About this role
Job summary
Royal Devon Hospitals Charity supports patients, families and staff across North, Mid and Eastern Devon by funding projects and enhancements that go beyond core NHS provision.
This is an exciting opportunity to join Royal Devon Hospitals Charity as a Senior Grants and Major Donor Officer in a newly created role, playing a key part in developing and growing high-value fundraising income. The role offers the opportunity to lead Trusts and Foundations, Major Donor and philanthropic partnership activity, building strong relationships and securing significant gifts that directly benefit patients and services. It is a strategic and delivery-focused position with a high degree of autonomy and the chance to make a lasting impact across a large and diverse region.
Main duties of the job
For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.
About us
Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).
Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).
Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.
Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as youll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.
Job description Job responsibilities
For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.
More detail about the role
Royal Devon Hospitals Charity supports patients, families and staff across North, Mid and Eastern Devon by funding projects, equipment and enhancements that go beyond core NHS provision. Through the generosity of our communities, supporters and partners, we help improve patient experience, invest in innovation and make a meaningful difference to local healthcare.
As our Senior Grants and Major Donor Officer, you will lead the development and delivery of high-value fundraising across the charity. This is a newly created role, offering a unique opportunity to build and shape Trusts, Foundations and Major Donor fundraising from the ground up, establishing strong pipelines, relationships and processes to support long-term income growth.
You will develop and manage a portfolio of funders and major donors, producing high-quality, compelling funding applications and proposals that clearly articulate need, impact and value. Working closely with clinical, operational and finance colleagues, you will identify fundable projects, shape cases for support and ensure proposals are robust, deliverable and aligned to organisational priorities.
A key part of the role is building and stewarding long-term relationships with funders, major donors and philanthropic partners, ensuring excellent communication, reporting and recognition. You will use data and insight to manage pipelines, monitor performance and drive continuous improvement across your income streams.
This is a hybrid role, with a base at either North Devon District Hospital or the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, and the flexibility to work from home. You will work across North, Mid and Eastern Devon, building relationships across the region and engaging with supporters and stakeholders as required.
Working with a high degree of autonomy, you will manage multiple funding opportunities and relationships, balancing immediate income generation with longer-term partnership development. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with proven experience in securing significant gifts or grants, who is confident working independently and motivated by building a high-value fundraising programme that delivers meaningful impact for patients and services.
Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week. Flexibility required due to occasional evening and weekend events; time off in lieu provided in line with Trust policy.
Interview Date: 24 June 2026
For further information please contact: Josh Allan, Fundraising Manager, at [email protected] on
As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status, including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.
Benefits
We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.
This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.
Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.
If you're starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.
You'll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.
Salary is not the only financial benefit
You'll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.
You will also have access to other benefits including:
National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
Car lease schemes.
The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
Cycle to work scheme
These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.
Person Specification
General Requirements Essential
See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description
Desirable
See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Barrack Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 5DW
Employer's website https://royaldevon.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)