Development Officer - Prospect Research & Systems

The
Development, Alumni Relations and Engagement (DARE)team at Kingston Universityplays a vital role in delivering the ambitions of Kingston University.

Major gifts are central to successfully delivering the fundraising growth strategy at Kingston University. We are an ambitious team and we have seen significant success in major gift fundraising over the last several years.

Reporting to the Head of Major Gifts, the Development Officer - Systems & Prospect Research is an integral role delivering exceptional data and systems, working closely with fundraisers and across DARE to drive forward the major giving pipeline. The role will have expertise in the areas of prospect research, reporting systems and database management.

The post holder will be responsible for a programme of prospect identification and research to develop and evolve a pool of prospective major supporters (individuals, trusts, and companies), capable of making donations of £5,000 to £1mil and more. The detailed profiles and insight they provide will maximise the chances of success of major gift solicitations. This will play a critical role in building a strong base of support for future fundraising campaigns and University advancement activities and consequently the department’s ability to meet and exceed income targets.

DARE works closely across the University and with external facing teams to embed alumni engagement into the University’s growth and innovation. This positioning reflects the University’s commitment to leveraging alumni engagement as a driver in our ambitious Town House strategy.

The ideal candidate will be curious, organised, and a great team player, with experience in researching potential supporters and managing data in a fundraising or education setting. They should feel comfortable using CRM systems (like Raiser’s Edge) and working with data to create clear, useful profiles that help guide decisions. Strong communication skills—both written and spoken—are important, as is the ability to handle confidential information responsibly.

We’re looking for someone who is proactive, can manage their time well, and pays attention to detail. An understanding of fundraising and why people choose to give, along with a commitment to fairness and social mobility, will be a big advantage. Above all, this person should enjoy solving problems, learning new things, and working with others to make a real impact.

The Academic Services Directorate includes Research & Impact, Knowledge Exchange, Academic Registry, Quality Assurance and Enhancement, the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Centre, Brand, Communications and Public Affairs and Development, Alumni Relations & Engagement (DARE). Collectively the Directorate supports academics in their research and KE activities and supports some of the University’s governance and decision-making committees, maintains academic regulations, develops and implements academic policies, oversees the quality and academic provision and leads the development of education practices across the University.

The Directorate is responsible for stimulating cutting edge research, impact and knowledge exchange and supporting a vibrant community of graduate research students, to increase the volume, impact and visibility of our research and business activities We actively liaise with Faculties and researchers to support and develop research activities across all disciplines and provide related training and development opportunities. We foster interdisciplinary working to promote, advance and share knowledge with the overall aim of securing new revenue sources and contributing to regional prosperity.

Our goal is to foster and sustain a vibrant research culture in which our researchers and research students can flourish.

As a directorate, we identify opportunities for innovation, see change as an opportunity, value constructive feedback and share good practice across the University.

This is a full time, permanent position with a starting salary of £39,407 per annum.

The interviews are expected to be held in person on 3rd or 5th February 2026
.

For informal enquires about the role, please contact

Philippa Randle.