Director of Advancement

Position Purpose:

The Director is a senior strategic leader at LUMS who strengthens the University’s reputation, builds partnerships, and mobilizes resources to expand student access and institutional impact. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor, they will oversee fundraising, alumni engagement, communications, and marketing; drive major gifts and annual giving, and steward relationships with donors, alumni, and the global diaspora. The role will also deepen alumni engagement by building a vibrant, connected global community. The Director will develop and lead initiatives supporting student financial aid, research, and endowed chairs, aligning advancement efforts through collaboration with senior leadership and academic units.

Candidates must demonstrate proven success in advancement or related fields such as corporate partnerships, investor relations, or non-profit fundraising, preferably with a track record of securing significant multi-year commitments. Strong leadership, strategic vision, and communication expertise are essential. The Director will model the University’s values of empathy, integrity, and public purpose while promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Management

• Advance the mission, vision and strategy of the University, through the development of meaningful partnerships and long-term commitments with national and global donors, while effectively communicating the University’s academic programs and initiatives.
• Provide leadership across all advancement functions, fundraising, alumni engagement, communications, and marketing, by building on a high-performing team, setting clear goals, and fostering professional growth.
• Design and deliver campaigns that expand support for financial aid, research infrastructure, endowed chairs, student well-being, and residential life. Examples may include mobilizing different stakeholders; leading a stewardship program of major donors; or spearheading scholarship fundraising initiatives.
• Develop a communication and dissemination strategy that amplifies the University’s research, teaching, and community impact, ensuring that publications, digital platforms, media outreach, and internal communications effectively showcase these strengths.

Fundraising & Partnerships

• Provide leadership and direction for all the University’s fundraising activities and strategic partnerships to support priority initiatives.
• Plan and deliver creative campaigns nationally and globally.
• Initiate and lead meetings with prospective benefactors and secure multi-year commitments.
• Build a deep understanding of priority projects and present clear cases for support.
• Work with Friends of LUMS and other affiliated entities in key geographies to enable compliant and ethically driven giving, and strengthen stewardship.
• Work with University leadership to develop impactful Financial Aid programs and products that expand access for talented students.

Alumni Engagement

• Strengthen meaningful engagement and partnership with alumni to foster a vibrant community, anchored in shared purpose and institutional pride.
• Design and implement a portfolio of alumni programs, including digital platforms, in-person events, and regional gatherings that foster connection, mentorship, and professional growth.
• Collaborate with alumni to advance a culture of giving and amplify the University’s social impact.
• Develop and steward high-impact alumni volunteers and networks across regions and disciplines to expand leadership and advocacy.
• Strengthen the ties between students and alumni through mentoring and career engagement initiatives.
• Lead the development of alumni-facing communications to showcase their achievements and institutional milestones.

Communications & Marketing

• Define and steward the University’s institutional identity and reputation, ensuring consistency of tone and message across all platforms, while positioning LUMS as a trusted institution for students, parents, alumni, donors, and supporters.
• Lead recruitment marketing campaigns that drive awareness, inquiries, applications, and enrollments, highlighting LUMS’ mission of access, equity, and transformative impact on Pakistan’s education sector.
• Promote the University’s academic programs and financial aid opportunities to prospective students and their families.
• Strengthen the University’s reputation by cultivating media relationships, amplifying faculty research and scholarship, advancing thought leadership, and preparing senior leaders as trusted voices for education, fundraising, and diaspora engagement.
• Oversee the strategy for digital platforms, ensuring timely, engaging, and mission-driven content that deepens trust and supports donor, alumni, and community stewardship.
• Lead stakeholder communications, including newsletters, donor impact reports, campaign updates, and internal communications, to reinforce transparency, accountability, and the University’s broader public purpose.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Deep knowledge of the principles of fundraising.
• A proven track record in fundraising including funding for high-impact projects.
• Experience in communications and marketing, with proven ability to plan and execute integrated campaigns across digital platforms.
• Expertise in leading and managing diverse, high-performing teams.
• Knowledge of or the ability to develop an excellent understanding of the University, its strategy and operations.
• An ability to discuss strategic issues relating to higher education with senior stakeholders.
• People-centered relationship builder; proven at securing trust-based partnerships.

Attributes and Behaviors

• A full commitment to and empathy with the University’s values.
• High energy, enthusiasm, creativity and integrity; promote and actively drive change within their own area and across the organization.
• Open, empathetic, and consultative leadership style.
• Data-informed, results-oriented, and committed to learning and improvement.
• Able to work well in a changing environment, sometimes under pressure.
• Advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion, and for student well-being and access.

To qualify for this role, you must have:

• At least a Master's degree in relevant field from an accredited institute.
• At least 15 years of progressive experience in advancement, fundraising, corporate partnerships, or related fields.