Northern Ballet is looking for an organised, proactive and detail-focused Development Executive to join our friendly and ambitious fundraising team.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is a confident communicator, with experience in administration, fundraising or customer service who is looking to develop their career in arts fundraising. You’ll play an important role in growing support for Northern Ballet, nurturing relationships with our supporters and helping the Development team run smoothly.
What you’ll do
- Support the growth and administration of our Patron and individual giving programmes
- Help deliver engaging supporter stewardship
- Support donor and corporate events in Leeds and across the UK.
- Maintain accurate supporter and donor information within our Spektrix CRM database
- Support fundraising campaigns, appeals, trust and foundation applications, research and reporting
- Coordinate meetings, donor visits, backstage experiences, rehearsals and other supporter activities
- Provide high-quality administrative support and contribute to improving systems and supporter experience
- Work collaboratively across the organisation and support performances and events, including some evening and weekend work.
Why join Northern Ballet?
You’ll be part of a small, collaborative and purpose-driven team where your contribution really matters. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow and make a meaningful impact through the work of one of the UK’s leading ballet companies.
Northern Ballet is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
Key Responsibilities
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Fundraising and Supporter Experience
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- Manage the administration and ongoing stewardship of Northern Ballet’s Patron programme, working closely with the Philanthropy Manager, to meet and, where possible, exceed annual membership targets.
- Support the delivery and growth of our lower level giving activities.
- Coordinate stewardship activity, ensuring our supporters receive excellent care and recognition.
- Maintain stewardship plans, ensuring key communications, benefits and deliverables are completed on time.
- Oversee all stewardship activities relating to dancer sponsorship programmes, including supporter communications, acknowledgment, visits and engagement opportunities.
- Draft and send thank-you emails, letters, gift acknowledgements and other supporter communications.
- Support the preparation of supporter communications, updates and impact reporting.
- Support the delivery of fundraising campaigns and appeals.
- Ensure compliance with GDPR, HMRC requirements and fundraising best practice.
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Events and Relationship Management
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- Support the Events & Partnership Manager in the delivery of a programme of donor cultivation, stewardship and fundraising events.
- Assist the coordination of guest lists, invitations, bookings, event logistics and supporter communications.
- Arrange meetings, donor visits, rehearsals, backstage experiences and other supporter engagement opportunities.
- Welcome and host supporters at rehearsals, events and performances as required.
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CRM Administration
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- Act as the primary administrator for the Spektrix CRM system, ensuring accurate, timely and consistent data management.
- Maintain supporter, donor and prospect records in line with organisational policies and best practice.
- Process and administer donations, memberships, sponsorship income and grants from trusts & foundations, ensuring appropriate coding, acknowledgement and recognition.
- Support data cleansing, segmentation and reporting to improve fundraising effectiveness.
- Ensure compliance with GDPR, HMRC requirements and fundraising best practice.
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Trusts, Foundations and Prospect Research
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- Support the Head of Trusts and Foundations with prospect research.
- Collate organisational information, case studies, statistics and supporting materials for funding applications and reports.
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Administration and Team Support
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- Manage ticket holds, allocations and supporter bookings.
- Provide high-quality administrative support across all areas of Development activity.
- Support the delivery of departmental KPIs, reporting requirements and fundraising objectives.
- Work within the standards and expectations of the Fundraising Regulator and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.
- Contribute to the ongoing improvement of systems, processes and supporter experience across the Development function.
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Other duties
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- Attend and support the delivery of performances and events, including regular evening hours and occasional weekend or overnight commitments.
- Work with colleagues across the organisation, building positive relationships and supporting good communication between departments.
- Undertake other duties as may be reasonably required.
- Carry out all duties inline with Northern Ballet’s procedures, including; safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, GDPR, finance, environmental policies and health and safety.
Person Specification
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Essential Skills and Attributes
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- Experience working in a customer service, administration or fundraising role.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment.
- Experience working with CRM databases and maintaining accurate records (ideally Spektrix or a similar fundraising CRM).
- Strong IT skills, especially Excel.
- Strong administrative and organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience handling confidential and sensitive information.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong numerical skills and confidence working with data and reports.
- A proactive and solutions-focused approach to work.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team.
- Commitment to excellent supporter care and customer service.
- Interest in the arts, culture and philanthropy.
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Desirable
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- Experience of fundraising within an arts, cultural or charitable organisation.
- Knowledge of fundraising regulations, Gift Aid and donor stewardship practices.
- Experience using Spektrix.
Terms
- Salary: £27,500
- Hours: Our full-time hours are 35 per week. We are open to applications from candidates wanting to work full-time or part-time (e.g. 4 days a week). We are based in Leeds, hybrid working is available.
- Annual leave: 25 days (full-time equivalent, pro-rated for part-time roles).
- Probationary period: 4 months
- Notice period: 6 weeks subject to successfully completing probationary period.
- Pension: The Company operates a group personal pension scheme, with contributions from both the employer and the employee. Current contributions are Employer 5.75%, Employee 4.25%. Permanent full and part time staff are automatically enrolled after 12 weeks in post.
- Closing date for applications: Thursday 24 September, 12noon.
- Interviews in Leeds: Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 October.
- Second interviews week commencing 12 October.
- Estimated start date: Monday 23 November.
Application
Please submit a copy of your CV, along with a covering letter stating why you would like to be considered for this role, to recruitment@northernballet.com.
Please also complete the Equal Opportunities form.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Northern Ballet strives to understand, respect and champion diversity in all its forms and believes in embracing diversity within our workforce, repertoire and practices. Therefore, we support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply. As part of our commitment to the disability confident employer scheme, we guarantee to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for our vacancies.
If you require any adjustment during any stages of our recruitment process, please contact recruitment@northernballet.com and we will be in touch with you to make the necessary arrangements. Some examples of adjustments could include sending documentation in alternative formats such as large print, braille or audio. Adapting the environment for the interview or allowing additional time for you to answer questions.
Header image from Gentleman Jack taken by Emily Spencer.
About Northern Ballet
One of the world's leading ballet companies. Based in Leeds, UK, we tour the UK with our unique brand of dance storytelling, on a mission to make ballet accessible to everyone.
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Support Us
Northern Ballet is the UK’s widest-touring ballet company, bringing the joy of the arts to hundreds of thousands of people every year who otherwise would have limited opportunities
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