Head of Fundraising & Development – Ongoing, Full Time

Head of Fundraising & Development – Ongoing, Full Time (5 days per week) 

AFTRS is the national screen and audio school – the only Australian education institution to consistently make The Hollywood Reporter‘s prestigious annual list of the top film schools in the world. Working hand-in-hand with the screen and broadcast industries, AFTRS is a global centre of excellence that delivers the highest level of screen and audio education, training and research across Australia.  

We are looking for an enthusiastic Head of Fundraising & Development to join our Partnerships & Development division. This role will lead the design and implementation of the School’s overarching Development Strategy, and is responsible for fundraising, establishing new scholarships and running AFTRS For Business, the School’s corporate training activity.  

AFTRS’ Sustainability pillar of the Corporate Strategy guides us to increase own source revenue and scholarships, as a way to support strategic priorities such as access, research and outreach. This new role is a rare opportunity to build a philanthropic activity from the ground up, tapping into the vast potential of AFTRS’ alumni and industry community, built over 50 years as the preeminent screen and broadcast school in Australia.    

About the role: 
As the Head of Fundraising & Development at AFTRS, you will: 

• Create and maintain an audit of fundraising and grant opportunities relevant to the School’s activities, initiatives and scholarship needs.  
• Develop and lead the implementation of the School’s Development Strategy, aligning with AFTRS’ corporate strategy and values, setting targets and sequencing the building of fundraising capability and capacity to minimise risk and optimise outcomes.  
• Maintain and grow an active pipeline of prospects for major donors, increasing the number and value of scholarship and philanthropic donations by cultivating strong, beneficial relationships with individual and corporate donors, ensuring relationship management is executed to the highest standard.  
• Grow the recently launched Alumni & Industry Scholarship Fund.  
• Work with Council to set up and manage a Fundraising Committee and recruit fundraising champions.  
• Design and produce donor stewardship events as well as fundraising events and campaigns, in partnership with the Alumni & Industry Engagement, Events, and Marketing and Communications teams.  
• Lead the AFTRS For Business team responsible for generating revenue through the design and delivery of training courses to corporate, government, education, media and non-profit sector clients, including support with client prospecting, tenders and stakeholder management.  
• Optimise use of Salesforce CRM to support fundraising, scholarships and business development activity.   
• Report on business insights, strategic opportunities, progress towards financial targets and risk management to the Director of Partnerships and Development, the Executive team and Council. 
• Create and maintain culturally and psychologically safe learning and working environments.   

About you – you have: 

1. A proven track record of success in major gifts and/or grassroots fundraising.  
2. Minimum 5 years’ experience working in fundraising position.  
3. Comprehensive knowledge of high-level fundraising methodology including at least two of the following: prospect research, proposal and report preparation, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and donor communications. 
4. Impeccable communication skills and ability to quickly prepare effective cases and presentations, pitch and confidently “make the ask”.  
5. Experience in grant writing and reporting.  
6. Excellent relationship development and management skills including the ability to build rapport and influence a wide range of stakeholders.  
7. Interest in and engagement with key social and creative issues affecting the screen and audio industries and tertiary education.  
8. Experience in working in a small collaborative team.  
9. Excellent planning and time management skills and the ability to multitask and set priorities.  
10. Well-developed and established corporate, government and not‐for‐profit networks.  
11. Experience in creating and maintaining culturally and psychologically safe learning and working environments including the capacity to engage respectfully and effectively with First Nations stakeholders and culturally and racially marginalised groups.   

Please apply via our Jobs Portal here: https://jobs.aftrs.edu.au/recruitment/vacancies/2912935594779399~1/edit 

As a creative organisation, we understand the importance of offering flexible working to support your own creativity, wellbeing, and balance. We will genuinely consider applications for job share and part time working. We also support working from home and flexible working hours.  

AFTRS is committed to building a richly diverse staff and faculty. AFTRS actively supports and appreciates workplace diversity, First Nations values, and we strongly encourage and welcome applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from a wide range of backgrounds and people with a disability. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments through our recruitment and selection process. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please email [email protected] or call 02 9805 6610.  

Please note, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a Working with Children Check and National Police Check. 

Salary: AFTRS Level 8 ($120,595) + up to 15.4% super, and excellent benefits.  The closing date for Head of Fundraising & Development is 6 October 2024 11:59pm. Late applications cannot be accepted.