Development Manager
In 1970, a bold rescue mission saved the SS Great Britain from ruin. Today, the organisation that grew from that effort is undergoing a transformation of equal ambition.
The SS Great Britain Trust is evolving into a year-round, multi-use cultural and commercial campus - a place where conservation, learning, skills development, programming and enterprise combine to deliver both public value and financial resilience.
Central to this evolution is a step-change in how the organisation generates income. Moving beyond a traditional, admissions-led model, the Trust is building a diversified funding and partnership approach, where philanthropy, trusts and foundations, and strategic relationships play a critical role in enabling long-term sustainability and growth.
Against this backdrop, the Trust engaged us to appoint a Development Manager - a newly created role that would be pivotal in strengthening fundraising capability and supporting the delivery of the emerging strategic vision.
Having worked with the Trust on a number of appointments, we understood both the complexity of the organisation and the scale of its ambition. This brief required more than a capable fundraiser. The successful individual needed to connect income generation to major organisational priorities - spanning conservation, programming, learning and wider civic impact.
The role was central to unlocking new funding streams and strengthening relationships with donors, partners and grant-giving bodies, helping to enable the organisation’s broader ambitions.
We led a targeted and consultative search, combining headhunting, advertising and our established network. Our focus was on identifying candidates with not only a strong track record in trusts and foundations, but also the relationship-building capability required to operate in a complex, evolving organisation.
Following a rigorous selection process, Susannah Salino was appointed as Development Manager. A highly capable and commercially aware fundraiser, she brought significant experience in developing income streams, creating compelling cases for support, and contributing to large-scale projects.
Her appointment came at an important moment for the Trust. As the organisation began to scale its ambition, Susannah’s role has been instrumental in strengthening its fundraising foundations and building momentum behind a more diversified income model.
This role has become an important component of the Trust’s wider transition - ensuring that its growing ambition is underpinned by the resources, partnerships and funding structures needed to deliver it.
“Gemma and her team truly understood our organisation’s unique culture and values. They went above and beyond to find a candidate who not only met the technical requirements but also aligned with our mission and vision. We are thrilled with Susannah’s appointment and the positive impact she has made.”
“This was a particularly important appointment for the Trust. It wasn’t just about fundraising capability; it was about bringing in someone who could support a much broader organisational shift. Susannah has the right mindset, experience, credibility and relationship skills to play a key role in that journey.”
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