Associate Vice-President, Development

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Associate Vice-President, Development to lead philanthropic fundraising efforts. This pivotal role involves overseeing a talented team, developing strategies to engage donors, and ensuring alignment with the university's strategic goals. The successful candidate will leverage their extensive fundraising experience and relationship-building skills to enhance the university's fundraising capabilities, making a significant impact on its mission and community engagement. Join a forward-thinking institution committed to excellence and innovation in education and research.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits program

Pension program

Health and well-being initiatives

Qualifications

• 10+ years of fundraising experience in a complex organization.
• Proven track record in managing diverse teams and programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee major gift fundraising and align resources to priorities.
• Develop complex proposals and manage donor relationships.

Skills

Fundraising expertise

Team management

Relationship building

Communication skills

Organizational abilities

Analytical skills

Leadership skills

Education

University degree in relevant discipline

Tools

Relational database systems

Job description

Description

Associate Vice-President, Development
University of Calgary

Located in Canada's most enterprising city, the University of Calgary (UCalgary) is a global intellectual hub for teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and deep engagement with the community.

UCalgary is one of Canada's top comprehensive research universities, with more than 7,500 graduate students and 30,500 undergraduate students, 1,800 academic staff, and over 4,000 non-academic staff in 14 faculties, across five campuses. As one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities, UCalgary is home to 146 research chairs (75 Canada Research Chairs), and more than 50 research institutes and centres. The university is bolstered by the incredible philanthropic support of the community, including more than $1.4B Billion raised during Energize: The Campaign for Eyes High (the third-largest completed fundraising campaign in Canadian history). UCalgary has the fastest growth rate in attracting research funding among the 10 largest universities in Canada and for three years in a row was ranked the #1 start-up creator among Canadian research universities.

Through its strategic plan, Ahead of Tomorrow, UCalgary continues on its remarkable growth trajectory, striving for inimitable excellence through innovative teaching and learning, cutting-edge exploration, and community linkage, through 2030. The strategy is a bold vision that reflects our ambition to increase access to future-focused education, to maximize the impact of our research and innovation, to put the community at the centre of all that we do, and to make our operational processes clearer, simpler and better than any other university.

The Development and Alumni team serves as a bridge between the University of Calgary and its champions, including donors, alumni and community members. Supporting engagement, volunteerism and partnerships, it creates opportunities for impact in Calgary and beyond. The Development team is responsible for all private philanthropic fundraising, and alignment of investment to advance the strategic priorities of the University of Calgary and the communities it serves.

Position Description

The University of Calgary invites applications for a full-time Associate Vice-President, Development position.

The Associate Vice-President, Development (AVP) is accountable and responsible to the Vice-President of Development and Alumni (VP) in realizing the university's objectives related to philanthropic fundraising which generates approximately 1/10 of the university's consolidated annual budget. This includes oversight of all major gift fundraising and staff, alignment of resources to priorities, and strategies to attract and celebrate philanthropic support of all types at all levels from a global network of alumni, foundations, industry partners and individuals.

The AVP, Development oversees a team of more than 50 professionals across faculties and units and works in partnership with academic leaders to evaluate priorities and manage performance and standards of practice and activity for professional staff. Responsible to plan and report regularly on the initiatives and programs within the portfolio, create fundraising strategies as they relate to the institutional, academic and research plans and actively participate in achieving overall Development and Alumni goals through ongoing collaboration and co-ordination of integrated, campus-wide external engagement programs.

The AVP, Development is responsible for fundraising activity within faculties and units and works in partnership with the VP, Development and Alumni and other members of the Development and Alumni Leadership Team (DALT) to ensure timely and relevant communication with the donor community. This includes the development of complex proposals, virtual and in-person engagements, events as well as written impact reports that inspire ongoing funding and engagement with the university.

The AVP, Development is also responsible for active management of relationships between the university and a select group of its most generous donors, volunteers and partners, and directly supports Deans, and unit leaders through strategic advice and recommendations, briefings, attendance at meetings and events and travel to key markets for donor and prospect relationship development.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A university degree in a relevant discipline.
• A minimum of 10 years' experience in fundraising and/or a combination of fundraising and business experience, including experience working at a senior level, managing teams, diverse programs and projects.
• Substantial exposure to the non-profit sector, within a university environment or a large, complex organization.
• Possesses fundraising expertise in a large, complex environment.
• Has a track record of success working within a complex, multi-stakeholder organization with a diverse workforce.
• Possesses excellent relationship and team-building skills with a proven ability to develop proactive partnerships, lead and participate effectively in teams, and leverage diverse skills of team members.
• Has excellent verbal and written communication skills, including:
  • verbal skills to meet and negotiate project goals and objectives with clients;
  • writing skills to support the authoring of business proposals, documents and technical specifications;
  • presentation skills to support the creation and delivery of internal and external product presentations and proposals.
• Ability to assess and implement innovative practices to drive enhanced financial and operational performance.
• Possesses superior leadership, people management, and coaching/mentoring skills.
• Ability to provide work direction and expectations, performance feedback and recognition, and assist staff and faculty with skills development.
• Demonstrates organizational abilities including planning and implementing complex programs and high-impact projects with minimal direction.
• Possesses a high level of knowledge about relational database systems and technology applications to enhance business workflow and scalability.
• Demonstrates the capacity to analyze, translate and report financial and statistical data.
• Is ethically uncompromising and exhibits the highest level of integrity.
• Is confident, thoughtful, collaborative, respectful, strategic and decisive.
• Is direct, articulate, pragmatic, trustworthy, and socially and politically astute.

Application Deadline: Open until filled

This position is part of the University of Calgary's Senior Leadership Team and includes a comprehensive benefits and pension program designed to promote a productive level of health and well-being to staff members. To learn about our comprehensive benefits package, please visit https://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/benefits-pension/group-benefits.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([e-mail]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([e-mail]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research shows that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.