Position Overview:

University of Kigali is looking for a dynamic and experienced individual to fill the role of Director of Marketing and Communications. This senior leadership position will play a crucial role in shaping and promoting the university’s image, managing relationships with key stakeholders, and driving strategic marketing and fundraising initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Planning and Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive marketing and institutional advancement strategies.
• Lead and manage the marketing and advancement team, setting goals and monitoring performance.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align marketing and advancement initiatives with the university’s mission and goals.

2. Marketing and Communications

• Oversee the creation and execution of marketing campaigns to promote the university’s programs and events.
• Manage the university’s brand, ensuring consistency across all marketing materials and communications.
• Develop and maintain relationships with media outlets, handling press releases and media inquiries.
• Utilize digital marketing strategies, including social media and content marketing, to enhance the university’s online presence.

3. Fundraising and Alumni Relations

• Plan and execute fundraising campaigns, including annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, donors, and key stakeholders.
• Organize and manage fundraising events and donor recognition activities.
• Oversee the development of grant proposals and reports.

4. Enrollment Management

• Collaborate with the admissions team to develop and implement student recruitment strategies.
• Analyze enrollment trends and adjust marketing strategies accordingly.
• Develop promotional materials and campaigns to attract prospective students.

5. Community and Public Relations

• Act as the primary spokesperson for the university in public and community engagements.
• Develop partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community groups.
• Promote the university’s community service initiatives and highlight student and faculty achievements.

6. Budget and Financial Management

• Develop and manage the marketing and institutional advancement budget.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure cost-effective use of resources.
• Prepare financial reports and projections for senior leadership.

7. Data Analysis and Reporting

• Collect and analyze data to measure the effectiveness of marketing and advancement efforts.
• Prepare regular reports on marketing and fundraising performance, presenting findings to senior leadership.
• Use data-driven insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes.

8. Staff Development and Training

• Recruit, train, and mentor marketing and advancement staff.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment.
• Provide professional development opportunities to enhance team skills and knowledge.

9. Crisis Management

• Develop and implement crisis communication plans.
• Manage communications during emergencies, ensuring accurate and timely information dissemination.

10. Compliance and Ethics

• Ensure all marketing and advancement activities comply with university policies and ethical standards.
• Stay informed about industry best practices and legal requirements.

Qualifications and professional experience

• Master’s Degree: Preferred in marketing, communications, public relations, business administration, or a related field.
• Certifications in marketing, fundraising, public relations, or related areas (e.g., Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)) are a plus.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic marketing plans and campaigns.
• Experience with digital marketing, including social media, email marketing, and content marketing.
• Experience in alumni relations and building relationships with donors and stakeholders.
• Significant experience in a leadership role, managing teams and projects.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
• Experience working in a higher education environment and understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in the academic sector.
• Experience as a spokesperson and in managing public and media relations.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with community partners and stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to create compelling messages and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with social media platforms, web analytics, and content management systems.

Personal Attributes: Strategic Thinker, Relationship Builder, Results-Oriented, Adaptability, High integrity

• Develop and implement comprehensive marketing and institutional advancement strategies.
• Lead and manage the marketing and advancement team, setting goals and monitoring performance.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align marketing and advancement initiatives with the university’s mission and goals.
• Oversee the creation and execution of marketing campaigns to promote the university’s programs and events.
• Manage the university’s brand, ensuring consistency across all marketing materials and communications.
• Develop and maintain relationships with media outlets, handling press releases and media inquiries.
• Utilize digital marketing strategies, including social media and content marketing, to enhance the university’s online presence.
• Plan and execute fundraising campaigns, including annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, donors, and key stakeholders.
• Organize and manage fundraising events and donor recognition activities.
• Oversee the development of grant proposals and reports.
• Collaborate with the admissions team to develop and implement student recruitment strategies.
• Analyze enrollment trends and adjust marketing strategies accordingly.
• Develop promotional materials and campaigns to attract prospective students.
• Act as the primary spokesperson for the university in public and community engagements.
• Develop partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community groups.
• Promote the university’s community service initiatives and highlight student and faculty achievements.
• Develop and manage the marketing and institutional advancement budget.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure cost-effective use of resources.
• Prepare financial reports and projections for senior leadership.
• Collect and analyze data to measure the effectiveness of marketing and advancement efforts.
• Prepare regular reports on marketing and fundraising performance, presenting findings to senior leadership.
• Use data-driven insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes.
• Recruit, train, and mentor marketing and advancement staff.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment.
• Provide professional development opportunities to enhance team skills and knowledge.
• Develop and implement crisis communication plans.
• Manage communications during emergencies, ensuring accurate and timely information dissemination.
• Ensure all marketing and advancement activities comply with university policies and ethical standards.
• Stay informed about industry best practices and legal requirements.

• Strategic planning
• Organizational skills
• Leadership
• Mentoring
• Team development
• Digital marketing
• Social media marketing
• Content marketing
• Alumni relations
• Donor relations
• Stakeholder management
• Public relations
• Media relations
• Spokesperson skills
• Community engagement
• Budget management
• Financial reporting
• Data analysis
• Crisis communication
• Written communication
• Verbal communication
• Web analytics
• Content management systems

• Master’s Degree: Preferred in marketing, communications, public relations, business administration, or a related field.
• Certifications in marketing, fundraising, public relations, or related areas (e.g., Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)) are a plus.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic marketing plans and campaigns.
• Experience with digital marketing, including social media, email marketing, and content marketing.
• Experience in alumni relations and building relationships with donors and stakeholders.
• Significant experience in a leadership role, managing teams and projects.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
• Experience working in a higher education environment and understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in the academic sector.
• Experience as a spokesperson and in managing public and media relations.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with community partners and stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to create compelling messages and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with social media platforms, web analytics, and content management systems.