Development Associate (Sydney Conservatorium of Music)

A great opportunity if you're passionate about music and the performing arts to step into the role and make an impact.

The University of Sydney has a new opportunity covering a secondment for 12 months for a self-motivated and passionate fundraiser to join the Advancement Portfolio’s growing Arts and Culture team as Development Associate. The role will have a focus on procuring and managing major gift opportunities at the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music through donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and managing donor and internal stakeholder relations to set up opportunities to their greatest success.

Philanthropy requires thought, passion and action. It involves creating social impact and caring enough about the needs of others to help. Generosity worldwide has initiated groundbreaking research, provided millions of educational opportunities and built stronger communities. This is the power of giving.

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, or ‘the Con’ as it is affectionately known, provides a distinctive and innovative environment for musicians, composers and music scholars to learn, create and perform, preparing students to thrive in today’s evolving music industry. The Con awards over $1.5 million in scholarships every year thanks to its proud community of donors. As it continues to reimagine the future for music education, the Con partners with philanthropists and the University to realise a range of groundbreaking programs, development initiatives and game-changing research. From the concert hall to the big screen, the orchestra pit to the Xbox or from the opera and music theatre to the fabric of communities, the demand for our art and impact of music is greater than ever.

In this role you will develop relationships with high net worth donors, connecting their passions with work that would otherwise not be undertaken, or education and outreach opportunities to support the next generation of leaders and thinkers. You will build strong internal relationships with academic leaders to understand how their critical work can be aligned with donor passions. You would be a part of lifting the profile of philanthropy across the institution.

About you

The University values trust, accountability and respect and we value the spirit of collaboration, achieving more together. As such, we seek to recruit talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Development Associate, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, who:

• Is a natural relationship builder – you enjoy interacting with people one-on-one and fostering relationships with people at different levels and from different cultures

• has excellent communication skills, both listening and written in order to develop compelling proposals or cases for support that align to a prospective donor’s interests

• has highly developed emotional intelligence – you are self-aware with exceptional interpersonal skills and an active listener with a proactive work ethic 

• is a high-achiever and naturally driven by success both professionally and personally

• has prior experience either in fundraising, development, sales or relationship management – please note, prior experience is not essential. If you have transferrable skills or experiences from others field and are a motivated, fast learner, we’d love to hear from you 

• is passionate about the performing arts or music in its many forms and can demonstrate this in a cover letter, along with why you would be a suitable strong candidate for this role

About us

The Advancement Portfolio team at the University of Sydney is one of the most successful fundraising programs in Australian higher education. Having achieved the nation’s first $1BN fundraising campaign and onto their second campaign, the team is not only the finest performing, its success facilitates the largest real-world impact that philanthropic giving makes possible.

Since its inception 175 years ago, the University of Sydney has led to improve the world around us. We believe in education for all and that effective leadership makes lives better. These same values are reflected in our approach to philanthropy and underpin our long-term strategy for excellence and growth. We’re Australia's first university and have an outstanding global reputation for academic and research excellence. Across our campuses, we employ over 7600 academic and non-academic staff who support over 60,000 students.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For a continuing position, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement 

At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community which reflects the wider community that we serve.

We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.  In your cover letter, please ensure you respond to our key bullet-points under our ‘About you’ section.

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or support filling out this application, please contact Sarah Scott, Recruitment Partner by email to [email protected]

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