The Deputy Director will lead and drive the institution’s donor stewardship and engagement strategy to strengthen long-term philanthropic relationships, enhance donor retention, and maximise lifetime value.

Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Stewardship Leadership

● Develop and execute a comprehensive, segmented stewardship framework aligned with institutional advancement goals.

● Oversee end-to-end donor lifecycle management, ensuring consistent, high-quality engagement.

● Drive continuous improvement of stewardship strategies through data, insights, and global best practices.

Events & Experiential Engagement

● Provide strategic oversight of stewardship events and high-impact engagement platforms.

● Ensure events deliver measurable outcomes in donor satisfaction and engagement.

● Integrate digital and hybrid engagement innovations where appropriate.

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Leadership

● Partner with senior leadership, faculty and advancement teams to align stewardship with fundraising strategy.

● Influence internal stakeholders to prioritise donor-centric practices.

● Act as a key advisor on donor engagement strategy at the organisational level.

Team Leadership & Governance

● Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing stewardship team.

● Establish governance, policies, and service standards for donor relations.

● Ensure compliance with institutional policies and donor intent obligations.

Job Requirements:

● Minimum Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, preferably with a Master’s degree.

● At least 15 years of relevant experience with significant exposure to fundraising donor relations operations and engagement in institutions of higher education or large complex organisations, with at least 5 years of experience in leading teams.

● Possess good internal and external stakeholder management abilities and be strong in strategic planning and execution.