Stewardship Specialist at North West University

Job description

Key Responsibilities:
Development of a comprehensive digital communication, stewardship, and donor recognition plan.

• Develop a comprehensive donor cultivation, stewardship and donor recognition programme that ensures that donor-centric communication and physical activities are planned, executed, and fulfilled in a timely, impactful, and engaging manner.
• Develop a comprehensive digital communication plan to attract prospective, and retain current donors, and to create awareness about giving opportunities at the NWU.
• Design strategic digital fundraising campaigns.
• Contribute to the development of policies, best practices, and processes to support fundraising efforts.

Implementation of stewardship and donor recognition activities

• Implement stewardship activities across all campuses, including events, university visits, and the executive engagement programme aimed at strengthening relations with prospective and current donors.
• Support and manage the executive management solicitation and stewardship programme.
• Implement the donor naming opportunities programme aimed at attracting donations from companies.
• Compile and manage an inventory of naming opportunities and create naming opportunity presentations as well as overseeing the installations of new donor recognition plaques.
• Collate information from faculties and support divisions and continuously update and maintain university donor database using DevMan system.
• Compile donor and stewardship reports for various structures of the university

Digital donor communication

• Design, update, and implement a digital communication diary to regularly engage with prospective and current donors, alumni, staff, and students.
• Create and disseminate timely, regular, and engaging newsletters, news items, web content, social media, and online advertising to broaden the reach of communication.
• Create and execute strategic digital fundraising campaigns.
• Develop fundraising-related social media content.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive communication effectiveness and efficiency monitoring and evaluation system

Events and stakeholder engagement

• Plan and execute university events aimed at strengthening and mobilising support from various stakeholders.
• Offer events guidance and support to university management, faculties, and support divisions.
• Offer guidance to staff and students about the events protocols of the NWU.

Minimum requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree (NQF7) in Communication, Marketing, Public Relations, or business-related qualifications.
• 5-7 years’ experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders at various levels.
• 3-4 years’ experience in designing and implementing digital communication campaigns, inclusive of social media channels.
• 3-4 years’ experience in planning, execution, and monitoring of integrated communication campaigns, inclusive of content creation.
• 3-4 years’ experience in planning and execution of events.

Recommendations:

• Membership with any relevant professional body serves as recommendation
• 5-7 years’ experience in development and fundraising
• 4-5 years’ experience within the Higher Education Sector

 
Functional & Technical competencies

• Ability to communicate with various stakeholders at diverse levels
• Professional and effective written and verbal communication skills
• Donor stewardship and database management experience (preferred)
• Good understanding of the donor lifecycle (preferred)
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to develop, nurture and manage positive working relationships and deliver excellent client service
• Strong competency in digital content creation and dissemination technologies
• Computer literacy in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), as well as email and social media usage
• Good organisational and planning skills
• Good problem-solving skills
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and function effectively in an environment demanding discretion, flexibility, and superior work.
• Good interpersonal and conflict resolution skills

Behavioural Competencies:

• Demonstration of language proficiency to function optimally in a multilingual environment
• Good communication (verbal and written), presentation and interpersonal skills
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel nationally
• Ability to work under pressure
• Some travel and weekend work will be required