Job Description

Position Details

Development and Alumni Relations Office


Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK


Full time starting salary is normally in the range 27,166 to 28,768, with potential progression once in post to 32,145


Grade: 4


Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to November 2026


Closing date: 23rd September 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.


The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.


We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.


We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.


Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.


The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.


Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Background

Our University has a proud history of philanthropy stretching back to its foundation in 1900. With a clear vision to change the lives of the people of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain raised the funds required to build the University from citizens and corporations based locally and around the globe. Since then philanthropy has continued to play an important role in shaping the University. There have been a number of fundraising campaigns, including a 1m urgent capital appeal after the Second World War and a 1.4m campaign to fund the Vale 'student village' in the 1960s. In 2015 we closed the Circles of Influence Campaign, raising 193 million, making it the largest HE fundraising campaign outside Oxbridge and London.


The University has global reach, including several partnerships with other leading universities around the world, and is grounded in our local community, having opened the first fully comprehensive University secondary school in the country in 2015. We are an ambitious and successful research-intensive University (one of the top 100 research-led universities globally) and have produced 10 Nobel Prize winners, including three who received their awards in 2016. Academics here are exploring the impact of climate change, helping to address global health epidemics, and changing our understanding of Shakespeare. Our students come from nearly 150 countries and our flagship outreach programmes mean that almost 25% of our student population come from underrepresented backgrounds: one of the highest proportions in the UK.


The Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) exists to support this academic and student community by engaging, inspiring, and celebrating alumni, individuals, and charitable funders who give their money, time, and networks to support the University's strategic priorities. The Office, which is comprised of five teams, is focused on fundraising and volunteering from alumni, organisations and individuals who are passionate about changing lives, through funding various research projects, supporting student bursaries, mentoring students, and providing internships, as well as providing a versatile programme of engagement opportunities for our global alumni community.

Role Summary

Are you interested in developing your career at a prestigious organisation? Are you looking to be an integral part of a dynamic team?


Located within the DARO Data and Insight team, the Data Team has the full responsibility for the upkeep, maintenance, and development of Blackbaud CRM (DARO's principal CRM system for our supporters); the collation of large datasets to support complex data analysis; oversight of data quality and integrity; and the monitoring and management of the main alumni email inbox. The provision of accurate data via Blackbaud CRM (BBCRM), and timely logging and acknowledgment of alumni and supporter communications, are essential services for the relationship management of the University's core alumni and supporter base. Each member of the Data Team plays a key role in delivering this remit.


Campaign Data Assistants are responsible for data entry and data validation activity in support of our fundraising and volunteering campaign's goals. The post holder will be the first point of contact for all alumni and supporter enquiries, maintain the integrity of the alumni database, and support training of DARO colleagues.

Main Duties

Acting as the first point of contact for record management enquiries from alumni and supporters via email, telephone, mail, and occasionally in person, responding promptly and delivering an excellent level of customer service. This will include the triage of complaints in line with the DARO complaints procedure, responding where appropriate, escalating where necessary, and logging all incoming complaints/resolution steps taken. Verifying, validating and maintaining the integrity of data currently held by DARO through running internal data cleaning protocols, including the effective setup of new records for new audiences as they are recruited. This also includes sitting on data cleaning working groups and contributing to projects across the data team. Reviewing and processing data cleansing requests made through the in-house ticketing system. Supporting the wider Data team in the implementation of new systems, or changes to IT infrastructure, as required. Being part of a team that is responsible for providing technical support for BBCRM users across the Development and Alumni Relations Office as well as to other University users of the CRM (for example, Business Engagement and Winterbourne House) and supporting with training where appropriate. Responsibility for upholding the principles of the Data Protection Act and all relevant ICO guidance, including applying it effectively to all tasks required within the role. Researching, acquiring and accurately inputting data into the database from a range of sources (including specialist software) to ensure the long-term 'health' of BBCRM data quality. Participation in inter-departmental project and working groups around Graduations, Celebrations, Data Migrations etc. Supporting equality and valuing diversity, moderating own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

GCSEs to a minimum of grade C/4 in English and Mathematics grade C/4 minimum (or equivalent level 2 qualification). Must demonstrate a critical and intelligent attention to detail including high standards of accuracy. Ability to work both as part of a team and independently and prioritise own workload with minimum supervision to ensure tasks meet agreed deadlines. Ability to identify and break down potential problems using past experience and knowledge of good practices. Ability to proactively suggest improvements to working procedures under supervision. Excellent IT skills, including competence with all aspects of MS Office and ideally the BBCRM database or similar CRM databases. Word and Excel at an intermediate level would be an advantage (as evidenced by qualifications/training certificates or demonstrable experience gained from within the workplace). Good communication skills and an excellent telephone manner. Able to interact effectively with alumni and supporters of the University, and colleagues within DARO and the wider University. Evidence of demonstrating a high level of discretion when dealing with information of a confidential nature. Aptitude for learning and applying new skills, and once trained have the ability to work independently to gather information or simply finding missing or inaccurate data. Ability to follow complex data management and administration procedures including the operation and maintenance of complex computer database and information systems. The ability to work independently, accurately and to deadlines. A strong sense of professional integrity and the ability to remain positive, adaptable and flexible when dealing with change and uncertainty. A good understanding of the UK HE sector. Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace. Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Dimensions

You will not be required to line manage anyone in this role or manage a budget.

Planning and Organising

You will be responsible for the management of data and providing administrative support in a defined area. You will be responsible for managing your own workload and for planning and prioritising your work to ensure you meet agreed deadlines.

Problem Solving and decision making

You will be expected to solve most day to day data management and administrative queries without referring to your manager. You will, however, have access to guidance and support as required. You will need to consult others when dealing with complex queries.

Internal and External relationships

Internal staff and external contacts and suppliers.



Informal enquiries to Claire Hoath, email: c.p.hoath@bham.ac.uk


View our staff values and behaviours here

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone

on our website

.