Director of Advancement Operations

Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (P&A) is a dynamic, integrated department that brings together expertise to support the mission of King’s College London through fundraising and engaging with our world-wide alumni community. We are proud to work with colleagues across the university and its health partners to help them serve society through world-leading education, research and healthcare.  Our work also includes a partnership with the Maudsley Charity in support of children’s mental health initiatives through the King’s Maudsley Partnership.

We are seeking a visionary and strategic Director of Advancement Operations to join our senior leadership team. This is a pivotal role for a bold and collaborative leader who will drive operational transformation and enable our broader efforts to deliver the next philanthropic and engagement campaign for King’s.

The postholder will lead the development and delivery of the enabling infrastructure that will underpin our ambitions across all P&A activity. You will have strategic oversight and accountability for high-performing teams across data and insights, donation management, compliance, and prospect research. Your leadership will ensure these functions not only work efficiently and to a high standard, but are also agile and future-focused.

Working closely with the Executive Director of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement and the wider leadership team, you will play a central role in shaping and executing strategy, business planning, and financial management across the Directorate. You will establish frameworks that empower teams and individuals to deliver against clear objectives, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure effective reporting to both internal stakeholders and university leadership. You will also play a key role in engaging with university senior leaders, often acting as a deputy for the Executive Director.

We are looking for a confident, forward-thinking leader with a strong track record in operational excellence and transformation. You will bring deep knowledge of the regulatory and best practice landscape for philanthropy and alumni engagement in the UK, with experience of influencing and participating in sector-wide initiatives.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead change, scale impact, and help shape the future of philanthropy and alumni engagement at King’s.

For further information, please visit the job description and to apply, go to the Jobs at King’s pages and submit the specified documentation. For an informal conversation, please contact Sarah Fraser or Robyn Eade within the King’s Search Team at kings-search@kcl.ac.uk. 

The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 4^th July. The selection process will include a longlisting and two-stage interview process (July/Aug 2025), with opportunities for informal engagements with key stakeholders. 

The Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Directorate values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those currently underrepresented in the sector, and offer a range of flexible and inclusive benefits to support all employees. 

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