Doctors without Borders (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation committed to two objectives: providing medical assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion, natural and man-made disasters; and speaking out about the plight of the populations assisted. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. Today, MSF is present in more than 60 countries, where thousands of MSF doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, and other medical and non-medical professionals work together to bring essential health services to people caught in humanitarian crises.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) South Africa's fundraising department plays a crucial role in securing private funding to support the organization’s humanitarian mission. This department focuses primarily on generating funds from individual donors through mass marketing campaigns and personalized one-to-one engagement strategies. Additionally, the department cultivates financial support from corporates, trusts, foundations, and legacy giving. MSF South Africa's efforts are instrumental in sustaining its emergency medical and humanitarian activities across the Southern African region, which include responding to crises, providing essential healthcare services, and advocating for those in need. The organization has a strong presence in South Africa and neighbouring countries, contributing to various health initiatives, including HIV/AIDS treatment, tuberculosis care, and emergency response operations. The funds raised by the department enable MSF to deliver life-saving care and maintain its independence, neutrality, and impartiality in conflict zones, disaster areas, and regions with limited access to healthcare.

Purpose of role

The purpose of the Fundraising Director role is to develop and manage the implementation of MSF South Africa's fundraising strategy, ensuring the organization meets or surpasses its net income targets in alignment with MSF’s fundraising mission and principles. The role is essential in maximizing the continuous inflow of resources that sustain MSF’s humanitarian work across Southern Africa.

This position involves leading a team of fundraising professionals, providing them with direction and support to optimize their performance and achieve fundraising objectives. The role also requires close collaboration with the General Director, MSF Southern Africa’s Fundraising Team, the international office, and global colleagues in similar roles to ensure that the strategy aligns with the organization’s overall goals and leverages global best practices.

A critical aspect of the role is to ensure the long-term sustainability of fundraising efforts by diversifying channels and adapting them to the South African context. By focusing on innovation and improving the return on investment, this role ensures that MSF South Africa continues to generate the necessary resources to support its mission of delivering life-saving care throughout the region.

Primary responsibilities

Strategy and planning:

• Develop and implement the donation strategy (regular and one-off), from acquisition to relationship actions, to ensure the sustainability of incomes and return on investment (ROI).
• Develop and maintain effective supporter journeys for the development of relationships and retention.
• Develop and implement a corporate, Foundation, Legacy and major donors’ strategy by customizing the fundraising actions, in order to ensure the development and growth of these relations.
• Develop prospecting strategies to increase the individual donor base and philanthropic donor pool.
• Take responsibility for the security of all donor information stored on the database and in any other platform, through the control of processes and procedures, to minimize legal and criminal risks and to safeguard the image of the MSF brand.
• Promote and support alignment between the activities of the Communication and Fundraising department, in order to follow the same communication strategy and preserve the organizational brand.
• Develop the leadership on the team, using management tools, in order to keep high performance and achieve the area goals.
• Ensure that all fundraising actions are in accordance with MSF principles.
• Actively participate on the debates with the fundraising teams of other MSF sections, meeting the demands and contributing to the whole movement.

Financial planning and budget management:

• Lead the annual plan planning process to produce effective strategies to achieve income targets across the range of income streams (including provision of the calculation bases).
• Produce cost-effective budgets to achieve action plans.
• Monitor and track the income and expenditure.
• Ensure the Fundraising Department is kept within budget

Staff management:

• Agree on objectives and work plans.
• Manage activity progress and performance through regular one-to-one line management discussions.
• Plan the personal development programme for team members in all relevant skills.
• Undertake performance reviews.

Experience, skills and knowledge

• Brand position strategy, direct marketing tools, results analysis, team development, results tracking, innovations and marketing trends.
• Effective dissemination of information to large, diverse groups.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Critical analysis of the political and economic context in order to develop strategies.
• Analysis of the feasibility of outsourcing, management and selection of suppliers.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Exceptionally convincing and persuasive written and oral skills with the ability to present and convey complex ideas and issues clearly and coherently.
• Result and quality orientation.
• Initiative and innovative creative thinking.
• Adaptability to deal with possible adversities.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Energy, enthusiasm and talent to work towards ambitious goals.
• Commitment to MSF’s core values and strategic direction.
• Familiarity with, and interest in, international aid/relief, humanitarian, medical, social justice and/or global political issues.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferential; minimum of a graduate degree essential.
• 3 – 5 years’ experience in a similar position (FR Director, or Deputy Director, or Head of a Fundraising Unit).
• Experience of developing and implementing strategic and business plans.
• 5+ years’ experience in different marketing areas (online, offline, general media, branding and communication).
• Knowledge of the fundraising environment and of a range of techniques and disciplines which will support the cost-effective generation of income for MSF Southern Africa.
• 5+ years’ experience in leadership management.
• MSF experience is preferred but not essential.

Benefits

• Provident Fund Membership.
• 100% medical aid cover (employee, spouse and 3 biological or legally adopted child dependents).
• 13^th
• Group Life Cover

Reporting to:                   General Director

Contract type:                 Full-time, 3-year contract with option for renewal

To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement by clicking on the link below. 

Please contact Ruth Gardner at ruth@darylupsall.com for any queries you may have.

The deadline for application is Sunday 29^th September 2024

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Daryl Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required; irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability or sexual orientation.