Title: Director, Advancement and Public Affairs
Department: Advancement and Public Affairs
Duty station: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Reporting to: Chairman, UCA Board of Trustees, in coordination with the UCA Rector
Deadline: 24th April 2022
About the Agency
The University of Central Asia (UCA) is a private (not for profit), secular University whose charter has been signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan, ratified by the parliaments of the founding states and registered with the United Nations. UCA is the first internationally chartered university in the world. UCA’s mission is to foster the socio-economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the peoples of the region preserve and draw upon their rich cultural heritages as assets for the future.
Summary of Position
The candidate will be responsible for planning and implementing UCA’s development and public affairs strategies related to fund raising in Central Asia and globally. He/she will lead a team to identify and solicit support from donors at all levels of giving in Central Asia and other parts of the world. These include high net worth and grass roots level individuals and corporations, within and outside the Ismaili community, to address the growing operational and capital needs of the University. One of the key roles of the Director is to encourage senior staff and faculty in developing attractive gift opportunities and fundraising proposals to garner support for capital investments, on-going academic programmes, new initiatives, annual giving, and alumni contributions.
The Director will oversee the University’s fundraising campaigns and annual giving drives; develop and administer stewardship and donor recognition policies; establish on-going dialogue and communication with existing and potential donors and stakeholders; and effectively track fundraising pledges, collections, and acknowledgement of gifts.
In addition to responsibilities for resource mobilization, the Director shall oversee all matters relating to public affairs, communications, and marketing. This requires an in-depth understanding of communication and marketing strategies to effectively create awareness of UCA with governments, general public, media, as well as potential students, faculty members, and others in Central Asia and abroad.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Build on and develop strategies for achieving UCA’s existing fundraising goals, plans and objectives in Central Asia and globally.
- Identify prospects and develop strategies to cultivate and solicit major gifts from corporations, and high net worth individuals.
- Prepare fundraising proposals and gift opportunities for solicitating donations from existing as well as new prospects.
- Identify and analyze information pertinent to the development of relationships with potential donors and corporations.
- Develop and administer donor recognition policies, and establish on-going dialogue and communication with existing and potential donors.
- Visit donors, donor organizations, corporations, and foundations to raise awareness of the University’s programmes, new initiatives, and achievements, with the objective of soliciting donations and grants.
- Supervise and implement an effective programme of communication and stewardship for all donors and prospects.
- Organize events on campus and elsewhere to showcase key programmes and achievements of UCA, with the objective of creating awareness and seeking donor support.
- Plan and manage various campaigns and annual giving drives to achieve current and new fund raising targets and goals.
- Recruit, train, and oversee volunteers in various donor geographies, to ensure they become effective in donor research, cultivation, solicitation (where appropriate), and follow up.
- Establish systems for effective tracking of fundraising drives, pledges, collections, acknowledgement of gifts, and timely collection of pledges.
- Cultivate relationships with Central Asian and international media to give UCA regional and global exposure.
- Provide strategic guidance to all entities and officers of the University on donor potential, communications and marketing, media engagement, and event planning and management.
- Develop and implement communication strategies to convey the mission and objectives of UCA to governments, general public, media, as well as potential students, faculty and staff.
- Maintain a strong liaison with communities located around various campuses of UCA, gauging their sentiments and fostering enabling relationships with them and their local leadership and media.
- Work collaboratively with the outgoing Director of APA to ensure a seamless transition of duties and responsibilities.
- Other tasks assigned by the Chairman and Rector of UCA
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree, preferably in business, marketing, public relations, fundraising, communications, government, or other germane fields. Relevant experience in lieu of a Master’s degree may be considered in exceptional cases.
- At least ten years of experience in the corporate, business, or marketing profession. Previous fundraising experience is essential.
- The ability to motivate volunteers to engage with potential donors and ensure effective follow up.
- Maturity and ability to work with senior management at UCA.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Fundraising and communications for an innovative institution like UCA requires the ability to think creatively, and a strong commitment to the mission and objectives of the University.
- Ability and stamina to travel regionally and internationally.
- Demonstrated record of establishing relationships and rapport with the media.
- Fluency in English with exceptional report writing and story-telling skills. Ability to speak Russian, Kyrgyz, Tajik, or Kazakh is an asset.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter, CV, and contact information to [email protected] In the e-mail subject, write: “Director, APA”.
Last date for submission of applications is 24th April, 2022.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Salary and package to attract the best candidate.
For more information about the University of Central Asia: https://ucentralasia.org
