Director of Development (Maternity Cover)

Salary: c£45,000

Location: The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 8AE, UK – the Watermill offers flexible and remote working and would be willing to explore options with the successful candidate. We are open to receiving applications proposing to undertake the role as a part of a job share.

Contract: Maternity cover (1 year)

Hours: Nominal average weekly hours are 40 (excluding lunch)

Closing date for applications: 12pm, Wednesday 9th April 2025

About us

The Watermill Theatre is a regional powerhouse in the world of theatre, creating new work from our beautiful, historic mill building in Berkshire, with strong relationships with significant local philanthropic partners, and a large and engaged audience of supporters.

About the role

We are seeking a Director of Development (maternity cover) to take responsibility for leading and managing the Development team to generate annual revenue income of over £600,000.

We are looking for an individual who has a proven ability to lead a development department in a cultural or social impact setting, and who shares our passion for engaging audiences with outstanding new theatre. You will be someone who is ambitious to join an organisation with an established development department where you can make a significant impact.

This position may well be your first Director of Development role, or you could be leading a development function in the wider charity sector background and looking to move to the cultural sector. What is important is your ability to communicate the story of our outstanding creative work and its impact on audiences to our supporters, and your ability to enable your colleagues to do the same.

Main duties:

• Oversee the development strategy and the delivery of fundraising activity to generate contributed income, as outlined in The Watermill Theatre business plan.
• Collaborate with the Executive team and harness the support of Trustees to maximise the potential of their experience, knowledge and contacts.
• Embed a fundraising culture by articulating the case for support and collaborate with colleagues to engage them in fundraising and identify future funding opportunities.
• Develop and be accountable for the continued growth and retention of trust and foundation, corporate partnership and individual giving income.
• Ensure excellent donor and stakeholder stewardship through a planned programme of high-quality communications and events.
• Lead the stewardship and growth of the individual and major giving portfolios – growing newly established membership programmes and proactively engaging in prospecting for new donors.
• Take a data-led approach to driving fundraising campaigns, monitoring and evaluating campaign results to inform future decisions and strategy.
• Craft compelling funding applications and proposals which both leverage a growth in new trust and foundation and corporate income and support The Watermill to deepen its reach and impact.
• Line manage, motivate and develop the Development Officer, supporting them to take responsibility for specific donor campaigns and giving streams.
• Manage the fundraising budget, controlling expenditure and maintaining fundraised income.
• Be responsible for monitoring income, expenditure, and reporting to the Executive Director including preparing reports for the Board

Please find all the details of the role and how to apply in the Application Pack below.

Applications should be sent to Jess via admin@watermill.org.uk by Wednesday 9 April at midday. Please note that this vacancy will close as soon as the post is filled.

The Watermill Theatre is committed to equality of opportunity and access for all. We aim to create a working environment which values and respects the variety of lifestyles and cultures found within theatre and within our local community.

If we can support your application by offering an alternative format, please do let us know. Likewise, we want to ensure interviews are as accessible as possible, so please do let us know in your application if there is anything we can do to support you.

First Interviews: 14th/15th April 2025

Learn more about working at the Watermill here.