Head of Development

The Lowry; Salford; On-site; GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading arts organization situated in Salford is seeking a Head of Development. This role involves leading a fundraising team to generate crucial revenue and funding for various programs. The ideal candidate will have exceptional leadership skills, strategic planning abilities, and a proven track record in fundraising. Responsibilities include managing stakeholder relationships and securing funding. The position offers attractive staff benefits, including complimentary event tickets and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Complimentary theatre tickets

Free car parking

Paid day off for birthday

Discounts at bars and restaurants

Access to health and wellbeing services

Group Life Assurance Scheme

Qualifications

• Strong leadership capabilities and experience in managing fundraising teams.
• Proven track record in generating funding from diverse sources.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead the fundraising team to secure various forms of funding.
• Develop and implement strategies for revenue generation.
• Manage relationships with stakeholders and funding bodies.

Skills

Team leadership

Fundraising

Attention to detail

Strategic planning

Job description

Head of Development, permanent, £55,000 per annum, plus staff benefits

Lowry is a visual and performing arts venue situated at the heart of MediaCityUK in Salford, one of the world’s most exciting culture and media destinations.

Lowry is one of the UK’s most exciting and vibrant arts organisations. We are looking for an exceptional team leader for our respected and successful fundraising team to lead the team to generate revenue, capital and project funding from individuals, companies, fundraising events and trusts & foundations. The role will be a strategic and senior one within the organisation, and we are looking for an individual who is passionate and committed as well as able to multi-task and work at a fast pace with a high level of attention to detail.

This is an exciting time for Lowry and our staff, artists and volunteers are at the heart of our organisation. This role will be vital to ensuring we can secure much‑needed funds to be able to continue to grow all of our organisation’s programmes, including our performing and visual arts programme and award winning learning and engagement work.

The role has a number of staff benefits including:

• Complimentary and discounted theatre and live event tickets.
• Free car parking just a few minutes’ walk from the Lowry building.
• Paid day off for your birthday.
• Discounts at the bars, restaurant and gift shop located within the Lowry building.
• Access to Lowry’s Wellbeing Hub and to other health and wellbeing services, including counselling, physiotherapy and remote GP appointments.
• Group Life Assurance Scheme.

Please note that Salford Quays is a well‑connected destination with a variety of different transport options – bus, car, tram and bike.

The application deadline for this vacancy is Friday 27 February 2026 at 5pm. Interviews will take place on 19 March 2026.

For more information, please download the Lowry recruitment pack. To apply for this position please submit your CV and a covering letter by clicking on ‘Apply for this job’ via the vacancy on Lowry’s Careers page. Your application should describe how you would apply your knowledge, experience and skills to fulfil the main duties and responsibilities of the post.

To ensure fairness and to enable us to process your application through our shortlisting exercise, we ask that you remove all personal details ( as name, age, location, ethnicity, marital status etc) from your CV and covering letter before uploading. This reduces the risk of any potential bias during our recruitment process and ensures that all shortlisting is based on skills, experience and suitability for a role. Thank you for your understanding.

Lowry is committed to creating an inclusive workforce by reflecting and representing the diversity of Salford and the UK. We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of Lowry – whether that is to work in our creative or support roles. We particularly encourage applications from the following two people groups who are currently under‑represented in our work force and in the wider performing and visual arts sector: those people who experience racism and marginalisation, including those from African, Caribbean, North African, LatinX, South Asian, East Asian and South East Asian heritage and their diasporas; those who are disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent or have long‑term health conditions.