Director of Advancement

Job title: Director of Advancement

Location: Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, Mbabane, Eswatini

Working pattern: Full-time
Duration of contract: 24 months

Enquiries: [email protected]

Closing date: 15 January 2025

Start date: March–May 2026

View other vacancies at Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa

About Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa

At Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, education is more than academic excellence – it’s a force for justice, community, and change. Join a school that transforms lives and inspires young people to create a better world. Lead an advancement effort that will shape the next generation of opportunity and impact.

Waterford Kamhlaba's past parent, Nelson Mandela, once observed, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This belief has been at the core of our mission since 1963, when Waterford Kamhlaba became the first school in Southern Africa founded as a non-racial educational institution. It demonstrated that students from a wide array of races, colours, cultures and religions could live, learn and thrive together—a bold challenge to the foundations of apartheid and racism everywhere.

The world has changed since Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela chose Waterford Kamhlaba for their children—as did fellow anti-apartheid leaders Archbishop Desmond and Leah Tutu, and Walter and Albertina Sisulu—but the sweeping imperative of equipping young people with the sense of purpose, understanding, and tools to make change and seek justice in Africa and the world beyond remains as strong as ever.

Today, Waterford Kamhlaba is moving forward in a new phase of growth and renewal. The school’s leadership team is strong, its mission clear, and its global impact greater than ever. And Waterford Kamhlaba is doubling down on ensuring that students from Africa and around the globe have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of a United World Colleges education.

Waterford Kamhlaba is a proud member of UWC, a movement of 18 schools and colleges around the world that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

Waterford Kamhlaba is located in Mbabane, Eswatini, in Southern Africa. It has 610+ students from 65+ countries spread across seven years (grades), culminating in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.

For more information about Waterford, please visit www.waterford.sz or follow us on social media.

Position summary:

As Director of Advancement, you will report to the Principal (Head of School) and lead Waterford Kamhlaba’s fundraising, alumni engagement and communications initiatives. Key priorities include launching the school’s first true annual campaign and supporting WK’s global comprehensive campaign. You and your team will grow philanthropy that fuels access, innovation and sustainability. You’ll lead and mentor a small professional team, developing strategy and storytelling that inspire a worldwide community to give generously.

You’ll have a clear mandate, committed leadership and collaborative colleagues. Access to the United World College network, WK Governing Council and the Advancement Committee will strengthen your impact. This is a build-and-shape opportunity – you’ll help design the systems and culture that define WK’s next chapter in advancement.

Within the first year, you will establish a high-performing advancement team and begin implementing key initiatives. By the end of the second year, those efforts will translate into strong results, expanded giving, measurable success of the annual campaign and meaningful progress in regional fundraising.

Responsibilities

The Director of Advancement is a key member of the School’s senior leadership team, responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive advancement programme that supports the School’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. This role requires a strategic thinker, strong manager, and skilled frontline fundraiser with the ability to inspire and engage diverse stakeholders. This work encompasses the following responsibilities:

• Oversee advancement operations, including a small professional staff, contractors, budget and reporting
• Lead and manage the overall advancement effort and map the pathway to success
• Establish and grow an effective an efficient annual giving campaign
• Mentor and teach staff, including the planning and execution of individual professional development pathways
• Develop strategies for increasing giving and donor participation within all sectors of the constituent base
• Create an advancement communications plan to influence giving and participation
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and prospective donors in the region
• Coordinate closely with the Director of the Global Campaign for WK
• Support the Principal in major gift solicitations

Skills and preferred experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• Commitment to the mission and values of the School
• Bachelor’s degree
• At least six years of progressively responsible advancement experience, including supervision of staff, major gift fundraising, team leadership and work with governing boards
• Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing five-to six-figure gifts
• Demonstrated skill at integrating annual and major gift campaigns, corporate fundraising, and foundation proposals to form an efficient, coordinated advancement programme
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Highly developed organisational and analytical skills
• Ability to work on site (Mbabane, Eswatini)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a related field
• Strong record of professional fundraising courses and training
• Experience in educational organisations
• Strong public speaker

To apply

Only suitable qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. A detailed CV and application letter should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line (subject: Director of Advancement – [Your Name]).