Recruitment Role Profile Form
Job Title: Prospect Research Officer
School/Department: Campaign and Alumni Relations Office (CARO)
Salary: £22,029 – 26,274 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.
Job Family and Level: Administrative, Professional & Managerial Level 3
Contract Status: Permanent
Hours of Work: 36.25 per week
Location: Pope Building, University Park, The University of Nottingham
Reporting to: Prospect Research Manager
Purpose of the New Role:
To provide successful, pro-active prospect research and management to support the Campaign and Alumni Relations Office and senior colleagues across the University. Working closely with the Prospect Research Manager, the role holder will work in partnership with fundraising colleagues to maximise philanthropic support for the University. The role holder will support delivery of our prospect research and management strategy and continuous improvement of prospect research and fundraising activity.
Main Responsibilities / % time per year1. / Prospect Research
· Identify and investigate potential donors (prospects) to the University including alumni and other individuals, corporations, trusts, foundations and other organisations exhibiting an inclination and capacity to give to the University. This will require:
o Utilizing information within The Raiser’s Edge database, working with the Information Management Team as appropriate
o Use of a variety of sophisticated off- and on-line information sources and wealth information obtained from third parties.
o Taking into consideration alignment with the Impact Campaign priority projects so as to maximize the probability of successful fundraising.
o Developing an in depth knowledge of the priority projects.
o Building strong relationships with project leaders.
· Continually monitor all public domain information relating to the top 100 prospects/donors to the University and other transformative donations to higher education in the UK, highlighting any pertinent information to colleagues, including the fundraising team, where appropriate.
· Research, compile and distribute detailed profiles to fundraisers, the Vice Chancellor’s Office and senior University stakeholders as dictated by the solicitation strategy, with respect to a wide variety of prospects, current donors and partners.
o Briefing papers should be well researched and positioned to explain existing and potential areas of mutual interest.
o The role holder will establish strong personal information networks, both internally and externally to the University, to validate and/or enhance desk-based research.
o Information should be sought from a wide range of sources, and include network mapping, with interpretation and recommendations.
· In partnership with the Philanthropy Team, strategically identify prospective guests for development events.
· Develop a close working relationship with Philanthropy Team colleagues by delivery of high quality prospect research and solicitation support. / 50%
2. / Prospect Management and Reporting
· Assign prospects to fundraisers, monitor progress and ensure that priority prospects are being cultivated expediently and appropriately to ensure stretching fundraising targets are achieved.
· Monitor proposals in the gift pipeline, ensuring the accuracy of strategy and gift dates, utilizing proposal pipeline reports and one-on-one meetings with fundraising colleagues. / 25%
3. / Due Diligence
· Undertake due diligence in accordance with the University’s Gift Acceptance Policy and Code of Ethical Fundraising Practice. / 20%
4. / Other Duties
· Continually review existing working practices and make recommendations for improvement to prospect research and management provision, both in terms of processes and information resources, in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
· Continually investigate new ways to access valuable information from a variety of sources including wealth information and philanthropic interest in the UK and overseas, particularly in the Americas and Asia.
· Other comparable duties as may be required at the request of your line manager and/or department director. / 5%
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications/ Education / HNC or HND in a relevant subject or equivalent qualifications/certification, plus considerable experience in a similar role.
OR
Broad substantial relevant experience demonstrating practical and theoretical knowledge of prospect research and database management.
Skills/Training / Operational knowledge of prospect research, or similar activity, using a variety of on- and off-line research resources.
Attention to detail and accuracy in work.
Proven analytical and problem solving capability.
Ability to handle confidential or sensitive information.
Excellent computing skills including Microsoft Office and databases.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills. / Relevant research/fundraising training provided by organisations such as CASE, APRA, SLA and the Institute of Fundraising.
Familiarity with key sector reports, research and published trends e.g. Times Rich List, Coutts/Hunan Reports, Ross Group Survey.
Experience / Experience of interrogating and analysing information in CRM databases.
Experience of providing written and verbal briefings, and communicating concisely with effective presentation skills, report-writing skills and the ability to converse with a diverse range of people at all levels.
Awareness of developments in higher education and/or the charity sector that impact on the role. / Experience of prospect research, or similar research experience, in a higher education or charity environment preferred.
Experience of using the Raiser’s Edge database.
Experience of using Blackbaud NetCommunity and Contensis CRMs.
Statutory/Legal / Knowledge or experience of handling sensitive data and an understanding of Data Protection legislation.
Decision Making
i) taken independently by the role holder
· Day to day activities and prioritisation of work· Maintaining accurate prospect and donor records on the fundraising database, ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act.
· Decisions regarding accessing the most appropriate information resources and positioning the information to maximise its value.
· Responding to requests for information from members of the Campaign and Alumni Relations Office.
ii) taken in collaboration with others
· Discussion and agreement on workflows, operational priorities and the completion of specific tasks with team members and/or managers.· Prospect allocation to fundraisers.
· Changes to ways in working and/or procedures.
· Any projects which would have a significant impact on another team
ii) referred to the appropriate line manager by the role holder
· Approaches to dealing with particularly sensitive or unusual research requests.· Approaches to dealing with particularly sensitive or unusual data requests.
· Responding to requests for information from senior University stakeholders.
· Any recommendations for purchasing new products.
· Any projects that have budget implications.
· Any revisions or suggestions for improvement to the Prospect Research and Management Strategy.
Additional Information
The Prospect Research Team is part of the Campaign Management team within the Campaign and Alumni Relations Office. The Prospect Research Team consists of the Prospect Research Manager and their two direct reports, the Prospect Research Officers. The team will be pivotal in helping secure philanthropic support through Impact: The Nottingham Campaign.Head of School/Department
(or nominee): / Debbie Henthorn
Date completed: / 14 August 2015
Please quote ref REG193114
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