Guardian Jobs
Head of Development & Partnerships, WORLD MONUMENTS FUND BRITAIN
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Working from WMF Britain’s London office
You will play a central role in developing relationships with philanthropists, patrons, foundations and strategic partners across the UK and beyond, to meet an ambitious set of fundraising objectives. You will join a small and dynamic team with the opportunity to make a visible contribution from the outset, working closely with an experienced Executive Director, an engaged Chair and committed Trustees, who are active partners in fundraising strategy and supporter engagement.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished relationship builder to be part of shaping all aspects related to fundraising for World Monuments Fund in Britain. The role offers a combination of autonomy, collaboration and international reach, and the opportunity to join a leading international cultural heritage organisation on the rise, as it embarks on an ambitious 5-year strategic plan.
The Head of Development & Partnerships will play a key part in developing and delivering an ambitious programme of institutional and individual donor engagement and strategic partnerships in the UK, as part of the organisation’s global fundraising ambitions.
This is a senior position requiring a proactive, hands-on approach to both strategy and delivery. Working collaboratively within a small team, you will personally cultivate and steward relationships with donors and partners, leading the planning and delivery of an engaging programme of events in London and across the UK. You will work alongside the Executive Director, who is responsible for strategic leadership in fundraising and external relations, as well as the Chair, Trustees and team colleagues to secure philanthropic investment in our mission.
As part of a global development effort, you will collaborate closely with colleagues based at WMF’s headquarters in New York and in offices around the world to develop and deliver coordinated approaches for engaging philanthropists and institutional funding partners.
Responsibilities
Philanthropy
- Work with the Executive Director to develop WMF Britain’s philanthropy and partnerships plan, aligned to a global fundraising effort.
- Support the Executive Director and Chair to build, cultivate and steward a portfolio of major donors and ambassadors, International Council members, trusts, foundations and strategic partners to meet annual fundraising targets for both unrestricted support and project funding.
- Identify new prospects through research, thoughtful networking and relationship building.
- Prepare proposals, grant applications, donor reports and stewardship communications.
- Work with the Executive Director and the WMF Britain Projects team, Chair and Trustees to secure dedicated project funds from institutional funders and individual donors.
- Ensure that accurate donor and prospect records are maintained and manage effective reporting and pipeline management – supported by a dedicated part-time Database Manager.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Engagement & Stewardship
- Design and deliver an engaging annual programme of events and visits for International Council members and patrons, donors and partners in London and across the UK.
- Work with WMF affiliate colleagues in Europe, and across the globe, to build an integrated annual travel programme, international events (including an annual European Gala) and shared stewardship opportunities, and promote these through effective communications channels.
- Develop other opportunities for supporters to engage meaningfully with the organisation’s work – e.g. through exclusive access to selected sites and cultural experiences, working with project and heritage/cultural sector partners.
- Recruit and manage contractors, interns and volunteers, as needed, to support the event programme delivery.
Partnerships
- Develop mutually beneficial partnerships with luxury and lifestyle brands, heritage sector institutions and other organisations with aligned values.
- Along with the Executive Director and other team colleagues, represent the organisation within London’s cultural, philanthropic and professional communities.
- Identify opportunities for collaborative initiatives that strengthen both impact and income.
International Collaboration
- Work with the Vice-President of Development & Partnerships and other colleagues at WMF’s headquarters in New York and across the global organisation to coordinate approaches to prospective donors and partners internationally, as part of WMF Britain’s contribution to international fundraising initiatives and campaigns as appropriate.
- Share intelligence, opportunities and best practice across the global Development team.
- Help ensure that London/UK-based fundraising activity and partnerships complement and strengthen the organisation’s wider global ambitions.
Qualifications
- An accomplished relationship builder with excellent communications skills who develops trust quickly and enjoys bringing people together.
- Comfortable engaging with philanthropists, senior volunteers, and influential stakeholders with warmth, discretion and credibility.
- A track record of cultivating and stewarding major donors and strategic partners, and securing significant philanthropic support.
- Experienced in planning and delivering high-quality donor cultivation and stewardship events.
- Experienced in managing interns and volunteers.
- A solid understanding of the UK philanthropic landscape, including the ecology of private wealth, family philanthropy, charitable trusts and foundations, and public sector funding sources.
- Collaborative by instinct and comfortable working independently within a small, hands-on team where everyone contributes to shared success.
- Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to prioritise and time manage effectively while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
- Culturally curious, internationally minded, and enthusiastic about working across cultures, perspectives, and time zones; additional language skills would be an advantage.
- Motivated by the belief that culture and heritage make a vital contribution to society by fostering understanding, preserving knowledge, and creating connections across generations and communities.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
How To Apply
To apply, please submit a current CV (maximum two pages) and a cover letter (maximum two pages) as a single PDF document via button below. Include “Head of Development & Partnerships – [Your Full Name]” as the subject line of your email. Applications should be submitted by 23:59 on 4 September 2026. No phone calls please.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
As part of a global organisation, WMF Britain is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities, and believe that a diversity of perspectives strengthens our work and impact.
Accessibility
We aim to provide an accessible recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to support your needs.
Privacy
We will process the personal information you provide as part of your application in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation. Your information will be used solely for recruitment purposes and handled securely. If you have any questions about how your information is processed, please contact britain@wmf.org.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location