Royal College of Music
Job Description
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Identifying Factors
Post Title
Development Assistant (Friends & Alumni Relations)
Grade
4
Line Manager
Development Manager (Friends & Alumni Relations)
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Job purpose and major tasks
1. To assist with the administration of the RCM and RCMJD Friends and Alumni
programmes
2. To assist with the administration of the RCM’s annual Soirée d’Or
3. To assist with the RCM’s Restore A Score programme and other targeted fundraising
appeals
4. To answer queries within the Development team about the Raiser’s Edge database
and to produce donor and financial reports and Gift Aid claims
5. To assist with the smooth running of office-wide processes
Duties
(i) Friends and Alumni (RCM and RCMJD)
 Membership administration and benefits
o With supervision from the Development Manager (Friends & Alumni), to
organise delivery of Friends events such as pre-concert suppers, Friends
Summer Party, drinks receptions and Behind the Scenes events, to produce
literature and booking sheets for these events, and to oversee the booking
process. To assist RCMJD Friends committee to plan their own events
o To process renewal mailings to current members (Friends of RCM and RCMJD),
to process all related gifts including new subscriptions
o To process the mailing of each season’s RCM newsletter and Events Guide to
all members, and to produce and mail e-newsletters on a regular basis to all
members
o To oversee the acknowledgement of the Friends in College literature and on
website
o To oversee the delivery of special benefits to higher level members including
organising special events, mailing of signed opera programmes and private
tours of the College
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
RCM Alumni and staff
o To work closely with colleagues in Woodhouse Centre and Communications to
ensure meaningful interaction with Alumni and current/former members of
staff in order to maximise relationships with them
o To support all fundraising initiatives aimed at RCM Alumni and current/former
staff, including direct-mail, e-mail and telephone campaigns, Annual Fund
giving
o With supervision from the Development Manager (Friends & Alumni) to
organise a vibrant calendar of events aimed at engaging RCM Alumni and
current/former staff

Senior Volunteers
o To work with Friends Ambassadors and RCM Alumni to help promote the RCM
Friends scheme and alumni engagement
o To work closely with RCMJD Friends Committee to ensure smooth
administration of their scheme, including attendance at RCMJD Friends
meetings and events from time to time

Other
o To update and amend all literature relating to the Friends programmes and
RCM Alumni, to design new literature when necessary, and to oversee the
distribution of the literature
o To act as first point of contact for all related enquiries
(ii) Soirée d’Or
With supervision from the Development Manager (Friends & Alumni) and Events Manager, to
co-ordinate the organisation of the RCM’s flagship annual fundraising gala concert & dinner,
including:
 Co-ordinating elements of print (e.g. invitations, programme, menu cards)
 Co-ordinating sponsorship, corporate donations, advertising and gifts
 Working with the Soirée d’Or Chair and Committee: arranging meetings, providing
agendas and relevant papers and undertaking appropriate follow-up
 Liaising with table-hosts about payments, table-plans, guest names and dietary
requirements
 Liaising with caterers, lighting and sound designers, venue hire at external venue,
and other suppliers
 Assisting with annual Soirée d’Or budget
 Acting as first point of contact for all related enquiries and co-ordinating tablebookings
(iii) Restore a Score and other fundraising appeals
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With supervision from the Development Manager (Friends & Alumni), to organise the annual
Restore a Score programme and other targeted fundraising appeals to RCM Friends and
alumni, including:
 Stewardship of existing donors
 Ensuring that all related literature is kept up-to-date
 Liaison with internal departments at the RCM as appropriate
 Arrange specific events for donor groups and RCM alumni where appropriate
(iv) Raiser’s Edge and Reporting
To answer queries within the Development team for Raiser’s Edge, and to act as liaison,
including:
 To provide weekly financial reports from Raiser’s Edge to Finance
 To provide accurate and up-to-date lists of donors from Raiser’s Edge for use in RCM
publications, and to maintain an accurate, up-to-date list of donors on the RCM’s
website
 To process Gift Aid claims on a quarterly basis, in conjunction with Finance
 To liaise with Blackbaud and RCM IT Department over any problems with the
database
(v) Running of office-wide processes
 To oversee financial reporting for fundraising, and to be the main liaison with
Finance Department
 To oversee all donor acknowledgement, including on website and in printed matter
 To co-ordinate and update the Support Us pages on the RCM website and in printed
matter
 To represent Development on RCM’s IT User Group, Catering Committee, Events
Marketing Group
vi) Other
 To undertake any other reasonable tasks as requested by Development Manager
(Friends & Alumni)
Analysis of performance requirements
Significant external contacts
 Members of the RCM and
RCMJD Friends programme
 Donors to Restore a Score
 RCMJD Friends Committee
 RCM Friends Ambassadors
 RCM Alumni
 Suppliers (e.g. designer,
caterer)
 Soirée d’Or Chair and
Committee and table hosts
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
Blackbaud
Significant internal contacts
 Director of Development;
Development Department
 Finance Department
 IT Department
 Communications Team
 Facilities Staff


Performance Management
Team
Junior Department


Chief Librarian
RCM students
Knowledge, experience, personal qualities and skills required
Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent experience

Highly developed and demonstrable organisational skills; methodical;
attention to detail, able to prioritise and manage time well

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; the ability to communicate
at all levels

High standard of IT skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Quark Express and Raiser’s
Edge essential)

Good written, verbal and numerical skills

Welcoming, helpful, friendly and professional manner

Ability to plan tasks and achieve deadlines
Desirable

Interest in classical music
The College is an Equal Opportunities employer. The College is a non-smoking
environment.
April 2013
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