University Of Pretoria (UP) Enterprises and Fundraising Specialist Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

The University of Pretoria (UP) invites applications for an Enterprises and Fundraising Specialist position based at TuksSport Central. This is a full-time, fixed-term contract opportunity for a skilled professional to contribute to the university's sporting excellence.

The role focuses on strategic fundraising, securing third-stream income, commercialisation, and sponsorship contracting for TuksSport. The incumbent will play a key role in developing and implementing strategies aligned with TuksSport and the Department of Institutional Advancement (DIA) guidelines, aiming to enhance the financial stability and growth of the sports department.

Minimum Requirements

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A relevant NQF Level 7 qualification.
• Five to eight years of experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Sponsorship acquisition
• Fundraising
• Business Development
• Corporate Partnerships
• A valid driver’s license.

Required Competencies (Skills, Knowledge, and Behavioural Attributes):

• Expert knowledge of sponsorships, sport commercialisation, project management, and strategic & operational planning.
• Advanced knowledge of fundraising, marketing and communication, advertising, digital and CRM marketing.
• Advanced proposal writing and stakeholder relations management skills.
• Advanced written and oral communication skills.
• Advanced computer literacy in MS Office packages.
• Proficient financial management knowledge.
• Proficient knowledge of CRM databases.
• Proficient skills in data extraction, manipulation, and analysis using tools such as Excel, SQL, and Power BI.
• Proficient knowledge of project and event management systems for tracking, reporting, and archiving sponsorship activities.

Added Advantages and Preferences:

• A postgraduate qualification in Sport Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• A certificate in Sponsorship, Fundraising, or related courses.
• Five to eight years’ experience working in a sport, non-profit or higher education environment.
• Five to eight years’ experience in a sports marketing environment, ideally across sponsorships, stakeholders, alumni relations, and fundraising.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for a range of strategic and operational tasks, including:

• Developing and implementing strategic fundraising and third-stream income strategies, including researching and securing funding from CSI portfolios, foundations, government grants, and social impact/development funds.
• Identifying and packaging commercial assets across TuksSport clubs, facilities, and events, and leading negotiations and the full contracting lifecycle for sponsorship rights.
• Planning and implementing day-to-day sponsorship programmes within the TuksSport sponsorship portfolio, in line with the broader sponsorship and marketing communications strategy.
• Developing outcome-based funding proposals and leading the end-to-end application process for grants.
• Developing and implementing an ROI tracking system to provide partners with sponsorship reports and impact reports, and managing the end-to-end stewardship process, including donor recognition.
• Developing and managing a TuksSport alumni engagement strategy to convert former student-athletes into active donors and mentors, and utilising and maintaining the CRM database to track the donor journey and manage prospects.

What the Work Involves

As an Enterprises and Fundraising Specialist at TuksSport, you will be at the forefront of securing vital resources for the university's sports programmes. Your daily activities will involve researching potential funding sources, preparing detailed proposals, and engaging with corporate social investment (CSI) portfolios, foundations, and government grant organisations. You will identify valuable commercial assets within TuksSport, such as stadium naming rights or branding opportunities, and lead complex negotiations with potential sponsors.

A significant part of the role includes managing the full lifecycle of sponsorships, from initial contract discussions in collaboration with the UP Department of Institutional Planning and UP Legal Department, to executing and activating sponsorship programmes. This involves working closely with the TuksSport Marketing Department to ensure seamless event management, hospitality, and VIP guest experiences, integrating brand messages across all sponsorship touchpoints. You will also be responsible for tracking the return on investment (ROI) for partners, providing impact reports, and fostering strong donor relationships, including engaging former student-athletes through an alumni programme. The role requires regular use of CRM databases and data analysis tools like Excel, SQL, and Power BI to manage donor journeys and report on sponsorship activities from the TuksSport Central office.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University of Pretoria's official website.

• Visit the University of Pretoria website: http://www.up.ac.za/
• Navigate to the careers or vacancies section.
• Search for the Job ID 26516 or the position title "Enterprises and Fundraising Specialist".
• Follow the instructions on the website to complete and submit your application.

Please ensure your application is submitted before the closing date of September 17, 2026.