Stewardship Officer

Role

Title:

Stewardship Officer

Grade and Salary: Grade 5, £26,707 - £31,236 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full‑time (35 hrs per week);
Open‑ended

Reward and Benefits: 28 days annual leave plus 9 bereavement days and Christmas Eve (if weekday). Total rewards calculator:

The Stewardship Officer will support the Advancement Office on the Edinburgh campus by delivering global engagement and event activities across alumni, staff, students, prospects and donors, acting as the front line to stakeholders and managing internal requests.

• Monitor major gifts and pledges, generate reports and prompt actions via Raiser’s Edge.
• Develop and maintain stewardship, administrative and finance documentation.
• Administer scholarships and bursary funds.
• Assist in arranging campus visits for major donors.
• Take on special projects and contribute to departmental initiatives.

• Support planning and delivery of alumni and advancement events, including graduations.
• Maintain the monthly events calendar and attend bi‑weekly meetings.
• Represent the Office at online and in‑person events, donor cultivation, thank‑you events, graduations and related activities.
• Represent the Office at student fairs, recruitment days, open days, staff induction fairs and networking events.
• Attend wider university events on behalf of the alumni team where appropriate.

• Provide general administrative support: booking travel, processing invoices, budget tracking, diary management, meeting minutes.
• Update and maintain records in Raiser’s Edge and SharePoint.
• Contribute to the preparation of marketing and communications material.
• Support stewardship processes and liaison with schools and recipients.
• Assist with regular giving mail outs and telethons.
• Attend university meetings and stay informed about HWU community activities.

• Degree‑level education or equivalent experience in donor relations, customer service, fundraising support, or a related role.
• Experience with administrative support in a complex organisation, including financial processes such as invoicing and budget tracking.
• Stakeholder‑facing experience, ideally with donors, alumni or clients.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for engaging the University community.
• Excellent organisational and time‑management skills, managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
• High accuracy and attention to detail in written communication and data entry.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and confidence using CRM or database systems.

• Understanding of fundraising principles and donor stewardship.
• Knowledge of GDPR and ethical handling of alumni data.
• Experience using Raiser’s Edge or similar fundraising CRM.
• Experience supporting event logistics and on‑the‑day delivery.
• Experience in higher education, charity or membership‑based organisations.
• Confidence in producing or editing marketing copy.

Heriot‑Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to creating an environment in which individuals are treated on the basis of their merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are central to our culture, and we welcome applications from all sectors, particularly underrepresented groups. For more information, see  and