Head of Alumni Affairs and Supporter Relations

Department: Advancement and Public Affairs

Duty station: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, OR Dushanbe, Tajikistan, OR Tekeli/ Almaty, Kazakhstan

Reporting to: Director of Advancement and Public Affairs

Contract Period: Two years, renewable on review

Probation: Three months

Deadline: August 26, 2025

Overall objective of the position:

To establish a university-wide Alumni Relations Office at UCA to ensure the nurturing of lifelong relationships between the University of Central Asia and the alumni of UCA’s three schools and Central Asian Faculty Development Programme (CAFDP). To create a sense of belonging and pride among alumni, encouraging them to stay connected with UCA and contribute, through time and money, to the growth and success of its life-changing work in Central Asia.

This position will:

• Keep the alumni engaged with UCA through ongoing communication
• Ensure that the alumni feel a sense of community through a range of events and initiatives
• Engage alumni to give back to UCA.

Background to this position:

UCA’s School of Arts and Science has, over the last four years, graduated over 250 students. The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) has trained over 250,000 learners over the past close to two decades. The Graduate School of Development (GSD) has over 60 alumni from its training for Afghan civil servants and over 10,000 alumni from its Aga Khan Humanities Project and is now launching further Executive Education and postgraduate programmes. UCA’s Central Asian Faculty Development Programme has around 40 alumni who have studied in Europe, North America and South-East Asia.

The alumni are the University’s direct and most visible output. Globally, alumni donations are around 60% of total university donations portfolio, either directly or through their network of extended family, acquaintances, and employers. Alumni are also the university’s most effective brand ambassadors and, if nurtured well, can contribute to enhancing the reputation of the university, directly leading to increased enrollment for existing university courses. Alumni can also assist the university’s students in job placements and internships as well as more general careers advice.

UCA Background:

The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 as a private, not for profit, secular university through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan; ratified by their respective parliaments, and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons of the University and His Highness is the Chancellor. UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognised standard of higher education, and enabling the peoples of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future. UCA brings with it the broader commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network. For more information: www.ucentralasia.org

Purpose:

The Head of Alumni Affairs and Supporter Relations will lead the development of a university-wide Alumni Relations Office at the University of Central Asia (UCA). The role will build and nurture a vibrant, supportive alumni network that reflects the diversity and reach of UCA’s academic programmes, encompassing three Schools and the Central Asian Faculty Development Programme. Through effective communication, programming, and relationship-building, the postholder will cultivate a strong sense of pride and belonging among alumni, encouraging them to remain connected to the University and contribute to its mission through time, talent, and philanthropy.

Background:

Over the past two decades, UCA has built a broad and diverse alumni community:

• The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) has graduated over 250 students in four years.
• The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) has trained more than 115,000 individual learners across Central Asia, through over 280,000 short courses.
• The Graduate School of Development (GSD) has over 10,000 alumni from the Aga Khan Humanities Project and more than 60 graduates from public sector training programmes.
• The Central Asian Faculty Development Programme (CAFDP) has supported over 70 scholars to pursue postgraduate studies at top global universities.

Alumni are the University’s most visible and direct outcome—and, if engaged strategically, its most influential supporters. Globally, alumni account for approximately 60% of all higher education philanthropy and are central to brand visibility, student recruitment, and career support. UCA is now investing in a dedicated function to unlock this potential.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish the Alumni Relations function at UCA, including strategy, systems, and staffing as appropriate.
• Plan and coordinate a range of alumni events and activities at national, regional, and international levels – to include reunions, networking events, career fairs, and volunteer initiatives.
• Manage the alumni engagement budget, ensuring strategic allocation of resources.
• Collaborate across UCA (e.g., communications, academic units, international office) to align alumni engagement with institutional goals.
• Build and maintain a robust alumni database that captures demographics, contact information, and career trajectories.
• Develop ongoing communication channels, including newsletters, social media, and online communities.
• Coordinate alumni benefits and services (e.g., library access, professional development, career support) that reinforce connection and loyalty.
• Support and guide the development of regional alumni chapters.
• Track engagement metrics such as participation rates, fundraising contributions, and alumni feedback to evaluate effectiveness.
• Report annually to UCA’s Management Executive Committee on the performance of the Alumni Relations Office.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in alumni relations or advancement in a higher education setting.
• Experience engaging a diverse alumni base across countries or programme types is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Fluency in English (business communication level); Russian language skills are an asset.

How to Apply

Ready to join our team? We kindly invite you to submit your application for this position by clicking the Apply button on this page. To facilitate a smooth application process, please create an account on our website. Be assured that the account setup and application steps are straightforward.

Candidates from the founding countries of UCA: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan are encouraged to apply for the position.

Applications will be reviewed when received. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.