Research Manager

Fixed Term Contract: 2 Years (with the possibility of extension) 

Join the BFI's Fundraising & Enterprise (F&E) Department as a Research Manager and play a key role in driving our fundraising and commercial income strategy. This position will help achieve significant growth in the pipeline of potential supporters and partners, both nationally and internationally. 

This is an exciting opportunity to make a direct impact on the future success of the BFI’s fundraising efforts. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• You’ll lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive research strategy, enhancing prospect management systems and increasing fundraising activity. 
• Lead on research to identify and expand the prospect pool for potential supporters, donors, and partners, with a focus on major donors and international markets (UK/US).
• Collaborate with fundraisers and teams to build prospect portfolios, manage Raisers Edge, and guide effective prospecting and cultivation practices.
• Produce tailored briefings and reports, track fundraising progress, and identify new income sources through research into commercial trends and new ventures.
• Manage research materials, ensure data protection compliance, and provide regular updates to the team on key trends and potential prospects. 

We are looking for candidates who have: 

• Significant experience working at a mid to senior level in a research role in either the commercial or charity sector.
• Proven experience of working with a variety of research tools, sources and consultants to inform net worths, biographical information, due diligence, market trends etc.
• An established understanding of the motivations behind fundraising or arts partnerships
• The ability to gain professional credibility and confidence with senior volunteers and board members and the ability to deal effectively with people at all levels.
• Track record of carrying out wealth analyses, with a proactive approach to generating research ideas, identifying prospects and guiding first steps of cultivation with a focus on prospects with significant capacity 

A full list of responsibilities and minimum requirements can be found in the job description.  

About the BFI  

We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. We believe society needs stories. Film, television and the moving image bring them to life, helping us connect and understand each other better. We share the stories of yesterday, search for the stories of today, and shape the stories of tomorrow.  

At the BFI you’ll enjoy benefits such as excellent support for working parents, 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and additional paid time off at Christmas), tickets to BFI festivals and events plus many others.   

We support diversity and inclusion, and as an organisation recognise that we need to address under representation within our teams. As such we strongly welcome and encourage applicants from our under-represented groups; who identify as D/deaf and disabled and/or are Black and Global Majority. We guarantee a first interview to our under-represented groups who meet our minimum requirements.   

Further details about the role, the BFI and our benefits can be obtained by visiting www.bfi.org.uk/about-bfi/job-opportunities.  

Depending on the volume of applications, you may be asked to complete a small task or attend a pre-interview screening call to further to assist the hiring team in shortlisting for this role. In this instance, interview dates may be subject to change.   

First interviews will be held on w/c 31 March 2025 

Second interviews will be held on w/c 07 April 2025

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