Partnerships Director

Position OverviewEMpower is a global organisation working to improve the lives of young people living at the margins by investing in locally led organisations across emerging markets. As our work and ambitions grow, building strong partnerships and diversifying our income in Asia is increasingly important to achieving our global vision and mission.The Partnerships Director (Asia) is a key leadership role, responsible for identifying and brokering new opportunities, growing revenue and strengthening EMpower’s influence and reach. Leading a team currently based across India, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore, the Director will oversee relationships with individual donors, corporates and foundations, building on existing opportunities through our Board and Leadership Council, flagship annual dinners and growing institutional partnerships.The role will build on a strong base in Asia, with more than half of our grantmaking portfolio and budget now operating within the region. The role will play a central part in translating regional opportunities into sustainable income growth, deepening strategic relationships and expanding the resources available to support young people living at the margins. The successful candidate will combine strategic ambition with strong relationship management, effective team leadership and the ability to translate regional opportunities into sustainable growth in income. Core Responsibilities1. Revenue and Strategic GrowthLead all fundraising and partnership activity across Asia, stewarding a portfolio currently generating approximately $3m per annum, with a clear mandate for sustainable, intentional growth.Own the short- and medium-term regional strategy, workplan and budget, balancing near-term revenue commitments with longer-term relationship development and strategic investment.Drive a dual growth strategy of:deepening stewardship of major donors, Board relationships, Leadership Council members and annual dinners and other events to protect and grow our core revenue base; and at the same time opening new channels, including big-bet funders, diaspora giving and the expanding family office and wealth management ecosystem in Asia.Oversee and develop existing corporate and foundation partnerships, providing strategic direction to team members while personally leading key relationships and opportunities where appropriate.Take personal responsibility for a fundraising target, which will span individual, corporate and foundation income, and act as the lead relationship manager for our highest-value supporters and most strategically important prospects.Lead the team to oversee an effective programme of fundraising events and engagement activities across the region, ensuring these deliver against income targets, strengthen relationships and create opportunities for future growth.In close partnership with the Asia Program Director, identify opportunities for EMpower to grow our profile in Asia and co-own the influence budget to achieve this 2. Strategy, Financial Planning and Budget ManagementLead the annual regional fundraising planning process, translating EMpower’s global ambitions into a clear and achievable plan for Asia, with measurable objectives, income targets and priorities across all revenue streams.Manage and monitor regional income and expenditure, ensuring budgets, forecasts and financial reporting are accurate, timely and provide a clear picture of performance and value for money.Work in close partnership with the Finance Team to develop robust budgets, monitor performance against plan, understand variances and identify opportunities or risks requiring action.Contribute to wider organisational financial planning and strategic discussions, bringing a clear understanding of the opportunities, risks and resource requirements associated with growth in Asia.3. Team Leadership and CultureOversee a team of 5 including direct line management to 4: Development Managers in India, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong, and a Regional Development Assistant based in India.Create an environment where the team can grow professionally and personally through clear workplans, regular one-to-ones, collaborative goal setting, opportunities for development and a culture of trust and accountability.Manage, coach and develop team members, ensuring clarity of objectives, effective performance management, strong wellbeing and opportunities to build their skills and responsibilities.Foster a positive, inclusive and collaborative team culture in which people feel supported, motivated and empowered to deliver ambitious results.Recruit and develop talent as required, in line with EMpower’s values and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.Model cross-functional partnership, particularly with Regional Programme Directors, to ensure fundraising strategy is firmly rooted in programmatic ambition, learning and grantee partner realities.Take a proactive role in the broader health and direction of EMpower, contributing perspectives and leadership beyond the boundaries of the Asia portfolio.4. Representation and CommunicationsRepresent EMpower at the most senior levels of our donor and stakeholder community, including Board Directors, Leadership Council members, Underwriters and senior representatives of corporate, foundation and other partners.Own and develop key stakeholder relationships in close partnership with the President & CEO and Executive Vice President, ensuring a coordinated approach to engagement, profile building, stewardship and fundraising.Act as a compelling ambassador for EMpower’s mission, impact and values, communicating confidently and persuasively in meetings, public forums and events.Oversee a compelling regional events calendar that creates meaningful touchpoints, deepens donor engagement, supports income generation and elevates EMpower’s visibility and profile.Advocate for high-quality, relevant development communications, from event materials to donor briefings and proposals, ensuring they reflect the sophistication and voice of our community.Work in partnership with the Communications Team to develop compelling, evidence-driven storytelling that brings our impact to life and inspires audiences to support EMpower.5. Cross-Functional CollaborationWork in partnership with Regional Programme Directors (particularly but not limited to Asia) to ensure fundraising strategies reflect programmatic priorities, the needs and ambitions of grantee partners, and opportunities for impact.Collaborate with the Influence and Communications Team to strengthen EMpower’s storytelling, ensuring donor materials and narratives are compelling, evidence-driven and aligned with our impact frameworks.Champion a culture of collaboration, information-sharing and joint problem-solving across teams and regions, recognising that successful fundraising depends on strong relationships throughout the organisation.Ensure regional fundraising opportunities and donor insights inform wider organisational strategy, while drawing on global expertise and relationships to strengthen EMpower’s work in Asia.What You Bring to EMpowerSignificant experience growing income and developing strategic partnerships in a comparable organisation, with a track record of meeting ambitious targets and building sustainable fundraising pipelines.Strong fundraising expertise, including developing new opportunities, cultivating major donors and securing significant corporate and foundation partnerships.Excellent relationship-building skills and the credibility to engage senior stakeholders, donors, Board members and partners.Experience developing and implementing strategic and business plans, translating long-term ambitions into clear priorities and measurable results.Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, income monitoring and assessing fundraising return on investment.Proven leadership skills, with experience managing, coaching and developing teams, fostering a positive culture and enabling colleagues to excel.Highly persuasive written and oral communication skills, including the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and tell compelling stories that inspire support.Confidence representing an organisation at senior levels and acting as an ambassador for its mission, impact and values.A collaborative, global outlook, with the ability to work across functions, geographies and cultures while balancing regional and organisational priorities.Self-motivation, sound judgement and initiative, with the ability to work autonomously and maintain momentum across a geographically dispersed team.A genuine commitment to EMpower’s mission and values, and to supporting locally led organisations to create opportunities for young people living at the margins.What Brings You EnergyDriving Results – Seeing ambitious fundraising initiatives and strategic partnerships through to success, building on existing strengths and opening up new opportunities.Enabling Team Success – Supporting colleagues across countries to develop, collaborate and excel.Building Relationships – Initiating and nurturing relationships with donors, partners, Board members and colleagues, with thoughtful and persistent follow-through.Creating Clarity – Bringing structure to complexity through financial insights, donor intelligence, regional priorities and strategic plans.Thinking Beyond Boundaries – Connecting people, ideas and opportunities across countries and functions to advance EMpower’s global ambitions.Growing What Matters – Building on existing relationships and developing new sources of support to help EMpower reach more young people through locally led organisations.Terms

Location: This position is open to be based either in Singapore or HongKong.

We are unable to sponsor visa or work permits for this position. Candidate must have the legal right to live and work from either Singapore or Hong Kong. Hybrid Working: Our team currently work 1 day a week in the office to allow for team collaboration - with the rest from home. We also allow up to 4 weeks of remote working from any destination annually.Salary : 125 k – 135k USD paid in SGD or HKD depending on the location of the candidate.

Benefits

Competitive benefits, including private medical insurance and generous pension contributions. EMpower is a public foundation that makes grants globally to benefit marginalised youth, including adolescent girls. We are committed to attracting, developing, motivating and retaining exceptional talent and to a work environment that recognizes contribution, fosters respect and teamwork, and facilitates strong performance. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, recognizing that diversity enriches all staff and our work globally. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or faith, or physical ability.This policy applies to all employment practices within our organisation, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. EMpower makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.