Development Operations Manager
The Development and Alumni Relations Team Part time 0.8 FTE
Extensive individual support enables pupils to...develop a breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm for scholarship. This is a significant strength of the school.
ISI Inspection - 2025
Leaders maintain a school culture that actively promotes inclusion and mutual respect highly successfully. This is a significant strength of the school.
ISI Inspection - 2025
Co-education: phased entry from 2027
See our brochure for further details
HEADMASTER’S WELCOME
Thank you for your interest in the position of Development Operations Manager at the Royal Grammar School Guildford.
The RGS has a reputation for being one of the leading schools in the country, which has been hard-earned over the course of our history, stretching back over more than 500 years. We have high academic standards and a passion for scholarship, a kind and supportive community, and a diverse and enriching programme of extra-curricular activities.
The RGS community is a vital feature of school life here, and includes strong links with our former students, parents, staff and governors. We host a wide range of events each year to enable different parts of our community to come together, maintain networks and develop new friendships.
Members of our community give generously, both financially and with their time, attending key events such as our annual careers fair where they can share their skills and experiences with the next generation of RGS students. We announced in December last year the exciting news that we will become a coeducational school, offering girls the same opportunities that boys already enjoy. This change will open up lots of new possibilities, both for fundraising and connecting with the wider RGS community.
As an employee, the benefits of working at the RGS go far beyond those listed in the job description. If you accept an offer of employment, you would be joining a staff body that collaborates professionally and socially across all departments.
The RGS is an exciting place in which to be a member of staff; I look forward to receiving an application from you.
Dr Jon Cox, Headmaster
The school is an inclusive and welcoming environment where pupils succeed academically and make the most of the extensive range of opportunities.
The Development and Alumni Relations Team
Overview
The Development and Alumni Relations Team (DARO) plays a vital role in cultivating the RGS Guildford community, fostering meaningful and lasting relationships with our alumni (known as ‘Old Guildfordians’, or OGs), current and previous parents, previous staff, volunteers and other supporters. A key component of DARO’s work is to deliver our ‘Road to 2035 Campaign’ which encapsulates our commitment to expand access to educational opportunities to students irrespective of financial means.
The new Development Operations Manager will join at an exciting time in the School’s long and prestigious history. In December 2025 we announced our move to coeducation, which is set to open up significant new opportunities for developing our community further and advance our fundraising ambitions.
This role will report directly to the Development Director and work closely with the Annual Giving & Communications Officer, Alumni Relations Officer and Development Administrator. The role holder will also be expected to develop strong working relations with other teams across the School, and in particular members of the IT, Marketing and Finance functions.
Main purpose of the role
The Development Operations Manager will provide the strategic and operational backbone for our fundraising and engagement activity, overseeing the systems, data, processes, and insight that enable the team to work effectively.
The role will generate insights to support effective decision-making, leading in particular on prospect identification, research and cultivation, donor management and stewardship, and data management and reporting. By streamlining processes and workflows, embedding best practice, and delivering high-quality operational support, they will ensure our fundraising and alumni relations experts have the tools, intelligence, and infrastructure to build strong relationships, steward our supporters well, and drive sustainable philanthropic growth.
Key Responsibilities
Prospect identification, research and cultivation
• Work closely with the Development Director to create the overall strategy for securing transformational income, with a particular focus on our relationships with high-net-worth individuals
• Identify priority prospects for cultivation within the RGS Guildford community and potential new funding streams (e.g. trusts and foundations, corporate giving)
• Conduct research to support the cultivation of prospects, working with the Development Administrator to prepare donor and prospect profiles ahead of events, trips, and meetings.
• Define clear cultivation pathways and support effective moves management by developing tailored engagement strategies that guide prospects through each stage of the donor journey
• Work with the Development Director to co-ordinate all prospect interactions, involving other members of the DARO team and senior stakeholders.
Donor management and stewardship
• Work with the fundraising team to identify and manage supporters
• Manage the Development Team’s stewardship matrix, directing how donors are acknowledged, informed and engaged with the School
• Prepare protocols, guidance and templates for fundraising and alumni relations colleagues to use for different giving categories of donors and supporters
• Monitor donor stewardship processes to ensure that they are impactful, timely and appropriate, suggesting alternatives and corrective action as needed.
Data management, analysis and reporting
• Oversee the Raiser’s Edge database and NXT, including designing and implementing any enhancements to the database
• Provide training to other team members to ensure that data held on constituents is GDPR compliant, comprehensive, and up to date
• Conduct segmentation, manage data selections and oversee gift processing and other data handling processes to support key fundraising activities e.g. Giving Days and Telethon Campaigns
• Conduct regular analysis, interrogation of fundraising and alumni relations data to support and inform future Campaign strategy
• Prepare regular reports on donor and engagement activities to support fundraising and development
• Work with the Annual Giving & Communications Officer to ensure integration between Raiser’s Edge and RGS Connect (OG networking platform)
• Keep up to date on giving trends, best practices and new technologies and provide recommendations for enhancing the team’s performance
• Act as departmental lead on data compliance with relevant fundraising and other legislation (GDPR, Fundraising Regulator)
Financial processing and reporting
• Oversee financial reporting, including liaising with the Finance Team
• Support the Development Director with regular reporting on income streams, targets and produce relevant financial reports via the CRM database
• Implement new procedures as necessary to streamline all financial reporting, ensuring financial and donation management is in line with the industry sector best practice standards
• Work with Finance to ensure appropriate Gift Aid collection, processing and submissions to HMRC
Other
Any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as directed by the Development Director.
WORKING AT THE RGS
Your career at the RGS begins with a warm welcome and comprehensive induction. You will be introduced to department colleagues, key people within the School and fellow new starters from across the departments.
Opportunities to get involved in wider school activities are many and varied; sporting fixtures, theatre productions and field trips to name just a few. Then there are the social groups set up by and for colleagues which include a running group, book club, theatre trips, football and a wind band. However you choose to get involved, you are guaranteed to find yourself among like-minded individuals.
Philippa
Cristina
Assistant Accountant, joined 2016
What's the best thing about working at the RGS? A great balance between work and my family life.
What Staff groups are you involved in? The running club.
Alumni Relations, joined 2010
What do you love about your department?
We all "get" why we're here, believe in what we do and work hard together to make it happen.
Which staff social groups are you involved in? Music - orchestra and choir.
Sam Director of Music,
joined 2009
What excites you most about coming into work each day? I’m very lucky to work in a fantastic department that is part of a school where music is respected and taken seriously.
What would your autobiography be entitled? Don’t Play it Again, Sam
“ “
The high degree of mutual respect between pupils and teachers is a key feature in [the pupils’] success.
ISI Inspection - 2025
BENEFITS
In addition to joining a successful and sociable staff body you will also receive the following benefits:
Hours of work
Remuneration
Fee reduction
Annual Leave
Private healthcare
Pension
Commuting Loan
Gym
Dining
Employee Assistance Programme
Part time 0.8 FTE
£40,880 per annum (actual salary)
Fee reduction for child(ren) of staff is available (after a qualifying period and subject to success at the entrance examination).
28 days leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays to be taken during school holidays.
Private medical cover is available for all staff. This is paid for by the School but is a taxable benefit so there is an indirect cost to the individual.
All support staff are automatically enrolled into the company pension scheme. The level of contribution by the individual is 5% the School will contribute 10%.
Interest-free loans are available for rail season ticket holders.
Use of on-site gym at certain times of the day.
A choice of hot lunches, a delicious salad bar and range of desserts are provided daily in the staff dining room during term time.
A free, confidential counselling & wellbeing support service that can support you, your partner or spouse, and dependent children over 16 still living at home.
ABOUT THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL
The RGS is a kind, inclusive, tolerant community where diverse opportunity, personal development, high achievement and collaborative partnership define who we are.
Our values of inclusivity, scholarship, integrity, respect, courage and collaboration underpin all we do.
Students come to the RGS from around 140 different schools in Surrey and the neighbouring home counties and this number is growing each year. We regularly receive four applications for every place.
The RGS curriculum aims to combine breadth with balance. In the first three years all pupils study a broad range of subjects, choosing options at the end of their third year which sees them sitting ten GCSE subjects including English Language, English Literature, a Modern Foreign Language, Mathematics, three separate sciences and a humanities subject. From the Third Form, a Tutor Period is introduced during which students study Information Technology, Problem Solving, First Aid, Health Education and Study Skills. It is also during this time that initial careers and higher education guidance is given which then continues throughout the students’ time at the School.
The RGS boasts a thriving Sixth Form with all students studying four subjects in the Lower Sixth and then continuing with three or four subjects to A Level in the Upper Sixth. This is complemented by a range of General Studies courses which are coeducational, organised jointly with Guildford High School.
All students are encouraged to engage in independent research and activities throughout their time in the School via our Scholarship for all programme. Whilst not curricular, there is an expectation that staff will support this provision as their experience and expertise enables.
All members of the teaching staff help with co- and extra-curricular activities, of which there is an impressively wide range. Music, Art and Drama all flourish with performances, exhibitions and workshops. There is a well-equipped auditorium, a large Art School and a purpose built Music Department. We have a very active clubs and societies programme that takes place before, during and after school each day. All the Third Form take part in our curricular, weekly expedition and adventure programme, EXAD. We have five Field Days per year and also offer overseas expeditions, a large Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme and numerous sports tours. Staff are invited to attend and support all of these events.
WHY WORK IN GUILDFORD?
Guildford is a vibrant and exciting place in which to live. Rich in history, it is a welcoming town with a flourishing and varied cultural life. Entertainment is diverse with a number of lively and nationally renowned venues including G Live, the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and the eclectic Electric Theatre. There are outstanding sport and leisure facilities which include the state-of-the-art training venues and sports complexes of Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum. Guildford offers one of the south east’s best shopping experiences with the iconic High Street combining exclusive and popular national chains as well as a number of independent retailers. Dining options cater for every taste and budget with local traditional and gastro pubs in nearby Surrey villages drawing customers from a wide area.
Educationally, Guildford is thriving. RGS Guildford and Guildford High School are regularly ranked in the top ten single-sex schools in the country. RGS also enjoys close links with other girls’ schools, Tormead School and St Catherine’s, Bramley. The University of Surrey was awarded ‘University of the Year for Graduate Employment’ by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Guildford has the advantage of being very accessible and enjoys excellent transport links. London is just over a 30-mile drive via the A3 and well served by trains (just 29 minutes to Clapham Junction and 39 minutes to London Waterloo). International airports London Gatwick and London Heathrow are only 30 minutes from the town.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are close by; the Surrey Hills and North Downs are on the School's doorstep and provide opportunities to enjoy the stunning countryside; the south coast is approximately one hour by car.
William Cobbett “
The town of Guildford, which I, who have seen so many, many towns, think is the prettiest, and…most happylooking, that I ever saw in my life.
GUILDFORD
The setting:
The Surrey Hills
North Downs
South Downs
Picturesque villages
The south coast
Travel by rail:
Clapham Junction 29 minutes
London Waterloo 39 minutes
Portsmouth Harbour 60 minutes
Gatwick Airport 45 minutes
Travel by road:
London 32 miles via the A3; Heathrow 22 miles; Gatwick 34 miles via A3 and M25; Portsmouth 44 miles; Brighton 59 miles
North Downs
The
Guildford Castle
SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN & SECURITY OF DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The Royal Grammar School Guildford meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check from the DBS before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. It is of fundamental importance to The Royal Grammar School to ensure, so far as possible, that those who take up appointments do not pose a risk to the children in its care.
APPLICATIONS
We are proactively committed to creating a diverse staff body, which reflects the community that we teach. At RGS we value diversity and inclusion; we want to attract the best people for the roles available. This is regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, socioeconomic status or religious beliefs.
Please note: applications will be considered on receipt and we reserve the right to close applications early.
