Advancement Officer (Operations & Stewardship) at Newcastle University

Key Accountabilities

• Work independently on general research activities, such as Prospect Research, to support the Head of Advancement Operations and the wider philanthropy team in providing GDPR-compliant, high-quality research on individuals, companies and trusts/foundations
• Work with Advancement colleagues to keep donors informed on the progress of their donations through effective stewardship report writing
• Work with colleagues in the philanthropy team to deliver stewardship strategies that strengthen long-term relationships with major donors, regular donors, legacy pledgers and other supporters.
• Lead on stewardship specific events to showcase the impact of philanthropy to our donor community. Acting as key liaison, overseeing logistics, event management and leadership briefings
• Oversee Advancement’s programme of philanthropically donated scholarships, bursaries and prizes, guaranteeing a consistent experience for all donors
• Lead on donor visits to campus, organising a programme of activity which will inspire them to support the University and demonstrate the impact of philanthropy on campus
• Contribute to day to day maintenance of the alumni, donor, stakeholder and strategic relationship management data
• Independently produce sector and thematic research and supporting our events with briefings and guest biographies, particularly for the Alumni Engagement and Supporter team
• Ensure that information on key constituencies and their preferences is accurate and up to date on the NU Advancement database
• To produce reports and datasets as requested
• Organise, analyse and review prospect data to assess fundraising capabilities at monthly prospect pipeline and one to one meetings with canvassers, to ensure that fundraising efforts are targeted toward the best possible prospects to contribute towards the optimum performance of the fundraising team
• Work with the Operations Coordinator to ensure the prospect research process is adequate, fit for purpose and offers tangible return on investment. Work with the Head of Operations to gather intelligence to track effectiveness
• Ensure all research information is stored and processed is compliant with legislation (like GDPR), regularly reviewing processes and procedures to guarantee they are fit for purpose
• Contribute to ongoing training support related to the research and administration processes for the wider team
• To routinely contribute to the review of procedures, processes and policies relating to the prospect management system, ensuring compliance with relevant data protection legislation, the Fundraising Code of Practice and the University’s policies for the ethical acceptance of donations
• Be aware of changing priorities with a willingness to undertake any other duties of a relevant nature as required by NU Advancement

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Essential)

Essential

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience preparing material for senior audiences
• Experienced in producing clear, impactful reports
• Experience of drawing together complex information and summarising it succinctly in accessible language for a non-specialist audience/readershipDemonstrates neutrality and objectivity in senior-level research reporting
• Experience of working in a customer focused environment
• Proven understanding of how to work effectively in systems-led environments
• Proficient in  data analysis, especially using Excel
• Skilled in identifying and improving standard operating practices
• High accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a track record of building strong working relationships across teams
• Strong project management capabilities, including prioritisation, organisation, and meeting multiple deadlines
• Creative problem-solver with initiative and a proactive approach

Desirable

• Experience in prospect research or fundraising and donor relations
• Familiarity with handling sensitive data and applying ethical judgement
• Knowledge of fundraising regulations and guidance, including:
• • Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice
  • Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s major donor guide
  • Charity Commission Compliance toolkit
• Working understanding of data protection legislation and compliance requirements