Archived: Prospect Research Executive

Salary: £30,552

Location: South Kensington, London

About Us

We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum’s unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

We employ 900 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.

This is an exciting time to join the Museum as we have secured investment from the UK Government to build a new science and digitisation centre at Thames Valley Science Park, a science and technology hub outside Reading. The purpose-built centre will house much of the Museum’s collection and will include laboratories, digitisation suites, collaborative research spaces, conservation labs and workspaces. We also have several important galleries and science projects to fundraise for at our home in South Kensington.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the role

The Development Group generates philanthropic and sponsorship income to help us create a Natural History Museum for the future – investing in capital development, attaining vital acquisitions for the collection, transforming our galleries, developing innovative exhibitions and undertaking ground-breaking scientific research on issues that affect us all.

We are looking for a prospect researcher, ideally with previous prospect experience, who can hit the ground running in support of our priority fundraising areas. The Prospect Research Executive will undertake desk research, analysis and provide insight on High-Net-Worth Individuals, Trusts and Foundations, and Corporates to find highly qualified prospects who are interested in supporting and partnering with the Museum to deliver our vision.

About you

• Demonstrable track-record in fundraising and/or prospect research, data collection and analysis driven insight; or having transferable skills from a non-fundraising sector such as marketing research or financial due diligence that can be adapted to the role.
• The ability to work independently as well as a member of a team. Proven experience of taking initiative with self-initiated pieces of research, prioritising workload and working to deadlines.
• Interest in and understanding of the Natural History Museum’s aims and strategy.
• Experience or knowledge of the UK philanthropy sector.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with strong attention to detail. Ability to
  work methodically with patience and precision.
• Strong IT skills including PowerPoint, Word, Excel and fundraising or customer relationship databases (Raisers Edge is desirable, but not essential)
• Good knowledge of online web search techniques and search engines
• Experience of using a variety of research resources (online systems, specialist publications and informal networks).
• Sensitivity and discretion in dealing with confidential information with standard knowledge of GDPR.

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here

What we offer

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 – 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit www.cssc.co.uk
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi

How to apply

If that sounds like you, please apply online on the Natural History Museum’s careers portal, at careers.nhm.ac.uk

Closing date: 9am, Monday 5th June 2023

Interviews expected Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th June 2023

Please note that this role does not qualify for Museum sponsorship so the successful postholder will need to have a valid right to work in the UK at the point of offer.