Development Lead - Capital Campaigns

Location: Edinburgh
Salary: £49,792 - £56,426 per annum plus generous benefits
Application Deadline: 25 August 2026

About the role

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the UK's most significant cultural fundraising campaigns. We're looking for an experienced major gifts or capital fundraising professional who thrives on building exceptional relationships and securing transformational support. You'll join us at a pivotal moment, leading campaigns that will shape the future of Scotland's national collection and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

At National Galleries of Scotland, you'll help secure the future of one of the world's great art collections, cared for on behalf of the nation. You'll raise transformational philanthropic support for projects that preserve Scotland's national collection, expand public access and create lasting cultural impact.

We're looking for a strategic and relationship-focused fundraiser with experience leading complex, high-value fundraising campaigns. You'll be equally confident working with major donors, senior colleagues, Trustees and volunteer leaders. You'll combine excellent judgement with strong planning skills, bringing together people, resources and fundraising strategy to deliver ambitious campaign goals.

While initially focused on The Art Works, you will have a longer-term remit to help shape future capital fundraising priorities that emerge from our strategic ambitions. You'll personally progress high-value donor relationships while ensuring fundraising campaigns are strategically structured, insight-led, appropriately resourced and effectively delivered.

You'll help broaden our philanthropic reach by expanding a strong and diverse prospect base across local, national and international audiences. This includes developing approaches to high-value and discreet funders and making the best use of senior volunteers and networks.

The scale of the role is exceptional. You'll work on nationally significant projects with a compelling case for support. You'll enjoy flexible and hybrid working, generous benefits and the chance to make a lasting impact throughout your career.

The difference you'll make
Reporting to the Head of Development, you will:

• Provide excellent strategic management of capital fundraising campaigns across the organisation, with an immediate focus on The Art Works as well as responsibility for supporting the planning and delivery of future campaigns, including the Mound Level Galleries redevelopment and other major capital priorities.
• Contribute to the development of long-term capital fundraising strategies, campaign plans and prospect pipelines to support future organisational priorities beyond The Art Works, ensuring continuity of donor engagement and campaign readiness.
• Translate campaign strategy, timelines and gift table requirements into clear delivery plans and actions across teams.
• Monitor progress toward income and activity targets, identify variances early and recommend tactical adjustments based on internal insight and external conditions.
• Lead the development and maintenance of campaign reporting, including dashboards, risk logs, income phasing and governance papers.
• Engage directly with major donors, trusts and foundations to cultivate, solicit and steward high-value gifts, working with senior colleagues, Trustees and Campaign Board members as appropriate to maximise outcomes.
• Oversee and direct cultivation and stewardship activity across the capital campaigns team, ensuring delivery of agreed fundraising strategies and a structured and strategic approach to progressing prospects and delivering income targets, while working closely with the wider Development team to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to donor engagement.
• Expand the philanthropic prospect base by identifying new opportunities and supporting approaches to high value or discreet funders.
• Oversee the preparation of high quality briefings, materials and follow up for senior level donor meetings and solicitations.
• Coordinate all donor hospitality activity for the campaign, liaising with colleagues across the Development team and other teams as required, including events, briefings, site visits and other cultivation opportunities.
• Lead the implementation of donor recognition and stewardship frameworks, ensuring consistent, high quality supporter experiences.
• Ensure operational readiness for the public phase of the campaign, coordinating colleagues across Development, Communications and Visitor Experience to create effective giving pathways and engagement opportunities.
• Provide day to day direction to the Development Manager - Capital Campaigns; the Campaigns Coordinator and other team members (to be brought in on a temporary basis as required at key campaign stages) to support high standards of documentation, planning and internal communication.
• Promote collaborative, inclusive working practices across the team and wider organisation.

Who we are looking for
To succeed in this role, you'll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

• Significant leadership experience in capital or multi year fundraising campaigns with £multi-million targets.
• Experience of developing and sustaining a portfolio of high net worth prospects at 5, 6 and 7-figure levels including discreet and invite-only funders.
• Experience modelling and managing fundraising cash flow, campaign pacing and income phasing across multiple fundraising priorities, ensuring alignment with organisational and project delivery requirements.
• Ability to expand donor networks at local, national, and international level.
• Strong presentation and writing skills, with the ability to influence, articulate complex ideas and inspire support.
• Experience planning and delivering high quality cultivation events and donor engagements.
• Strong understanding of fundraising sector trends, major donor behaviour and the philanthropic landscape.
• Experience working closely with senior stakeholders, including Directors, Trustees, volunteer fundraising campaign board members and other high level advocates.
• Strong knowledge of UK charitable giving and tax considerations relevant to fundraising.
• Highly motivated, with the ability to act on initiative while exercising good judgement about when to involve others.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with confidence interpreting financial, pipeline and performance data.
• Experience using CRM/database systems such as Spektrix or similar.

It would also be great if you have

• Experience of fundraising for multiple capital projects and transitioning donor relationships between successive major campaigns. Knowledge of the arts, culture, heritage, community engagement or education sectors.
• Understanding of how environmental sustainability, climate action and low energy design influence contemporary philanthropic priorities.
• Enthusiasm for the mission and work of the National Galleries of Scotland.
• Experience of fundraising in an international context, particularly in North America and Asia.

The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.