Development Manager
- Employment Type: Full Time (35 hours per week)
- Duration: Continuing
- Remuneration: Level 8/9 $127,351 - $157,056 (depending on experience) + 17% super + leave loading
- Location: UNSW Kensington Campus, NSW (hybrid)
About UNSW:
UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 20 universities in the world and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.
Why your role matters
As Development Manager, you will help advance UNSW’s mission to create positive societal impact through transformational philanthropy. Working within the Division of Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, you will build meaningful donor partnerships that support UNSW’s highest strategic priorities in research, education and community engagement.
Key responsibilities
Level 8
- Deliver philanthropic strategies and fundraising targets in partnership with the Head of Development, STEM.
- Manage a portfolio of 100 major gift prospects ($100K+), cultivating long-term donor relationships.
- Identify, develop and solicit major and planned gifts.
- Prepare high-quality proposals, campaign and stewardship materials.
- Collaborate with academic leaders and senior stakeholders to identify funding priorities.
- Maintain accurate donor records and meet activity and income targets.
- Represent UNSW professionally at donor meetings and events, including some out-of-hours work.
Level 9 (in addition to Level 8)
- Manage a senior donor portfolio with capacity for $250K+ gifts.
- Provide strategic leadership across fundraising activities.
- Coach and mentor junior Development colleagues.
- Play a key role in strengthening a philanthropic culture across UNSW.
Who You Are:
You are an experienced development professional with a strong track record in major gifts fundraising, ideally within the university sector. You have successfully closed gifts of $100K+ (Level 8) or $250K+ (Level 9) and are confident engaging high-net-worth individuals and their advisors. You are a skilled relationship-builder with excellent communication skills and experience preparing high-quality proposals and confidential materials. You understand fundraising best practice, compliance and donor stewardship, and are adept at managing complex stakeholder relationships. At Level 9, you bring extensive university fundraising experience, provide strategic leadership, and have proven success coaching and mentoring colleagues. You are flexible to travel as required and aligned with UNSW’s values, commitment to equity, and health and safety responsibilities.
For further details on role responsibilities and skills & experience required, refer to the position description found under the position listing on Jobs@UNSW
Benefits and Culture:
People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world.
Our benefits include:
- Flexible working options.
- Career development opportunities.
- 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments.
- Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period.
- Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness).
For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits
How to Apply: Submit your CV & a succinct 1-2 page cover letter detailing your interest and suitability for the job (as per the skills & experience bullet points in the job description) by 11:55pm, 28th January 2026
Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.
Contact: Amy Denney a.denney@unsw.edu.au - Talent Acquisition Team
Please apply directly through the website, applications sent to the contact above will not be accepted.
Pre-Employment Checks
Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.
These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:-
- National and International Criminal history checks
- Entitlement to work and ID checks
- Working With Children Checks
- Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
- Verification of relevant qualifications
- Verification of relevant professional membership
- Employment history and reference checks
- Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
- Medical Checks and Assessments
- Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.
UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.
The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
