DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
TRICYCLE THEATRE
Background information
In May 2012 Indhu Rubasingham took her position as Artistic Director of the Tricycle. Her vision
for the theatre led to a new mission:
The Tricycle views the world through a variety of lenses, lenses, bringing unheard voices into the
mainstream. It presents high-quality and innovative work, which provokes debate and
emotionally engages. Located in Brent, the most diverse borough in London, the Tricycle is a
local venue with an international vision.
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The Tricycle is located on the busy and vibrant Kilburn High Road. It currently comprises a 235
seat theatre, a 300 seat cinema and 3 further workshop spaces. We aim to produce and
present an ambitious range of new work that explores new territories, that develops and
nurtures emerging creative talent, that speaks to and challenges a young diverse audience, and
that enhances our intercultural understanding and collaboration.
Indhu’s inaugural season included Paper Dolls by Philip Himberg, in association with Sundance
Institute, a new play with music about an extraordinary collision of cultures in Tel Aviv. This
followed the multi-award-winning Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti which played to 98%
audiences, 48% of whom had never been to the Tricycle before. Red Velvet will transfer to St
Ann’s Warehouse in New York early in spring 2014.
This past year has seen the start of an exciting new journey for the Tricycle. In January 2013
Arts Council England pledged £3.1 million towards the upgrade of the theatre and its facilities,
which will enable all our communities –local, artistic and international – to engage with the
building and its work. Our ambition for the project is for the Tricycle to become a cultural
beacon, with a flexible and accessible theatre auditorium, a new creative space dedicated to
active learning, and with an increased presence on Kilburn High Road.
FUNDRAISING
In 2013/14 the Tricycle will receive £727k from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio
Organisation and £198k from Brent Council. However, its revenue investment from funders
accounts for around 27% of its total income. The rest of its income is earned through box office
and other revenue streams, with 31% generated through fundraising.
Over the next three years the Tricycle needs to secure £3 million to meet both its capital
partnership funding requirement and its revenue needs to support the planned programme of
artistic work and the new Creative Learning Programme. In 2012, the theatre successfully
secured £240k of Catalyst funding to invest in and increase its fundraising capacity.
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In May 2013 the Tricycle appointed Celine Gagnon as its new Head of Development; Celine takes
up her position in this role at the beginning of September. The Development Officer will join a
newly restructured team of four, eventually including two Development Managers. The
Development Officer will play an integral role within the Development Department, providing
general and administrative support.
THE ROLE
Job Title
Development Officer
Location
Kilburn, London
Reports to
Head of Development
Key Relationships
Development Managers
Creative Learning Managers
Box Office Manager / Box Office team
Marketing Officers
Development Committee
Tricycle supporters and donors
Responsible for
N/A
PURPOSE
The Development Officer will be responsible for ensuring the smooth administration of the
Development Department. We anticipate this role being largely focused around the Tricycle’s
individual giving programmes, cultivation and fundraising events, day-to-day management of
the newly installed Fundraising module within our existing Spektrix CRM database, and team
administration.
S/he will assist the Development Managers by providing effective database management and
record keeping thorough reporting procedures, as well as by helping with event planning. S/he
will support the Head of Development by researching major prospects, writing and updating
solicitation plans with accurate and pertinent information. S/he will also be responsible for
writing evaluation reports in collaboration with members of the Artistic and Creative Learning
teams.
KEY CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS
After 12 months in post, the successful candidate will have:

Completed populating the new Fundraising Spektrix module with accurate and relevant
information about the Tricycle’s current and prospective supporters;

Ensured that all reporting requirements to funders have been submitted on time and
accurately (in consultation with the Head of Development);
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
Established productive working relationships with Development Committee members,
Tricycle members, Trust & Foundation representatives and staff across the Tricycle;

Built an excellent working relationship with the Development Team;

Significantly extended the Tricycle’s prospect database and research base
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Planning

Be an active member of the Development team of the Tricycle, contribute to the
theatre’s overall fundraising strategy by keeping a 3-month timetable of applications
and reporting deadlines, members events and other time-sensitive tasks;

Work closely with and support the Head of Development to deliver and increase the
Tricycle’s income generation from public and private sources across all aspects of the
theatre’s work, including its planned capital project;

Help to develop a culture of research and evaluation that will underpin all funding
approaches (and projects delivered by the theatre);

Provide administrative support to the Development team ensuring database records are
accurate (including logging gifts), that gift aid is claimed where possible and all donors
are thanked appropriately. A significant part of the job will be developing our database
use and protocols across the Tricycle serving fundraising needs, whilst developing
organisational memory and communications with VIPs.
Individual Giving

Lead day to day management and maintenance of the new Spektrix Fundraising module
that the Tricycle is implementing;

Ensure that data is updated regularly and is accurate at all time;

Provide administrative support to the Development Manager ensuring the smooth
operation of the Tricycle’s membership scheme, including completing membership
administration at lower levels (up to £150), through processing payments on Spektrix,
renewal and thank you correspondence, financial recording and necessary follow up.
Assist the Development Manager with membership administration at higher levels
(£400 and upwards);

Developing and administrating donation campaigns in conjunction with the
Development Manager;
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
Follow up correspondence with donors, such as thank you letters to those who donate
smaller amounts via the Box Office and highlighting larger donations to relevant staff
members.
Trusts and Foundations

Compile research into solicitation plans on potential supporters including major donors,
trusts, foundations and corporate;

Work with the Head of Development to increase the Tricycle’s income from these
sources and with the team identify funding opportunities through desk research and
networking;

Ensure all required reporting is delivered to the funder on time and that funders are
involved in the development of their project; ensure that income and expenditure
progress is in line with original agreements.
Events and Advocacy

Work with both the Development Committee and Development Team to support events
that will maximise income and cultivation opportunities for the Tricycle;

Help to deliver fundraising events in collaboration with the Development Committee
and Development Team when required;

Liaise closely with the Marketing Team to ensure effective messaging, communication
and engagement with relevant individuals both internally and externally.
Financial and resources management

Help to maximise income generation, produce detailed reports and analysis for the
Head of Development, Executive Team and Board as required
Departmental administration

To support the Head of Development in the running of the department, and take
responsibility for developing and maintaining research, databases and administrative
systems across all fundraised income streams
General

Attend and minute at Development Committee meetings as required;

Attend run-throughs, technicals, previews, press nights, creative learning activities,
other performances and events, internal and external meetings as appropriate;

Attend the annual appraisal meeting to be conducted by the Head of Development;
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
Attend and participate in such training as is required by the Head of Development and
to ensure fulfilment of the job description;

Carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required by the Head of Development
or Executive Team.
This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Development officer and
does not form part of the contract of employment. It is neither wholly comprehensive nor
restrictive and therefore does not preclude change or development that will inevitably be
required in the future.
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Person Specification
Skills and experience

A creative, determined individual preferably with at least one year’s experience of
working within an arts organisation;

A demonstrable track record of generating and delivering fundraising activities;

Ability to think and plan strategically, but equally be results and target driven with a
track record of delivery;

Experience of managing multiple priorities and deadlines;

The ability to connect, collaborate and work in partnership with others internally and
externally;

Broad knowledge of the arts sector, particularly theatre;

Excellent oral and written communication, time-management and presentation skills;
able to operate with diplomacy, tact and empathy;

Knowledge of reporting, monitoring and independent research;

Ability to reflect and evaluate the impact of their performance to-date and apply this
going forward.
Qualities

A genuine commitment to the principles of equal opportunity, cultural diversity and
broadening access to the arts, and an empathy with the objectives of the Tricycle;

Resilience, stamina, reliability and responsiveness to the changing external
environment;

A creative mind with the ability to generate innovative ideas and approaches for
funding.
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Outline of Proposed Pay and Conditions
Job Title
Development Officer
Salary:
£20,000
Contract:
Full-time, on the basis of an average of 45 hours per week. Three
months’ notice period required by both parties. Probationary period
will be three months with a review by the Head of Development after
two.
Holiday entitlement:
Four weeks per year (pro rata depending on start date) plus bank
holidays, rising to four weeks plus five single days (excluding bank
holidays) after two years of continuous service. The holiday year runs
April to March.
Sick Pay:
Four weeks on full pay and a further four weeks on half pay after three
months’ continuous service.
Pension:
The Tricycle operates a Stakeholder Pension scheme with Aviva. If you
choose to become a member, the Tricycle will currently make a pension
contribution of 3% of basic salary into your plan after you have
successfully completed your probationary period and where this is
matched by you.
July 2013
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