Associate Director of Development

Singapore American School

**Job Description**:
**Singapore American School**

**Associate Director of Development (Mandarin speaking)**

Singapore American School is seeking a passionate and results-oriented Associate Director of Development to join our dynamic Advancement team. This individual will play a pivotal role in driving the success of the Campaign for SAS by cultivating relationships and securing philanthropic gifts, with a particular focus on the Chinese-speaking community. Fluency in Mandarin is a prerequisite for this position.

Working closely with our Chief Advancement Officer, Director of Development and Campaign, the Superintendent, and other Board volunteers, the Associate Director of Development will orchestrate planned and strategic interactions with our parents and alumni community. He/she will ensure that major and leadership-level philanthropic gifts are successfully identified, cultivated and closed.

This role entails delivering and executing a fundraising strategy that is fully aligned and integrated with the SAS Advancement overall fundraising strategy, leveraging linguistic and cultural fluency to effectively engage with our diverse donor base.

**Responsibilities**:

- Identify, qualify, and cultivate philanthropic prospects within the Chinese-speaking community, with a focus on securing major and leadership level gifts for the SAS Reimagined Campaign.
- Execute strategic fundraising plans in alignment with organizational goals and priorities, ensuring ambitious targets are met or exceeded.
- Develop and nurture strong, long-term relationships with major donors to secure ongoing support and foster continued engagement with SAS.
- Maintain accurate and detailed records of all donor interactions and contributions, utilizing our CRM system to manage donor data, generate reports, and analyze fundraising performance.
- Collaborate closely with colleagues within Advancement and across departments to coordinate fundraising efforts and leverage resources effectively.
- Create compelling fundraising proposals and collateral materials that effectively communicate the impact and importance of supporting the Campaign for SAS.
- Provide administrative and operational support as needed to facilitate the advancement of gift purposes, ensuring smooth and efficient processes throughout the fundraising cycle.

This position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer. The work year will follow the 12-month schedule with work days from Monday to Friday and when necessary, on Saturdays and evenings as scheduled. The work hours are 8:00AM-4:45PM.

**Qualification Requirements**:

- Fluency in Mandarin is essential, with demonstrated proficiency in both verbal and written communication.
- Proven experience in major gift fundraising or related roles, with a track record of successfully securing significant contributions from individual and institutional donors.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire donors through compelling storytelling and persuasive advocacy.
- Strong organizational abilities, with meticulous attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
- Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team and build productive relationships with colleagues across departments.

**Competencies and Skills**:
Fundraising Expertise:

- Comprehensive understanding of major gift fundraising principles, techniques, and best practices.
- Strategic fundraising/sales mindset with proven ability to cultivate high net worth donors that require engagement and alignment of multiple stakeholders
- Proficiency in donor prospecting, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, with a track record of securing significant contributions.

Relationship Building:

- Ability to cultivate and maintain strong, meaningful relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporations.
- Skill in identifying and understanding donor motivations and tailoring engagement strategies effectively.

Communication:

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Mandarin and English for effective communication with diverse donor groups.
- For this role, fluency in Mandarin is crucial for effectively engaging with and building rapport with Chinese-speaking prospects, donors and alumni.
- Capability to craft compelling fundraising proposals and presentations tailored to different audiences and platforms in Mandarin and English.

Strategic Planning:

- Capacity to implement the overall strategic fundraising plans aligned with organizational objectives and donor priorities.
- Ability to analyze fundraising trends and donor behavior to inform decision-making and optimize fundraising efforts.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

- Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across departments, including Advancement, Communications, Admissions and Educators.
- Capacity to engage and motivate volunteers, board members, and other sta