Director of Development

St Paul's Girls' School; Calne; On-site; GBP 45,000 - GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent school in Calne is seeking an experienced Director of Development to establish and implement an ambitious fundraising strategy. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a proactive approach with a proven track record in major gifts solicitation and strategic planning. This role involves nurturing relationships with alumni, parents, and key stakeholders. The successful candidate will be dedicated to the education of young people and the values of the schools. Applications close on February 17, 2026, at 10:00 am UK time.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in major gifts solicitation.
• Experience in strategic planning for fundraising.
• Demonstrated commitment to education and values.

Responsibilities

• Establish an ambitious fundraising strategy.
• Nurture relationships with alumni and key stakeholders.
• Lead and develop a fundraising team.

Skills

Major gifts solicitation

Strategic planning

Community engagement

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser to shape and deliver a transformative campaign within a close-knit and supportive community.

St Mary’s Calne is a leading UK independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, shaped by the values of a full boarding ethos. St Mary’s currently has 335 pupils of whom around 80% board and has a strong national and international reputation with boarders from over 30 countries. St Margaret’s Prep provides a rich and dynamic educational experience for 170 boys and girls aged 2 to 11, offering boarding from Year 5. The Schools share a beautiful 27-acre campus, where exceptional facilities support a broad and diverse educational offering. Located in the historic market town of Calne, in Wiltshire, the Schools are 20 minutes from Bath, within easy reach of Bristol and Oxford and have direct transport links to London.

The Head and Governors areseekingto appointan exceptionalDirector of Development toestablishand implement an ambitiousfundraising and engagement strategy for both St Mary’s and St Margaret’s.This will centre around ambitious plans for the estate andthe development ofan endowment for transformational bursaries.

Reporting directly to the Head, the Director of Development, who will be a member of the Schools’ Leadership Team, will play a crucial role in nurturing relationships with alumni, parents, and key stakeholders, both in the UK and internationally.

This role will be suited to a strategic,proactiveand energetic fundraising professional whodemonstratescommitmentto the education of young peopleandto the ethos and values of St Mary’s and St Margaret’s. They will bringa track recordin major gifts solicitation, strategicplanningand exceptional community engagement skills. The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge of broad fundraising programmes gained from within or outside the education sector , and the ability to lead and develop a team to release the potential for philanthropy at both schools.

Interested candidates are invited to contactRSAcademicsto arrange an informal andconfidential discussion about the role:

The closingdate forapplicationsis10.00amUK time on Tuesday17 th February 2026 .

Applications should be made electronically to RSAcademics. To submit your application please click on “Apply Now ” and follow the instructions provided.

As part of your online application you will be asked to upload a PDF version of your covering letter addressed to the Head, Mrs Anne Wakefield. The letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

If you have any questions about uploading your application documents, please contact Jonathan Barnes, Head of Operations (Leadership Appointments) at [e-mail] . Jonathan can also be contacted by calling our Head Office on + 44 (0) 204 6269 791.

• St Mary’s Calne is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.
• This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
• The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure.
• RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.

The closingdate for applications is 10.00am UK time on Tuesday 17th February 2026

Preliminary interviews with RSAcademics will take place via Microsoft Teams on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 February 2026

Longlist interviews will take place at St Mary’s Calne on Tuesday 10 March 2026

Shortlist interviews will take place at St Mary’s Calne on Wednesday 18 March 2026.