Director of Development

Applicant Information Pack Director of Development

A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer

Martin Walker - Principal

Our vision is simple – to develop remarkable people. That applies not only to the pupils, but also to the staff in whom we invest. We take a pupil-centred approach at Berkhamsted; they are at the heart of our decision making and fuel our ambition to deliver excellence in all that we do

We aim high with integrity and are proud to have a collective growth mindset and a willingness to be adventurous through innovation, continual learning, and being a research-led school. This leads to an agility, the provision of outstanding CPD for staff, and the delivery of a forward-thinking curriculum that enables pupils to flourish both at, and beyond, Berkhamsted. The inherent joy that stems from learning, from being part of an ambitious and caring team, and from making progress inspires not only our pupils, but also our staff.

Berkhamsted School also appreciates the significance of community within and beyond the school; we aim to serve others and have a positive impact through our community and charity work. Moreover, we focus not only on doing well and doing good for the pupils, but also through the pupils. This strong sense of purpose combined with an unwavering commitment to our values make this a special place to work. Our staff are so important to us that we have a Chief People Officer as one of our most senior members of staff; her role is to ensure the staff also flourish

A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer

Tracey Evans - Chief People Officer

Our staff are our most important asset at Berkhamsted; investing in their professional development with their wellbeing a key priority We foster a working environment that firstly provides a sense of belonging and supports staff both professionally and personally. We offer a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives. Colleagues can easily access financial, physical, emotional and social well-being support from school.

We seek to enable all members of the school community to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by equality, equity, respect and opportunity. We work hard at Berkhamsted, but we also know how to come together as a community and enjoy downtime, building relationships which last a lifetime and enrich our professional and personal experience.

History of Berkhamsted Schools Group

Berkhamsted School is situated in the historic Hertfordshire town of Berkhamsted, a prosperous community surrounded by Chiltern countryside and within easy reach of London Berkhamsted is a leading Independent School for pupils aged 3 to 18 years, the foundation of which dates back to 1541 (when John Incent, the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, successfully applied to King Henry the VIII for a license to purchase a piece of land for a ‘freescole’)

In 1888 a Girls School was founded in Berkhamsted under the same governing body, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools merged to form a diamond school in 1997 The Prep School was also integrated at this stage, and the School became Berkhamsted Collegiate School.

In 2011 the School merged with Heatherton House, a small independent day School for girls in Chesham Bois, and became the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Operating as a satellite Prep School, Heatherton provides a feed of Girls to the Berkhamsted Girls School every year In 2012 Berkhamsted Schools Group acquired Haresfoot, a small proprietary prep school in Berkhamsted This site now houses the Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited, and Berkhamsted Prep takes children from age 7-11.

Berkhamsted is the only School in the Herts, Beds and Bucks region, and one of only a small number of Schools in the country, to offer a ‘diamond’ structure that combines the best of both single-sex and co-educational teaching Boys and Girls are taught together until the age of 11 (Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep), separately from the age of 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint sixth form (Berkhamsted Sixth)

Job Description

Reporting to: Principal

Purpose of the role:

The Director of Development will lead the School’s fundraising and philanthropic strategy, with primary responsibility for generating significant voluntary income in support of its strategic priorities.

The postholder will build and manage relationships with parents, alumni and other supporters, develop a strong major gifts pipeline and lead campaigns to enhance bursary provision and support future capital development

Working closely with the Principal, Governing Body and senior leadership, they will play a key role in embedding a culture of philanthropy across the School.

Context and Opportunity:

This appointment marks a significant moment for the School This is the first time in over ten years that Berkhamsted has recruited a Director of Development, reflecting a renewed strategic commitment to philanthropy

The role has been formally approved by the Governing Body, recognising that the School is now at the right stage to invest in a more structured and ambitious fundraising approach There is a clear opportunity to grow voluntary income, particularly in support of bursaries and future capital development.

With a capital campaign on the horizon, and a new, ambitious Principal in role, this is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser to shape and lead the School’s development function at a pivotal point, building strong foundations for long-term success.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Develop and deliver a multi-year Development Strategy aligned to the school’s strategic priorities

Define clear income targets across major gifts, annual giving, bursaries, legacies and capital campaigns.

Advise the Principal and Governors on fundraising strategy, opportunities and risks

Play a key role in shaping the case for support and long-term philanthropic vision.

Establish clear performance metrics and reporting frameworks for fundraising activity

Fundraising and Philanthropy

Lead all fundraising activity with a clear focus on income generation and pipeline development

Personally manage a portfolio of major donor prospects, including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

Personally lead and support major gift solicitations, including making direct asks where appropriate

Develop and deliver bursary and capital fundraising campaigns.

Build a structured major gifts programme, including prospect identification, engagement and progression.

Ensure effective stewardship and long-term donor relationships.

Alumni Relations

Lead the development of a refreshed alumni strategy to support fundraising and long-term engagement, including the evolution of current structures where appropriate.

Work towards greater alignment and integration of alumni activity within the School, including data, communications and governance

Develop targeted opportunities for alumni and parents to support the School philanthropically. Ensure alumni engagement is strategically focused and supports, rather than distracts from, fundraising priorities

Communications and Events

Job

Job Description

Oversee development communications to ensure a clear, compelling and consistent case for support

Ensure donor communications and impact reporting are of a high standard.

Lead a targeted programme of events designed to cultivate and steward key relationships.

Data, Compliance and Governance

Ensure compliance with GDPR, charity law and fundraising regulations

Oversee effective use of the development database (ToucanTech), ensuring data integrity and reporting capability.

Provide regular reporting on income, pipeline and performance against targets

Leadership and Team Management

Lead and develop the Development Office (two part-time staff members), setting clear objectives aligned to income targets.

Manage the development budget effectively

Build strong relationships across the school to support fundraising activity.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will possess the following skills:

Essential

Proven experience in development, fundraising or advancement in an educational or charitable environment.

Confidence in working with senior stakeholders, including Principals and Governors.

Job Description Job

Ability to operate both strategically and operationally in a relatively small team.

Track record of securing major gifts (of 5-6 figures) and delivering successful fundraising campaigns.

Excellent relationship‑building and interpersonal skills

Strong written and verbal communication abilities.

High level of integrity, discretion and emotional intelligence.

Experience with CRM and fundraising databases (e g Raiser’s Edge, ToucanTech), with an understanding of how data supports donor strategy and pipeline development.

Strong project management and organisational skills

Desirable

Experience of working in the independent school sector or a comparable relationship-based fundraising environment.

Experience of leading or contributing to a major gifts programme or capital campaign.

Familiarity with bursary fundraising and widening access initiatives in an educational context

BenefitsBenefits

We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme

The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have a developed programme for staff with initiatives and support in the areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social wellbeing

Free classes and advisory services memberships and discounted rates in local establishments, together with cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, free daily lunch, and fee reduction for staff's children are examples of some of the non-contractual benefits on offer in this programme

Watch our video

Watch our video and hear from our colleagues why they enjoy working at the Berkhamsted Schools Group Find out more about what it is really like to be a member of the community

BenefitsSafeguarding and Child Protection

Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding

A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630

Application and Next Steps

The closing date for applications is 13 May 2026

Berkhamsted School is partnering with Alice Speers, Search Consultant at Ashmore Search on this appointment. If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact Alice on: Telephone - +44 (0)7799 808 051

Email - alice@ashmoresearch com

Key dates:

First round of interviews at Berkhamsted School: Tuesday 2 June 2026

Final round of interviews at Berkhamsted School: Tuesday 9 June 2026

How to make an application:

Please complete your application on the school’s online application form by midnight on Wednesday 13th May. Please be aware that Ashmore Search will also use the information contained or referred to in the online form for the purpose of processing your job application and as further set out in the Ashmore Search Ltd Privacy Notice.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed for recruitment purposes and shared with a third party recruitment agency supporting us with the selection process, in accordance with data protection legislation.

Application and Next Steps

It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children; applicants must be willing to undertake a number of safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS). This post is also subject to receipt of written references which must be satisfactory to Berkhamsted Schools Group, along with documentary evidence of qualifications A background screening service including a review of candidate’s online presence will be carried out as part of the recruitment process, by an independent third-party screening partner.

Successful applicants will need to provide confirmation of permission to work in the UK. Please note that under the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the school has an obligation to ensure applicants have the right to work in the UK prior to commencement of employment (If it is found that those documents do not meet the legal requirement, an offer of employment will be withdrawn).

Where the successful candidate has worked or been a resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.

Candidates with a disability who are invited to interview should inform the School of any necessary reasonable adjustments or arrangements to assist them in attending the interview.

Developing people