Festival steward jobs
The Role
Keeping in touch with more than 10,000 alumni around the world and stewarding gifts of more than c. £1 million per year, we are a public-facing team and as our Events and Communications Manager, you will play a crucial role in ensuring our supporters feel valued and engaged. You’ll be the driving force behind planning and delivering memorable events and impactful communications for the Oundle Society, which connects with Old Oundelians (OOs) as well as current and former parents.
We’re seeking someone who thrives on collaboration, is highly organised, and will bring a wealth of experience, creativity, and flair to the role. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and elevate our events and communications programme.
Working within the Oundle Society team, the post holder will report to the Director of Development.
Experience of using web CMS and InDesign is essential for this role.
While this role is 40 hours per week, year round, we are open to discussion about working arrangements to attract a candidate who can who can help us achieve our ambitions.
– Salary: £39,000 – £44,000 dependant on experience
The School
Oundle and Laxton Junior Schools have long been associated with the very best of modern independent education, especially boarding. The Schools take seriously their responsibility to pupils so that they can emerge as decent, open-minded adults; ambitious about what they can go on to achieve and contribute. Over 1400 pupils are on roll at the School, of whom 840 are full boarders. Academic results are steadfastly excellent.
A team of around 800 staff, both academic and support, ensure an education of the highest standard is in place across the Schools with the efforts of the whole team focused on this fundamental aim.
Living in Oundle
We are fortunate in our location at the heart of a beautiful market town. School and town are part of the same community and our pupils take their place within this community, not isolated from it. The town has a spirited cultural life, with an annual international festival, literature festival, and frequent performances of nationally touring shows at the School’s Stahl Theatre.
To apply
Full details of the role, including hours of work and salary, can be found at the “Job Description” link, below. If you are excited by this opportunity, please complete and return an application form and supplement to the application before the closing date.
Please note CV submissions cannot be accepted.
Application closing date: Friday 9th May 2025, 9am
Oundle School and Laxton Junior School are proud to be equal opportunity employers and we welcome applications from all. We aim to ensure that all applicants are provided with the same opportunities during the recruitment process, and we endeavour to comply with the duties placed upon us to make reasonable adjustments as prescribed by the Equality Act 2010. Should you need to request a particular adjustment to enable you to participate fully in the recruitment process, please ensure that this is made known, to the HR Department
Both Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Recruitment Agencies
The Corporation of Oundle School has an internal recruitment department, but where agency support is required, we will engage our trusted partners. Our adverts are intended to encourage direct interest from potential applicants, not recruitment agencies. Speculative CVs sent from sources other than directly from a candidate, will not be acknowledged or considered.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Oundle School has long been associated with the very best of modern independent education.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Ex Cathedra is a world-class ensemble that leads the choral sector in the fields of performance, learning and wellbeing. Thanks to a recent donation, we are excited to create this new role for a skilled fundraiser to join our team to help us identify, recruit and manage a pipeline of individual donors capable of giving upwards of £5,000 to support Ex Cathedra’s agreed strategic priorities. You will join a supportive, dedicated staff team, which includes an Individual Giving Officer and freelance trusts fundraiser plus access to an external mentor if desirable.
We believe that the benefits of singing are for everyone, and seek to reach and engage as many people as possible through outstanding vocal experiences. We do this by exploring, commissioning and performing the finest choral music, nurturing young singers, and delivering an extensive, inspirational learning and wellbeing offer for participants of all ages – engaging 80,000+ people every year in a range of venues, schools, hospitals and communities, including through our acclaimed Singing Schools and Singing Medicine projects.
It is an exciting time to join us and shape this new role. Over the next 5 years we will celebrate the legacy of founder Jeffrey Skidmore OBE and welcome a new artistic director. We are enjoying audience growth, our projects are being recognised at Award ceremonies, and we already have an established individual giving scheme which we hope you will help us grow.
Find the full application pack on our website. The following is extracted:
Key responsibilities
The Individual Giving Manager will contribute towards Ex Cathedra’s ongoing sustainability and success by maximising philanthropic income:
Strategy and research
• build, maintain and continually seek to expand a pipeline of prospects capable of making gifts at a high 4-, 5- and 6-figure level, making sure that all progress is tracked, monitored and reviewed on a routine basis
• explore our existing data to identify major gift prospects, working in line with data protection law and fundraising regulations
Individual giving
• work closely with the General Manager and Individual Giving Officer to further develop and implement strategies that will increase major gifts and legacy donations to Ex Cathedra, dovetailing with the Trusts and Foundations consultant where appropriate
• arrange and conduct face-to-face meetings with prospects and donors to help build and progress meaningful relationships through regular dialogue
• use their judgement to involve the artistic director, trustees and colleagues where most beneficial/advantageous
• align prospective donors with high-value funding opportunities for the performance programme, education and participation work, or area of greatest need according to the interests of the donor
• promote and encourage giving towards the establishment of an Endowment Fund that will provide long-term financial sustainability for the organisation
• meet agreed targets for activity (i.e. number of prospect meetings and solicitations) and income generation (i.e. funds raised)
• personally manage the portfolio of higher level donors and prospective donors.
Communications
• manage the delivery of specific appeals to prospects and donors
• work with the General Manager and freelance designer to devise and produce materials in support of Ex Cathedra’s fundraising aims
• create and refresh inspiring copy for inclusion in print, on our website and other relevant materials
Other
• record and maintain progress, ensuring that income can be projected as accurately as possible, liaising with the Finance Manager as appropriate
• carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, as requested by the General Manager
About you
You will be a skilled fundraiser, able to help us identify, recruit and manage a pipeline of individual donors, capable of giving upwards of £5,000 to support Ex Cathedra’s agreed strategic priorities.
You will join a supportive, dedicated staff team, which includes an Individual Giving Officer and freelance trusts fundraiser plus access to an external mentor if desirable.
The ideal candidate will have:
Experience
• demonstrable experience in a similar role
• direct experience of securing gifts and donations at 4- and 5-figure level from individuals by initiating, building and stewarding relationships
• experience of developing engaging and attractive gift opportunities; and scoping, developing and articulating fundraising projects
• experience of working in a target-driven environment
Knowledge
• knowledge of the principles of major gift fundraising and Donor Relations (including stewardship)
• knowledge of the Arts and/or Charity funding landscape and UK philanthropic trends
• knowledge and understanding of donor motivations, and how to align philanthropic interests with organisational priorities
• a sound working knowledge of data protection legislation and national fundraising best practice
Skills and abilities
• good organisation and planning skills, with an ability to prioritise the things that matter most
• excellent communication skills with an ability to persuade and influence with tact and diplomacy
• an ability to work effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• an ability to adapt communication styles to different audiences
• an ability to think both creatively and tactically about the relations between potential donors and fundraising goals
• good listening skills
Attributes and attitudes
• a strong team player, who enjoys building and maintaining productive relationships with others
• pro-active, results-oriented and ambitious, with a determination to succeed and improve
• resilient, focused, tenacious and confident
• a creative thinker, with a keen interest in trying new approaches to bring about enduring, positive change
• a willingness to work outside normal hours and travel when required
• a genuine affinity and passion for music and the Arts, and their transformational power
How to apply
Full details on how to apply can be found in the Application Pack, which is available from our website. We welcome informal, pre-application conversations, and details on how to arrange this with Peter Trethewey, General Manager, are also set out in the pack.
Application deadline: Thursday 1 May, 5pm
If you have any access needs relevant to your application, please contact Peter.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
We seek to reach and inspire through outstanding vocal experiences - in performance, by nurturing talent, through education and participation projects
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.