Development Associate (Engineering)

We are now receiving applications for Development Associate, Engineering to work with the STEM and business team working directly with the Faculty of Engineering on a contract until August 2027.

With support from across the team, you will build relationships through face-to-face meetings with donors, alumni and friends of the University. The most unexpected conversations will lead to great things. Your work could give a student the opportunity to study at the oldest university in Australia thanks to a donation towards scholarship support or assist engineers to create robotic platforms designed to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. Your work will not only have a huge impact but will also be considered one of the best things the donor and you, as a fundraiser, have ever achieved during your lifetime.

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney is offering an exciting opportunity for a self-driven and passionate fundraiser to join the team. In this pivotal role, you will play a key part in driving transformative change by cultivating and securing major gifts that advance the school’s mission. Through strategic donor engagement, stewardship, and collaboration with internal stakeholders, you will create meaningful partnerships that unlock new possibilities and ensure impactful outcomes for the future of nursing and midwifery research and education.

Philanthropy is driven by vision, compassion, and action. It’s about creating meaningful change and making a difference by addressing the needs of others. The power of giving has fuelled groundbreaking research, opened doors to millions of educational opportunities, and strengthened communities worldwide. This is the transformative impact of generosity.

In this role you will inspire and connect with high-net-worth donors, matching their passions with ambitious projects that would otherwise go unrealised, or with education and outreach opportunities to support the next generation of leaders and innovators. You will build strong internal relationships with academic leaders to understand how their critical work can be aligned with donor aspirations. Be part of raising the profile of philanthropy across the University and making an enduring impact.

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. We value the spirit of collaboration, achieving more together. As such, we seek to recruit talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Development Associate who:

Is a natural relationship builder – you enjoy interacting with people one-on-one and fostering relationships with individuals at different levels and from diverse cultures

has excellent communication skills, both listening and written, enabling you to develop compelling proposals or cases for support that align with a prospective donor’s interests

possesses highly developed emotional intelligence – you are self-aware with exceptional interpersonal skills; an active listener with a proactive work ethic

demonstrated experience in fundraising (preferred)

is a high-achiever , naturally driven by success both professionally and personally

is confident in handling data with confidentiality and integrity

is passionate about engineering and can demonstrate this in a cover letter, along with explaining why you would be a strong candidate for this role.

About us

The Advancement Portfolio at the University of Sydney is one of the most successful fundraising teams in Australian higher education. Having achieved the nation’s first $1BN fundraising campaign and embarking on the next, the team is not only the finest performing, but its success also facilitates the largest real-world impact that philanthropic giving makes possible.

Since its inception 160 years ago, the University of Sydney has led to improve the world around us. We believe in education for all and that effective leadership makes lives better. These same values are reflected in our approach to philanthropy and underpin our long-term strategy for excellence and growth. We are Australia's first University and have an outstanding global reputation for academic and research excellence. Across our campuses, we employ over 7600 academic and non-academic staff who support over 60,000 students.

Work Rights

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People , women , people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds , and those who identify as LGBTIQ . We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Sarah Scott, recruitment operations at sarah.scott@sydney.edu.au.

© The University of Sydney

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Tuesday 18 August 2026 11:59 PM