Career Advice for a Development Manager

As a Development Manager, you will be responsible for creating and implementing strategies to help organisations grow and achieve their goals.

Quick Links

How to Become a Development Manager

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Development Manager

Should you wish to work as a Development Manager you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Development Manager

  • A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
  • Several years of experience in fundraising, sales, or marketing.
  • Strong communication, leadership, and project management skills.

Key Responsibilities for a Development Manager

  • Developing and implementing fundraising strategies to secure funding for the organisation.
  • Building and maintaining relationships with donors, sponsors, and partners.
  • Identifying new funding opportunities and developing proposals.
  • Managing and overseeing fundraising events and campaigns.
  • Collaborating with other departments to ensure the organisation's goals are met.
  • Monitoring and reporting on the success of fundraising efforts.

What to expect as a Development Manager

As a Development Manager in the UK, you could work for a variety of organisations such as non-profits, charities, government agencies, or private companies.

Recommended Development Manager Jobs

Loading Jobs...

How to get Development Manager Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Development Manager job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Development Manager application. If you have not held a Development Manager position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Development Manager role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Development Manager CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Development Manager application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Development Manager in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Development Manager 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Development Manager and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Development Manager experience.

How to get Development Manager Experience

What does it take to be a Development Manager? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Development Manager jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Development Manager through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Development Manager Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Development Manager part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Development Manager or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Development Manager freelance work

If you have impressive Development Manager qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.