Research Associate – Prospect Research

Research Associate – Prospect Research

£37,000 - £41,000 

Fixed-term – 2 years 

Rhodes House, Central Oxford (hybrid working) 

Full time – 37.5 hours per week 

 

We have an exciting and new opportunity for a Research Associate to join the Rhodes Trust, Oxford. This role will help provide a high-quality in-house research service to the senior leadership team and the Warden (CEO) of the Trust. 

We are looking for the successful candidate to start with us as soon as possible. 

 

About the Rhodes Trust 

The Rhodes Trust is an educational charity which offers Rhodes Scholarships to exceptional students from around the world to come and study at the University of Oxford. Our mission is to build a better world through global fellowship programmes that develop and connect compassionate, innovative, and public-spirited people committed to solving humanity’s challenges. 

In recent years, we have also partnered with several other remarkable organisations to create the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Atlantic Institute, Schmidt Science Fellows, and our most recent initiative called RISE. 

The role 

The Research Associate will report to the Research Manager, work closely with the six-person major gift team located in the UK, Canada, Australia and the United States, and gain first-hand knowledge and experience working as an in-house research professional for a highly regarded educational charity. 

The role will be responsible for; 

• Providing a high-quality in-house research service to the Development Team and senior leaders including the Warden (CEO) of the Trust, and Trustees, as required 

• Contributing to the proactive identification of potential major donors and partners to the Rhodes Trust  including alumni, individuals, foundations and corporates 

• Proactive and exploratory research such as: 

• Identifying  prospective Rhodes alumni donors using the Trust’s CRM database and provide the major gift fundraisers with concise and insightful information to inform strategic approaches 

• Compiling research and preparing materials such as: 

• Working with the Warden’s Executive Assistant to provide briefings for the Warden in advance of her meeting schedule and international travel covering alumni, donors, prospects, partners and stakeholders 

• Recording and managing fundraising data such as: 

• Ensuring up-to-date and accurate research about fundraising prospects is stored on the CRM database 

Other 

• Role modelling the Trust’s organisational values of commitment, inclusion, belonging, growth and innovation. 

• Carrying out any other duties relevant to the role, as requested. 

• A deep commitment to the values, ethos and mission of the Rhodes Trust.  

 

Please see the job description for more responsibilities  

 

 

Essential skills, experience and qualifications: 

• Previous experience in a prospect research role in a Development and / or alumni office; 

• Reliable and responsible with excellent written communication skills and an emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy; 

• Ability to use initiative and creatively source information to identify opportunities and map connections; 

• Strong organisational skills and an ability to plan ahead and deliver work within tight deadlines; 

• Ability to keep information confidential and exercise discretion; 

• Experience of accurate data entry and record maintenance; good working knowledge of a CRM system and competency in creating and running reports from a database; 

• Excellent IT skills, including experience with Microsoft packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook); 

• An interest in the educational sector; and 

• An ability to work independently while also being an excellent team player.  

 

Benefits of working here 

We are a global organisation and we use our deep connections across the world to bring together people of different backgrounds and viewpoints. We encourage our staff to challenge each other’s thinking and generate new ideas. 

• 30 days annual leave (pro rata) plus 8 bank holidays 

• Competitive pension scheme 

• Generous family leave schemes 

• Private health insurance 

• Employee Assistance Programme 

• Personal development opportunities 

• Additional benefits, such as free access to the University's gardens, parks, libraries and museums, and University staff discounts in shops across Oxford. 

• Cycle to work scheme  

• Electric car scheme  

 

If you would like to find out more, please click ‘apply’ to view the full job description and to find the link to apply. Please send us your CV and a covering letter. Please note, this advert will close on 30 August 2024. Please note the interview dates: Wednesday 11th September and Thursday 19th September 

If you have any issues with submitting your application, please email the Recruitment team. 

 

The Rhodes Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We warmly welcome applications from talented people of diverse backgrounds and appoint without regard to age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, parental status, marital or civil partner status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief.