Partnerships and Philanthropy Manager 149 views

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is a charity established in 2015 with a mission to improve human health and save lives in Africa by growing a cohort of African researchers working in Africa, who lead and partner excellent, collaborative health research that benefits patients, populations, policy makers and practitioners throughout the region and globally. For further information on AREF, please visit https://www.africaresearchexcellencefund.org.uk.  AREF is looking for a suitable person to occupy the position of Partnerships and Philanthropy Manager.

The post holder will be responsible for growing income from corporate partnerships and influential donors like high net worth individual and the diaspora through excellent new business development and fantastic donor stewardship.  S/he will focus on identifying prospective individual donors and corporate partners and developing lasting relationships with them and also support the management of relationships with existing donors, ensuring all donors have a brilliant experience supporting AREF.

1. Essential requirements:

• Master’s level degree in international development or other health or business related field.
• Formal training and/or a qualification in fundraising or marketing is mandatory.
• Passionate and demonstrable commitment to AREF’s values and mission.
• Proven experience of raising funds from companies and high net-worth individuals in the not-for-profit sector, or similar transferable experience gained in the commercial sector
• Strong interpersonal skills and personal credibility, with experience of building strong working relationships with a diverse range of people, including high net-worth individuals
• Good influencing skills and experience in giving presentation at companies and fundraising events.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (including fluency in written and spoken English)
• appropriately represent AREF to a diverse range of people, including CSR company executives and high net-worth individuals
• A tenacious and self-motivated approach to work, with the ability to manage own workload • Experience of working in a performance and target driven environment
• A willingness to work in an agile environment and with the ability to learn quickly.
• Financial management skills and ability to work with budgets.
• Windows-based software packages, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint

2. Desirable:

• Formal training and/or a qualification in fundraising or marketing.
• Experience of working in corporate and major donor fundraising.
• Experience of working with diaspora communities and circles.
• Experience securing new business in a fundraising capacity.
• Experience working in an international development organization.
• A working knowledge of the principles behind successful corporate fundraising and major gift fundraising.
• A fundraising or relationship marketing certificate or qualification.
• The intellectual curiosity to understand complex international development systems, politics and economic environment, and the ability to communicate this in an engaging way with supporters.
• Experience of working with fundraising development boards, high-value giving circles and other fundraising products in the not-for-profit sector as part of a corporate fundraising and/or major donor fundraising/philanthropy strategy.

The post-holder will be based in The Gambia at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara.

An attractive salary commensurate with qualification and experience will be paid.

The appointment will be up to 31^st July 2028 initially and subject to a probationary period of 6 months.

We cannot accept applications from people who are currently or in the last 6 months employed by The Gambia Government.

To apply, please visit www.mrc.gm and proceed to the careers to complete and online application.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 13^th July 2026.

MRCG at LSHTM is an equal opportunities employer and operates a strict no smoking policy.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.