Senior Philanthropy Officer

Senior Philanthropy Officer – George Watson’s College, Edinburgh

Location:

On site at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh.

Closing Date: 26 July 2026.

Benefits

• Eight weeks annual leave (two to be taken at Christmas and New Year)
• Automatic enrolment in the contributory support staff defined contribution pension scheme
• Membership of the Galleon Club (school’s fitness club)

Role

Lead the school’s individual giving and legacy fundraising initiatives, and support major programmes and campaigns. Develop strong relationships with donors and the alumni community to grow philanthropic income and long‑term engagement.

Remuneration: £32,000 FTE pro rata for 14 hours per week (£12,800).

Term:
Fixed term until June 2027 with scope for renewal.

Place of Work:
Home based with regular travel for school visits and workshops. Travel expenses will be reimbursed as per policy. Failure to support relocation costs.

Role

This rewarding opportunity works directly with senior phase students, delivering interactive sessions on practical money skills such as budgeting, banking, and financial decision‑making. You’ll build relationships with schools and education partners, organise and deliver workshops, gather feedback and help improve our resources as the programme grows. If you enjoy teaching, communicating clearly and making a practical difference to young people’s lives, look at the job description for further details.

Reporting to the Head of Development, develop and manage a portfolio of philanthropic opportunities, building relationships with donors, trusts, foundations, corporate supporters and partners to secure philanthropic funding and long‑term engagement. This role includes supporting fundraising activity for the College’s Global CARE initiative to address healthcare inequalities worldwide.

Experience / Qualifications / Key Skills

• Experience in philanthropy, fundraising, partnership development or a related field.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Organised, proactive, able to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Degree level education or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience with in the charity, healthcare, education or not‑for‑profit sectors advantageous.

Place of Work

Based in Edinburgh with flexibility for hybrid working. Occasional travel within the UK and internationally may be required.

Work closely with the Philanthropy Manager and Head of Development to secure philanthropic support for the College’s priorities, including research, education, global surgery and heritage. Responsibilities include supporting fundraising activity for the Global CARE initiative, contributing to campaigns, legacy giving, prospect research, developing funding proposals and building relationships with individual donors, corporate supporters, trusts and foundations.

Experience / Qualifications / Key Skills

• Educated to degree level or possess equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in fundraising, philanthropy, donor engagement or partnership development.
• Organised and proactive with excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience of prospect research, preparing funding proposals and securing support from donors, sponsors, trusts or foundations advantageous.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and working with databases or CRM systems.

Place of Work

Based in Edinburgh with flexibility for hybrid working. Occasional travel and out‑of‑hours working may be required.

Report to the Head of Development and oversee the full lifecycle of RCSEd’s grants programme, from application and assessment processes to award management, reporting and stewardship. Work across research funding, governance, financial monitoring and stakeholder engagement, promoting the impact of College‑funded projects and opportunities. Contribute to development of new funding initiatives and…