Director, Advancement

SUTD seeks a dynamic Director of Advancement to lead the University’s fundraising strategy, initiatives and programmes. He/She will work directly with the President, Board members and University leadership to identify and build strong relationships with donors and fundraising prospects, and nurture philanthropic interest and commitment to SUTD’s future.

The Director of Advancement will lead and oversee the development and execution of strategic fundraising and donor stewardship initiatives at SUTD. This senior leadership role is responsible for advancing the University’s mission through donor prospecting and acquisition, development of value propositions, relationship building and solicitation, fundraising campaigns, gift processing and administration, and donor stewardship and reporting. This position is also responsible for securing philanthropic support from foundations, corporations, individuals and other partners.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute a multi-year advancement plan in alignment with SUTD’s strategic goals and priorities.
• Provide leadership and oversight of fundraising, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and advancement services.
• Partner with university leadership to align advancement initiatives with SUTD’s goals and initiatives.
• Work with internal stakeholders to identify funding needs and develop gift value propositions.
• Establish and deepen a strong network of relationships for the advancement of SUTD.

Fundraising & Development:

• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, alumni, parents, and corporate partners.
• Lead and manage comprehensive fundraising campaigns (capital, endowment, scholarship, etc.).
• Oversee the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects at all giving levels.
• Supervise gift processing and administration to ensure donation record, compliance and reporting.
• Evaluate fundraising programmes’ outcomes and effectiveness for continual improvements.

Team Management & Budgeting:

• Supervise and mentor advancement staff, fostering a high-performing, mission-driven team.
• Manage departmental budget and oversee compliance with financial and reporting standards.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum 15 years of relevant working experience in higher education and fundraising function or similar capacity, with at least 10 years in a leadership role
• Comparable experience in marketing, public relations, key-client solutions, sales and business development strongly preferred
• Proven track record and outstanding performance in a target-based environment
• Strong interpersonal skills – effective in client engagement, relationship building and working with multiple stakeholders
• Able to negotiate, influence and motivate
• Energetic, results-driven, highly organised and self-motivated
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills
• Creative problem-solving and good project management skills advantageous
• Good network with corporations, foundations, trusts, high net worth individuals and other wealth sources an advantage
• Familiarity with fundraising concepts and techniques in an institution of higher education is an advantage