Development Relations Manager

Vacancy Type Permanent
Contract length Permanent
Working Pattern Full Time
Is hybrid working available? Yes
If hybrid how many days on site minimum? 4 days per week on-site
Location Bloomsbury, London (Hybrid)
Salary £35,928 - £40,038 per annum depending on experience
Final date to receive applications Monday, August 31, 2026
Job Profile Job Profile document

The British Museum is embarking on one of the most ambitious cultural fundraising programmes in the world, supporting a transformational £1bn+ capital campaign that will redefine how millions of visitors experience the Museum for generations to come.

As Development Relations Manager, you will play a central role in supporting the Museum's most important philanthropic relationships. Working closely with the Director of Development and senior colleagues across the Museum, you will help coordinate donor engagement, steward key supporters, manage high-profile visits, and ensure strategic communications are delivered to the highest standard.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced relationship manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys working with senior stakeholders, supporters, and colleagues to help deliver meaningful impact.

You are an organised and proactive relationship manager with exceptional communication skills and a talent for building strong partnerships. Comfortable working with senior stakeholders, you can balance multiple priorities while maintaining outstanding attention to detail.

You will bring experience of managing internal and external relationships, producing high-quality written communications, and coordinating activity across a complex organisation. You are confident, diplomatic, and able to anticipate needs, ensuring stakeholders receive an excellent experience at every stage of their engagement.

Experience with in fundraising, philanthropy, arts, heritage, or cultural organisations would be advantageous, as would familiarity with donor database systems such as Raiser's Edge.

• Manage and develop relationships with key supporters, prospective donors, and VIP stakeholders, helping to strengthen engagement with the British Museum's ambitious fundraising campaign.
• Coordinate donor visits, meetings, and engagement opportunities, working closely with the Director's Office and colleagues across the Museum to deliver an exceptional supporter experience.
• Support the Director of Development with donor stewardship, prospect engagement, and the follow-up of introductions and relationship-building opportunities.
• Produce tailored communications, briefings, and correspondence for supporters and senior stakeholders, ensuring messaging is strategic, timely, and impactful.
• Maintain accurate records of supporter engagement activity and proactively identify opportunities to enhance communications, relationships, and development outcomes.

The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation since its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane - who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.

At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here,, but we’ve outlined some highlights below:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme defined benefit with 28.97% employer contribution.
• Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
• Social and wellbeing perks including Staff parties, social clubs, CSSC sports and leisure, and support from the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship.

• Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional…