Development Associate, Centre for Geopolitics (Part Time, 2-year FTC)

Are you a skilled relationship-builder with a passion for enabling transformative research and global impact? Do you thrive on securing significant philanthropic support from individuals, companies, trusts, and foundations?

We are seeking an accomplished and proactive Development Associate, Centre for Geopolitics, to lead cultivation and solicitation strategies for major donors. This is a part-time (40%), 2-year fixed-term position offering you the opportunity to raise four, five, six, and seven-figure gifts that power discoveries, advance equity, and accelerate solutions to the world's most urgent challenges. Supporting the Centre for Geopolitics, you will help shape its legacy on global issues like great power competition and regional security.

The flexible, part-time nature of this role offers an excellent opportunity for those who may be returning to fundraising, balancing other professional or personal responsibilities, or simply seeking a more adaptable working arrangement. We welcome applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, offering a supportive environment that values diverse experiences and perspectives.

As Development Associate, you'll be at the forefront of our ambitious campaign, working closely with academic leaders, researchers, and alumni to:

• Secure major gifts (typically £25,000-£500,000+) from individuals, trusts, and foundations in the UK and globally.
• Manage a dynamic portfolio of major donor prospects and lead on all aspects of the donor journey from discovery and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship.
• Develop compelling cases for support across the Centre for Geopolitics' priorities, with tailored proposals and impact-focused narratives.
• Collaborate across Collegiate Cambridge to align donor interests with academic excellence and innovation.
• Contribute to shaping the future of major giving at one of the world's most influential universities.

What You Bring

You'll be someone who combines emotional intelligence with strategic thinking and can inspire others to support a powerful mission. We're looking for:

• A passion for securing significant and impactful philanthropic gifts through face-to-face fundraising.
• The ability to engage credibly and confidently with senior-level stakeholders including academics, philanthropists, and volunteers.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, and negotiation skills with a keen sense for donor motivations.
• Experience in fundraising, business development, or stakeholder engagement within a university, charity, or comparable context.
• A passion for higher education, philanthropy, and making a difference.

Why Join Us?

At Cambridge University Development and Alumni Relations, we're more than fundraisers, we're partners in global progress. Be part of a top 50 advancement team supporting world-changing research and education where you will work closely with the rapidly growing Centre for Geopolitics to help build the Centre's legacy and contribute to global change.

We offer:

• A competitive salary, generous annual leave, excellent pension and access to Cambridge's extraordinary resources.
• A hybrid working culture that understands work-life balance and supports your wellbeing.
• Access mentoring, tailored training, and an intellectual ecosystem like no other.
• Collaboration and innovation by working in close-knit teams that share knowledge, celebrate ideas, and deliver impact with integrity and creativity.

This is more than a fundraising role, it's an opportunity to help shape a better future through philanthropy. If you're a motivated, strategic, tenacious and empathetic professional ready to make a meaningful difference, we want to hear from you.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role in the Upload section of the online application.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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