Magdalen College is seeking to recruit a recent graduate as a Development and Data Assistant to support the work of its Development Office and learn more about the varied elements involved in its successful running.
This 12-month fixed-term training post is designed to provide the post-holder with practical experience of development work within a higher education environment, helping to prepare for future careers in development, data, alumni relations, fundraising or external relations. Training and networking opportunities will be provided and encouraged throughout the appointment.
The Development and Data Assistant will play a vital and varied role in the
team, supporting a wide range of activities, but with a particular focus on the varied elements involved in its successful gift administration, data processing and events. The position requires a highly-organised, data-driven individual with keen attention to detail, high levels of accuracy, excellent administrative, IT, data and numerical skills.
This is a full-time Office-based position. Occasionally the post-holder may be
expected to attend events in the evenings and at weekends; time off in lieu will be awarded to take account of this.
Database and Prospect Support
- Supporting the Development Manager with ad-hoc data requests for the wider Development Office, including producing lists for fundraising campaigns and events.
- Helping to maintain the alumni database, keeping it up-to-date and accurate; inputting changes and additions and flagging to colleagues when relevant information is received; investigating and contacting alumni marked as 'lost', and processing returned mail.
- Be responsible for the processing and recording of donations on the database, including all administration associated with the donation cycle.
- With the support of the Data and Analytics Manager, undertake monthly financial reconciliation.
- Proactively manage the giving societies, ensuring membership is up-to-date.
- Supporting the Alumni Engagement Manager with event administration, including producing name badges, place cards, menu cards and other event materials.
- Assisting with processing event bookings, adding revenue batches to DARS and adding interactions.
- Responding to general enquiries via email, telephone and letter.
- Answering the telephone and taking messages for colleagues; dealing with incoming post; delivering outgoing post.
- Organising the office environment, including ensuring printers are well-stocked and working, shredders are emptied; and the office kept in a tidy and organised condition.
- Supporting colleagues with admin-heavy projects, e.g. printing, collating and circulating documents.
- Preparing condolence letters from a template.
This list includes the principal responsibilities of the role but is not exhaustive. Other duties may be specified by the Development Manager from time to time.
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level.
- Numerate, confident and accurate at handling financial data.
- Aptitude for maintaining and managing information on a database, including utilising Excel.
- Excellent written and spoken English, including accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- Ability to manage competing priorities within a busy and demanding environment.
- Initiative, common sense, good judgement and the ability to work unsupervised.
- Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office (including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
- Highly organised, with impeccable attention to detail in all work undertaken.
- Polite telephone manner and good interpersonal skills.
- Professionalism, tact and discretion in dealing with others and handling confidential information.
- Able to work calmly under pressure, prioritise effectively and manage varied workloads.
- High personal and professional standards, a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility.
- Demonstrates concern for quality, accuracy, thoroughness, clarity and conciseness.
- Able to provide information on a timely basis and in a usable form to others who need to act on it.
- Works proactively and takes opportunities to improve quality.
- Understanding of alumni and College expectations.
- Punctual with good timekeeping.
- Willing to consult, seek advice, receive feedback, adjust working methods and work effectively and positively within a team.
- An interest in fundraising and belief in higher education and the aims of the College.
- Working knowledge of an Oxford college.
- Experience of fundraising (e.g. crowdfunding or as a telethon caller).
- Experience of data processing.
The salary will be £26,707 (College Grade 4), plus Oxford Location Allowance of £1,730 per annum.
Benefits include:
- Membership Contributory pension scheme
- Free lunches
- Car parking may be available
- Use of College sports facilities
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Optional contributory Healthcare Scheme
- Bus pass purchase scheme
- Holiday entitlement is 30 days per annum plus bank holidays. Some restrictions my apply when holiday cannot be taken to ensure the smooth running of the Development Office. Some set days holiday must be taken when the College is closed.
The College provides for maternity leave on a basis that exceeds the statutory provisions. This is a day one entitlement and there is no qualifying period, women are eligible for 26 weeks’ maternity leave on full pay, followed by 13 weeks of leave on Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and 13 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. Arrangements for Adoption eave, Shared Parental Leave, and Paternity Leave are also in place. Magdalen College has a priority claim in the University nurseries.
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Hours of work
37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The hours of work will generally be 08.30am to 17.00pm, or 9.00am to 5.30pm. There may be an occasional need to work evenings or weekends, which will be agreed by prior arrangement with the Development Manager. Under these circumstances, time will be given in lieu. This role is offer-based. This position is on a 12-month field term, available from 1st September 2026.
Magdalen College, founded in 1458, is one of the largest and most beautiful of the colleges of the University of Oxford, set in 100 acres of grounds which include the Deer Park and Addison’s riverside walk.
Our community includes nearly 400 undergraduates, over 280 graduate students, 75 Governing Body Fellows, and some 140 non-academic staff, as well as over 9,400 alumni from all over the world. For more than 500 years it has been the home of politicians, poets, scientists, adventurers, entrepreneurs, and 10 Nobel laureates, as well as being a choral foundation with an internationally renowned choir.
