Senior Development Manager (Corporate Partnerships)

While we enjoy strong, established relationships across key industries, philanthropy is an exciting, emerging focus for the University. Your role will be to help us explore this potential by translating these existing institutional links into philanthropic partnerships across our three strategic pillars: Equity in Education (student success and belonging), Empowering Spaces (thriving campus communities), and Research for Society (accelerating global solutions).

This is a great chance to help shape our corporate fundraising strategy from its early stages as we explore its long-term potential. If you are a proactive leader ready to help us map out our philanthropic future, we want you by our side.

About the Role & Team

Reporting directly to the Head of Development and Alumni Relations, you will join the small Development and Alumni Relations Team. Through a strategic, insight-led approach, you will take full ownership of developing and stewarding a portfolio of corporate partners to contribute to the long-term growth of philanthropic income. At the same time, you will line manage and support the Senior Development and Alumni Manager, supporting a collaborative team environment.

What will I be doing?

• Leading Corporate Strategy: Partnering with senior leaders to design and implement the University’s first corporate fundraising plan.
• New Business Development: Identifying and qualifying a corporate prospect pipeline, creating persuasive proposals and pitches.
• Relationship Management: Acting as the primary lead for key corporate accounts, ensuring exceptional stewardship and long-term engagement.
• Internal Collaboration: Leading cross-University working groups and advising on ethical fundraising, proposal development, and corporate engagement.
• Reporting & Compliance: Managing budgets, tracking performance via Raiser’s Edge, and ensuring all activities meet GDPR and ethical fundraising standards.

What skills do I need?

• A Proven Track Record: Experience in securing and managing high-value, strategic corporate partnerships and lead generation.
• Influencing Skills: Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence senior corporate leaders and academic stakeholders.
• People Management: Direct experience in line managing and developing staff.
• Strategic Communication: Ability to translate complex institutional priorities and activities into compelling funding propositions.
• Sector Knowledge: A strong understanding of the higher education fundraising landscape, ethical frameworks, and corporate CSR trends.
• Qualifications: Educated to degree level.

About the location

This role is based at our Headington Campus, located just one mile from Oxford city centre. We support a hybrid working model, with an expected split of 50/50 between home and office-working, allowing you to balance campus engagement with flexibility.

Benefits

As one of the largest employers in Oxford we pride ourselves in the great experience we offer our staff. You’ll be joining a friendly, professional environment where every member of staff is recognised as important to the success of Oxford Brookes University. To find out more about the benefits of working for Oxford Brookes please visit: www.brookes.ac.uk/job-vacancies/working-at-brookes.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At Oxford Brookes, inclusivity is one of our five guiding principles: we take positive steps to create an environment in which we celebrate, value and provide equal opportunity to all. We are committed to recruiting from the widest possible pool and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who embrace our values, regardless of their background.

As a Disability Confident Employer we guarantee to interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential selection criteria.         

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