DONOR RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER – Ongava Research Centre (Orc)

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy aligned with ORC’s strategic priorities and multi-year research programmes.
• Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with individual donors, foundations, trusts, and corporate partners, locally and internationally.
• Support the preparation of funding proposals, concept notes, donor briefs, and impact reports in collaboration with ORC scientists and management.
• Manage donor stewardship, including updates, acknowledgements, reporting, and site visits.
• Coordinate fundraising campaigns linked to specific research themes, infrastructure needs, student training, or flagship projects.
• Lead ORC’s communications and marketing activities, ensuring consistent, professional messaging across all platforms.
• Translate scientific research outputs into accessible and engaging content for donors, partners, guests, and the public.
• Produce and curate content for the ORC website, newsletters, social media platforms, donor updates, annual reports, and promotional material.
• Work closely with researchers to showcase ongoing and completed research, student projects, and conservation outcomes.
• Strengthen ORC’s profile as a centre of excellence in African dryland ecology and conservation research.
• Act as a primary liaison between ORC and Ongava Game Reserve guests, including donors, partners, and visiting stakeholders.
• Coordinate and, where appropriate, deliver research briefings, presentations, and guided interactions that highlight ORC’s work.
• Support the development of guest-facing materials such as short talks, displays, and briefing notes.
• Work closely with Ongava Game Reserve management and hospitality teams to integrate ORC research messaging into guest experiences.
• Support the executive director in building and maintaining partnerships with academic institutions, NGOs, conservation organisations, and funding bodies.
• Assist with organising donor visits, workshops, seminars, and special events at ORC.
• Contribute to communications strategies for major initiatives, flagship projects, and infrastructure investments.
• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions, fundraising activities, and communications outputs.
• Contribute to internal reporting on fundraising performance and outreach activities.
• Ensure all fundraising and communications activities align with ORC’s values, ethics, and governance frameworks.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, conservation, environmental science, development studies, or a related field. Postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor relations, communications, or marketing, preferably within the conservation, research, or NGO sector.
• Proven ability to communicate complex scientific or technical information clearly and persuasively to non-specialist audiences.
• Experience engaging with donors, partners, or high-value stakeholders.
• Familiarity with digital communications platforms, including websites, social media, and email newsletters.
• Valid driver’s licence.

Salary

Negotiable, based on qualifications and experience

How to Apply