and flexibly, as part of a team, and with colleagues from across teams and the wider organisation (assessed at application / interview)
• Ability to deliver an outstanding supporter experience whilst acting as a passionate ambassador for the University (assessed at application / interview)
• Ability to manage and progress multiple projects across a busy and varied workload, including producing and working to clear briefs, project plans and deadlines (assessed at application / interview)
• Understanding of the principles of fundraising and a genuine belief in the transformative power of philanthropy in Higher Education (assessed at application / interview)
• A creative approach to problem solving with the ability to react and work flexibly in a fast-paced and dynamic environment (assessed at application / interview)

Desirable criteria

• Ability to manage and motivate individuals, volunteers and/or a team to achieve targets (assessed at application / interview)
• Experience of Raiser’s Edge database or equivalent CRM database and a high level of attention to detail when it comes to working with data (assessed at application / interview)

Further Information

Grade: 6

Salary: £32,080 - £36,636 per annum

Work arrangement: Full-time - flexible arrangements considered

Duration: 12-month contract, starting January or February 2026

Line manager: Head of Individual Giving

Our website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/welcome-car

For informal enquiries about this job contact
Heather Clement, Head of Individual Giving: on h.c.clement@sheffield.ac.uk or 0114 222 5594

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place the week commencing 12th January 2026. This will consist of an interview and task. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 5th January 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Kirsty Duke (k.duke@sheffield.ac.uk).

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record

A basic DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Closing date: 06 January 2026