Development Officer

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; City of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government agency in London is seeking a Development Officer to secure funding for two historic museums. Responsibilities include building partnerships, managing donor relationships, and executing fundraising strategies. The ideal candidate has a strong background in fundraising, excels in communication, and is adept at managing multiple projects. Join a dedicated team ensuring these cultural landmarks thrive for future generations.

Benefits

Access to training and mentoring

Inclusive and collaborative work environment

Opportunities for professional growth

Qualifications

• Proven track record in fundraising, ideally in museums or arts sector.
• Confidence in preparing persuasive grant applications.
• Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing budgets and reporting outcomes.
• Creative approaches to meet fundraising targets.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience with membership programmes and events is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure funding from trusts and foundations.
• Cultivate relationships with donors and create fundraising campaigns.
• Oversee membership and donor scheme activities.
• Coordinate events for members and maintain clear communication.
• Collaborate with staff across museums to promote activities.

Skills

Fundraising or development experience

Understanding of funding landscape

Written and verbal communication skills

Experience with financial data

Creativity and strategic thinking

Organizational skills

Experience in membership programmes

Job description

Job Description

Secure the future of our historic museums through fundraising and community support. As a Development Officer, you’ll play a crucial role in sustaining and growing the legacy of two of London’s most distinctive museums – Leighton House and Sambourne House. By developing vital partnerships, building donor relationships and driving fundraising initiatives, you’ll help ensure these cultural landmarks continue to thrive for generations to come.

Working Style

This is a full‑time role. You’ll be based at the museums for four days a week and attend occasional cultivation and fundraising events out of standard working hours as needed.

What You’ll Be Doing

This is a hands‑on, creative and relationship‑focused role. Working closely with the Senior Curator and the Trustees of the Friends of Leighton House, you’ll take lead in strengthening fundraising activity across both museums. Your main responsibility will be identifying, applying for and securing funding from trusts, foundations and other sources that align with the museums’ mission and programmes. You’ll also manage documentation for grant‑giving bodies – preparing evaluation reports, monitoring performance and ensuring all conditions are met.

A key part of your work will be cultivating long‑term relationships with existing supporters while identifying and engaging new donors. You’ll plan and deliver targeted fundraising campaigns and appeals, ensuring that the museums’ messages resonate with audiences who care about culture and heritage.

You’ll also coordinate the activities of the Friends of Leighton House, a registered charity, by overseeing membership and donor schemes management, organising member events and visits, processing donations and finding creative ways to grow the group’s network and engagement. This includes maintaining clear administrative systems and ensuring regular, meaningful communication with members throughout the year. You’ll work to deliver key events such as the annual members dinner and garden party, moments that bring together donors, artists and the local community.

Collaboration is central to this role. You’ll work with colleagues across the museums – from marketing and curatorial to operations – to understand ongoing activity in all areas, identify potential projects for external funding, ensure the promotion, running and development of donations and membership schemes, and the appropriate acknowledgement and allocation of funds raised.

What You’ll Bring

• A proven track record in fundraising or development, ideally within the museums, heritage or arts sector.
• Understanding of the funding landscape and confidence in preparing persuasive grant applications and proposals that align with donor priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – crafting tailored messages, liaising with partners and presenting ideas clearly to a range of audiences.
• Experience working with financial data, preparing budgets and reporting on outcomes.
• Creativity, strategic thinking and imaginative ways to meet fundraising targets.
• Strong organisational skills, managing multiple projects at once while maintaining attention to detail.
• Experience in managing or developing membership programmes and events is highly valuable, as is confidence in engaging and inspiring donors, supporters and volunteers.

Why Join Us

At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future. You’ll join a close‑knit, dedicated museums team working within the beautifully restored surroundings of Leighton House – a place of creativity, collaboration and inspiration. Following a £9.6 million award‑winning refurbishment in 2022, the museum was named a finalist for the Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2023.

This is a pivotal time to join. As the museums face new financial challenges, your work will directly support their sustainability and growth. You’ll play a key role in ensuring both houses continue to deliver an ambitious programme of exhibitions, learning opportunities and cultural events as they celebrate 100 years as public museums.

We’ll support your professional development with access to training, mentoring and opportunities to shape fundraising strategy and delivery. You’ll be part of an environment that values inclusion, creativity and teamwork – where your ideas and initiative can make a tangible impact.

About Us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough. As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our services. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

As a Development Officer, you’ll embody the ‘We’re all in’ mindset – getting stuck in and showing full commitment. From drafting grant proposals to planning events and cultivating donors, you’ll play an essential role in transforming financial challenges into opportunities for growth. Your creativity, persistence and collaboration will ensure our museums continue to inspire, educate and connect our community.

Interview Details

Face‑to‑face interviews will take place 16th and 17th December 2025. Basic DBS is required for this role.

Ready to Join Us?

We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.

Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range. Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale and any agreed cost‑of‑living pay rises.

Seniority level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

• Full‑time

Job function

• Other
• Government Administration