Database Officer (Maternity Cover)

Database Officer (Maternity Cover)

Candidate Information Pack

February 2026

About Us
Magdalene College is one of the ancient Colleges of the University of Cambridge, it was originally
founded in 1428 and re-founded in 1542. Although we are rightly proud of our history, we are a
thoroughly modern and forward-looking College.

We have developed a strong programme in the Sciences alongside traditional strengths in Arts subjects
and the first priority for students is academic work. However, there is also a thriving extracurricular life in
the College, and we take pride in the high level of pastoral care offered to junior members. There are
around 600 undergraduate and postgraduate students, and just over 100 Fellows and the Master who
together make up our warm and thriving College community.

The College employs just over 100 members of staff across various departments including Alumni and
Development, Academic Office, Finance, Catering, Maintenance, Gardens, Libraries, Porters,
Housekeeping and IT. Further information is available from the College’s website at
www.magd.cam.ac.uk.

College Facilities for Staff
Staff are able to use the College gym which consists of a weights gym and a room with cardio equipment.
The College also has a squash court and Eton Fives court. These can be booked through the Porters
Lodge. Basketball, tennis and volleyball courts along with football Astro pitches can be booked through
St John’s College.

Magdalene is registered with Cycle Scheme, a tax-efficient scheme for buying a new bicycle.

During the summer staff may use the College punts for up to two hours. These should be booked
through the Porters Lodge.

The College has a social committee who run events for staff, including the annual day trip which is open
for all staff to attend.

Meals
All staff working a shift of a minimum of 4 hours per day are eligible to take a free lunch. This includes
permanent staff and those on a fixed term contract. The value of the meal is up to £7.20 per day which
equates to over £1600 per year for those working in College 5 days a week.

Family Friendly Policies
The College offers enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay as well as generous sick pay for those
who have more than six months service. This is in addition to the flexible working policy. More details on
all of these are in the Staff Handbook.

Staff are eligible to use the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme recently introduced by the government to replace
Childcare Vouchers

Benefits
The College offers a range of benefits, including:

•  Group Life Assurance.
•  Help@hand Portal where you can access remote GP appointments, medical second opinions,

savings and discounts, financial support and much more.

•  Wellbeing classes such as pilates and yoga.
•  Flu jabs.

•  College pension contributions of up to 12% plus up to 10% staff contribution.
•  Eye tests with Specsavers.

Department Information
The Alumni and Development Office currently consists of a team of ten colleagues, and it is a vibrant,
forward-thinking, friendly and close-knit department responsible for all aspects of fundraising,
communications and alumni relations including the organisation of alumni events both at home and
abroad. The office is often the first point of contact for our Members, Friends and Honorary Fellows and
runs a comprehensive communications programme involving both printed and electronic media.

The College successfully completed a five-year fundraising campaign a couple of years ago exceeding its
target by several million pounds. The award-winning New Library, funded entirely from donations, won
the prestigious Stirling Prize in 2022 and is widely regarded as one of the best in Cambridge.

We are currently raising funds for the complete restoration of the Pepys Building and work to encourage
Members and Friends to continue to support bursaries, scholarships and teaching posts at Magdalene.
The team, led by the Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Mrs Corinne Lloyd, is very well
respected and has excellent working relationships with colleagues across the College, with the
Fellowship and the student body.

We run an annual Telephone Campaign in-house using Vanilla Soft and hold a Giving Day every other
year. Our events programme is second to none and our participation rate is well above the Cambridge
average. We are looking ahead to the College’s 600th anniversary in 2028 - all in all, a great time to join
the team!

Working Conditions
Which statement best describes the environment in which the role will primarily be based?
Office based. Some travel to similar sites may be required. Normal health and safety requirements
will be followed.

Physical Requirements
Which statement best describes the physical demands of the role?
Requires normal physical effort associated with an office environment (or equivalent)

Sensory Requirements
Which statement best describes the sensory demands of the role?
Uses normal office equipment and/ or standard tools

Role Summary
The College seeks to appoint a Database Officer to maintain and safeguard the Alumni & Development
Office database, Raiser’s Edge.  The post holder will work closely with the Deputy Development Director
and colleagues in the Regular Giving Team in support of the College’s regular giving programme utilising
‘Vanilla Soft’ for the Telephone Campaign. They will have responsibility for keeping the database up to
date; importing data reports, creating some queries and reports; providing data information and
supporting the office with data as well as occasionally performing other administrative duties in support
of the team’s alumni relations and fundraising activities as requested by the Development Director/
Deputy Development Director.

This is a fixed term post for 12 months (or the return of the post holder) covering a period of maternity

leave.

Responsible to: Deputy Development Director

Job Description

Main Duties and Responsibilities
The main duties of the post include the following:

Database

•  Maintaining all aspects of the College’s alumni database [The Raiser’s Edge], importing new data

as required and working with colleagues to ensure regular updating of Members’ data.

•  Preparing information such as lists of ‘lost members’, recent deaths, Members’ news and mailing
data required for College publications, working closely with the Communications Manager and
the editors of said publications.

•  Creating data reports and running queries for colleagues in the A&D team, alumni volunteers and

as requested by the Development Director and the Deputy Development Director.

•  Committed to safeguarding our Members’ data, keeping on top of changing regulations relating
to GDPR and new guidance issued by the ICO as well as PECR legislation and keeping the A&D
team informed about these changes.

•  Liaising on a regular basis with the University’s Development Office (CUDAR) to ensure that
current data held by both parties is regularly updated by importing and exporting of new
information.

•  Attending the occasional RE User group meetings organised by CCDG and/or Blackbaud and

ensuring colleagues in the A & D team are made aware of new developments.

•  Occasionally recording and entering gifts to assist the Development Officer (Gift Administrator &

Stewardship) during particularly busy periods.

•  Prepare and run relevant data reports needed to assist the Development Director with the

completion of the Annual Development Questionnaire (ADQ).

Regular Giving Programme (RGP)

•  Preparing data in support of various aspects of the RGP working with Vanilla Soft including but

not limited to Telephone Campaigns, Giving Days, the Thanksgiving Campaign as well as defined
annual asks throughout the year working closely with the Deputy Development Director.
•  Assisting the Development Officer (Gift Administration & Stewardship) with the monitoring and

analysing of all financial data.

•  Undertaking some prospect research in conjunction with the Development Officer (Regular
Giving) to support the work of the Deputy Development Director with regards to prospect
classification and the production of affinity and capacity ratings.

•  Assisting with general administrative matters when required.

PLEASE NOTE: the above is not an exhaustive description, and other requirements may emerge as
necessitated by changing roles within Magdalene College and its overall objectives.

Person Specification
We require a very well organised, pro-active individual with good people skills who has excellent
attention to detail.

The following criteria are appropriate to this post:

Knowledge and Experience

Essential or highly desirable

•  Educated, preferably to degree standard, but at least to A Level standard with an excellent

understanding of English and Maths.

•  Excellent IT skills, with familiarity with online prospect research tools.
•  Extensive Experience of relational databases (knowledge of the Raisers Edge database is

preferable)

•  An understanding of Vanilla Soft or comparable software.
•  An understanding of alumni relations and fundraising, particularly the importance of the regular

giving programme

•  An understanding of the Collegiate University of Cambridge
•  An appreciation of the importance of philanthropy to the Higher Education sector.

Personal Skills and Abilities

•  Excellent data analysis and outstanding attention to detail
•  Good time management and organisational skills
•  Ability to use own initiative and work under pressure, but also a team player comfortable working

closely with colleagues

•  Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to deal with individuals from all walks of life in a flexible

and enthusiastic manner

•  Good presentation skills are desirable
•  Willingness to ‘muck in’ as sometimes required in a small team

Remuneration and Benefits

Hours of Work
The post is to cover a period of maternity leave and is therefore offered on a fixed term basis for a period
of 12 months (or the return of the post holder).  The hours are 29 per week which is 80% of a full-time
post. Those seeking a return to work following a career break are encouraged to apply. The exact work
pattern will be agreed with the post holder who will very occasionally be required to work during events
outside of office hours (advance notice will be given). Overtime will not be paid but time off in lieu will be
given.

Remuneration
The  post  is  offered  at  a  salary  of  £25,198-  £25,593  for  29  hours  per  week  (£31,498  -  £31,991  full  time
equivalent) (Magdalene pay scale 27 – 28) dependent on qualifications and experience. Whilst we would
normally look to appoint at the lower end of the salary scale, an exception may be made for a candidate
with the right experience.

Holidays
The College offers full time members of staff 25 days leave a year, excluding bank holidays. This is pro-
rata for those who are not full time.

Pension
The post holder will join the College’s auto enrolment pension scheme with generous additional
contribution options on completion of probationary period.

Probationary and Notice Period
There will be a six-month probationary period. Upon successful completion of the probationary period,

the notice period will be two months

How to Apply
Please download and complete both parts of the application form from the College website at
https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/about/vacancies/non-academic-vacancies.

Send your completed application by email to the HR Manager, Hannah Millward, at hr@magd.cam.ac.uk.
The College postal address is: HR, Magdalene College, Magdalene Street, Cambridge CB3 0AG

Enquiries
Further enquiries about your application may be made by email to hr@magd.cam.ac.uk.

Closing Date
The closing date is 9:00am Thursday 19th March 2026 with interviews being held on Tuesday 24 March
2026.

HR Department
Magdalene College
Magdalene Street
Cambridge
CB3 0AG

hr@magd.cam.ac.uk
01223 332100

www.magd.cam.ac.uk