Director: Advancement and Communications (Grade 19) at Rhodes University

Job Description

Director: Advancement and Communications (Grade 19)

• The Director of Advancement and Communications provides strategic leadership and direction for the University's advancement initiatives. The incumbent is responsible for conceptualising, driving, and implementing comprehensive advancement strategies that support the University’s mission, vision, and long-term financial sustainability objectives.
• An important aspect of this role is to cultivate, build, and sustain strong and meaningful relationships with donors, partners, alumni, and a broad range of stakeholders. Through these engagements, the Director is expected to strengthen philanthropic support, expand strategic partnerships, and enhance alumni engagement, thereby contributing significantly to the University’s financial sustainability. A key performance area for the role is expanding the University’s unencumbered funding base, ensuring the availability of flexible resources to allocate to institutional strategic priorities.
• The Director: Advancement & Communications also provides oversight and leadership across media relations, fundraising operations, and the stewardship of the University’s brand and marketing identity. This includes protecting and enhancing the University’s reputation and positioning the institution effectively within the public domain.

Job Requirements

A relevant B. Degree (NQF level 7, a postgraduate qualification would be an advantage) plus approximately 7 years’ relevant experience, which includes: -

• Demonstrable success in fundraising or in any position where the achievement of revenue targets was seen as core to the success of the position
• Demonstrable success in running projects aimed at achieving support for philanthropic programmes
• Previous experience and sound evidence of the ability to influence and confidently advise diverse stakeholder groups
• At least 4 years experience leading a division/team

Closing Date 09 March 2026