Fundraising and Database Administrator
African Leadership Academy
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Permanent
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Posted 23 January 2026 - Closing Date 20 March 2026

Job Details

Job Description

ABOUT US:

African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by identifying, developing, and connecting the next generation of ethical and entrepreneurial African leaders. Since 2008, ALA has built a pan-African community of young leaders who are driving impact across sectors and geographies.

Through a world-class residential secondary school in South Africa and a lifelong leadership development model, ALA equips high-potential youth with the skills, networks, and opportunities to accelerate Africa’s growth and prosperity.


POSITION OVERVIEW:

African Leadership Academy is seeking a skilled Salesforce & Data Systems Administrator to lead and optimise the Development team’s use of Salesforce CRM, with a specific focus on donor management.  Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this role supports the effectiveness of ALA’s Development team by ensuring high-quality fundraising data, strong donor stewardship, and meaningful donor-student engagement. This role requires a strong, detail‑driven database professional who can ensure data integrity and support high‑quality reporting, and is central to ensuring that our fundraising team has accurate, reliable, and accessible data to make informed decisions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Oversee day-to-day administration of the Development team’s use of Salesforce, ensuring accurate and up-to-date fundraising data across Salesforce;
  • Build, maintain, and optimise advanced Salesforce reports, dashboards, and pipelines for fundraising and donor engagement;
  • Support data-driven decision-making through timely, accurate analytics and insights to enable effective fundraising decision-making.
  • Support the preparation and coordination of donor-facing materials, including thank you letters, student profiles, reports, and stewardship communications, ensuring accuracy, timelines, and alignment with ALA’s tone and brand.
  • Coordinate donor-student engagement activities, including virtual meetings, campus visits, and events; support student ambassadors and ensure clear follow-up and documentation after engagement.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Required Education and Experience: 
  • Bachelor’s degree supported by 1-2 years of demonstrated experience with Salesforce or a similar CRM system.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage data accurately and consistently.
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to work professionally with students, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
  • Strong alignment with ALA’s mission and values; ALA alumni are strongly encouraged to apply.
Preferred Education and Experience: 
  • Exposure to fundraising, nonprofit operations, alumni relations, or customer/relationship support roles.
  • Experience working with databases, CRMs, or structured data systems (Salesforce experience is an advantage).
  • Experience supporting events, programs, or engagement activities.
  • Familiarity with ALA and its community.

COMPETENCIES: 

Technical competencies: 

  • Data management and basic analysis, including comfort working with spreadsheets and CRM systems.
  • Ability to track tasks, maintain accurate records, and follow established processes.
  • Strong written communication skills for donor-facing and internal materials.
  • Basic reporting skills, with the ability to summarise information clearly and accurately.
  • Willingness and ability to learn new systems and tools quickly.
Generic Competencies
  • Good organisational and time management skills.
  • Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment when handling sensitive information.
  • Takes initiative and ownership, with a strong sense of accountability.
  • Works collaboratively and respectfully across teams and cultures.
  • Communicates clearly and thoughtfully with diverse stakeholders.
  • Shows a strong learning mindset and openness to feedback.
  • Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
  • Ability to work effectively across time zones and continents in a global organisation.
Attributes
  • Mission-driven and aligned with African Leadership Academy’s values.
  • Curious, reliable, and eager to learn, with a strong sense of accountability.
  • Detail-oriented, with the ability to balance precision and perspective.
  • Comfortable working with both data and people.

Report to: Chief Development Officer
Job Location: ALA Campus, Honeydew, Johannesburg
Start date: 01 April 2026

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