Development Officer

What you will be a part of

The Mills Archive Trust is one of a kind. Founded in 2002, we are the world’s only archive dedicated to preserving the history of milling. We tell the story of how milling has played a central role in humanity’s development, from our ancient origins and up to the present day.

We punch above our weight as a small charity, as evidenced by our early success in achieving Accredited Archive Status from the National Archives and our 2019 acceptance of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is the charity equivalent of an MBE.

As an independent educational charity we generate all income ourselves. The Trust has raised and spent more than £1.5 million and grown to a team of 5 professionals. Assisted by 20 volunteers, we are custodians for 3 million images, documents, and artefacts.

We are at an exciting moment in the Trust’s development: now that much material has been saved and made available, we want to build on this foundation to reach and enthuse new audiences.

Job Summary

You will be experienced in raising funds. You will work with the Director to increase income so that our core costs are covered. This includes applying for grants, maintaining and growing individual and organisational giving.

You will bring creative thinking, an innovative approach and a fresh perspective to help us develop the Trust so that it will continue to safeguard the Nation’s milling heritage for many years to come.

By working with the Director to develop and write grant applications, you will contribute to covering overheads and support our strategic growth.

A big part of your success will be down to how well you build and nurture relationships with current and potential supporters. You will enjoy and be proactive in meeting people and building links. You do not need to have an existing knowledge of milling – although it would help! - as long as you are open to learning and know how to work with others to get any information or support you need.

Ultimately, your work will allow for sustainable growth to enable the Trust to share this rich milling heritage with more people and encourage a revival in preservation and participation in history.

If you are a motivated self-starter with a proven fundraising ability and interest in heritage - and want to make your mark on a young and ambitious charity - then we would love to hear from you.

*This role is office-based, with the provision for some home-working by agreement*.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and write grant applications, and help on reporting progress to funders.
• Maintain our individual giving programme, manage our supporter schemes and build relationships with supporters.
• Grow individual giving through new initiatives e.g. appeals and new audiences.
• Maintain and grow our Heritage Partner and Corporate Friend schemes, finding ways to attract support from organisations to contribute towards covering our overheads.
• Identify potential funding sources to cover some of our core costs.
• Represent us at events, making influential presentations to internal and external groups.
• Organise events, develop printed and digital tools to build relationships with supporters and potential donors.
• Help to develop income from sales and fees e.g. copyright fees, image sales.

Application process

**The deadline to apply is midnight on Thursday 27th August**.

Interviews will begin during August. Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

We will get in touch with you soon after to let you know whether or not you have been shortlisted.

If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to a Zoom interview. If you perform well during that interview, you will be invited to a second on-site interview in which you will make and deliver a presentation to an interview panel. Interviews will take place during August and September.

If you are selected for the role - congratulations! We will be happy for you to start in October, although we can be flexible about the start date.