Assistant Director of Development and Alumni

About ARU:

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

ARU’s research institutes, four faculties, academic partners and Writtle College bridge scientific, technical and creative fields.  We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities.  Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are one the largest providers of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the UK, and among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

About the Role:

We are now seeking to appoint an Assistant Director of Development & Alumni to play a leading role in the realisation of our collective aims and strategy. This is an exciting time to join ARU and an outstanding opportunity to drive innovation across the institution.

Reporting to the Director of Marketing, Communications and Recruitment and working closely with other key senior colleagues and stakeholders including the Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Development and Alumni Office.  

You will Lead ARU’s Development and Alumni function, delivering a step-change in philanthropic income and alumni engagement. This role will shape and implement a strategic approach to fundraising and alumni relations that supports ARU’s mission, values and long-term ambitions.

Your leadership and expertise will enable the development and delivery of a university wide Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Strategy that advances ARU’s institutional priorities. It will also involve defining and implementing a segmented donor and alumni experience framework to strengthen engagement and maximise giving potential. As a values led institution, key to success will be an alignment in achieving the universities vision and values.

We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing development & alumni initiatives across comparably large scale, diverse and complex portfolios. You will possess excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills, and will be able to build effective and collaborative working relationships, demonstrating a proactive and positive approach to contributing to the work of the team

The role offers a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional to play a leading role in the future success of the University and its wider impact across the region.

Deadline for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 12^th April 2026.

Formal interviews will take place in person on 29^th April 2026 TBC.

For further information and details on how to apply please click the 'Apply' button and contact Simon Critchley or Alan Walter

Find out more about working with us and how we recruit. 

 We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community. 

 We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK and will conduct Right to Work checks in line with UKVI’s Right to Work policy and our own institutional policy.

 Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working. 

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