Advancement Assistant

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution is seeking an Advancement Assistant Summer Student. This role involves supporting key areas in donor relations, including the drafting of stewardship plans and clean-up of records. Ideal applicants are current or graduating students in related fields such as Business, Marketing, or Event Management. You will gain hands-on experience in operations and marketing support. The position is full-time, onsite, running from May to August 2026, with a starting hourly rate between $21.50 and $24.00.

Benefits

Valued contributions and supported development

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and highly organized.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate discretion with sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Draft Individual Stewardship Plans for donor communication.
• Assist with records clean-up and operations support.
• Support digital communication activities for Advancement.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Technical fluency (Microsoft Office)

Education

Current or graduating student in Business, Office Administration, Marketing, Communications, or Event Management

Job description

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Location: Onsite at 31 Caroline Street N., Waterloo, ON
Employment Term: Full Time Contract from May 4, 2026 - August 21, 2026
Position Reports To: Senior Manager, Donor Relations
Number of Vacancies: 1

The starting hourly rate for this position is between $21.50 and $24.00 per hour based on a 37.5 hour work week and commensurate with candidate experience and education. Perimeter’s compensation approach is designed to promote fairness and transparency, ensuring alignment with internal equity and external market benchmarks.

Summer at Perimeter is busy and we need your help. We have summer student positions available throughout the Institute, running from May 4, 2026 to August 21, 2026.

Perimeter’s Advancement team is responsible for strategic philanthropic initiatives, including partnerships with individuals, corporations, and foundations who support the Institute. The Advancement Assistant Summer Student will work closely with the Advancement Coordinator, Events and Special Projects and the Senior Manager, Donor Relations in key areas of Advancement at the Institute. They will work on Individual Stewardship Plans, which are key to maintaining relationships with donors, in addition to other records, operations, communications and marketing support.

What you will do:

Individual Stewardship Plan Project

• Help to identify gaps and opportunities
• Assist in drafting ISPs that outline touchpoints such as thank-you letters, impact reports, recognition opportunities, and events
• Transfer donor ISPs to CRM
• Prepare summaries of ISP activities

Records and Operations Support

• Data clean-up projects like address and contact info verification, duplicates, campaign clean up, and email list clean up
• Assist with operations and process document updates
• File, sort and organize Advancement materials and historical files

Communications and Marketing Support

Support Advancement Coordinator, Events and Special Projects in executing Advancement’s digital communication activities, like monthly e-newsletters, donor impact reports and fundraising appeals.

Other administrative duties

Other administrative duties as required.

What you need to have

• Current or graduating student in post secondary education such as Business, Business/Office Administration, Marketing, Communications, Event Management or a related field
• Strong attention to detail and highly organized
• Prioritization and ability to ask for help if necessary
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to demonstrate a high degree of discretion due to the handling of financial and personal information
• Intermediate technical fluency, as demonstrated in programs like Microsoft Office Suite

Please submit your resume and cover letter by February 6, 2026 in order to ensure full consideration of your application.

If you're looking for a place where your contributions are valued, your development is supported, and your work environment inspires you, Perimeter is the place for you.

Perimeter Institute is committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Perimeter Institute provides support throughout the application process for applicants with disabilities. We work with you to understand the impact of your disability to appropriately accommodate you during the application/interview process. Please contact [e-mail] for assistance.

Note: the use of artificial intelligence may be used to support notetaking or other information gathering during the hiring process. These tools would support our process, but all evaluations and decisions are made by our recruitment team.