Development Officer, Faculty of Science

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Development Officer at McMaster University will assist in maximizing private financial support from alumni, individuals, corporations, and foundations, within the Faculty of Science and University Advancement context.

Responsibilities include identifying and qualifying funders, coordinating cultivation activities, writing proposals and gift agreements, and running fundraising reports to advance McMaster's philanthropic priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; McMaster degree is an asset.
• Minimum of 3 years of prior experience.
• Experience managing volunteers.
• Experience developing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward funders.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward funders with staff guidance.
• Develop annual and long-range plans for securing financial support.
• Coordinate campus visits and donor stewardship activities.
• Prepare proposals, gift agreements, and stewardship plans.
• Generate detailed fundraising reports and analyze pipeline data.
• Collaborate with internal partners to align fundraising priorities.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Relationship management

Computer skills (ADVANCE)

Time management

Multitasking

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ADVANCE database

Job description

About McMaster:

At McMaster University, we are driven by a shared purpose: advancing human and societal health and wellbeing. Through world-class research, transformative education, and meaningful community impact, we are addressing some of the world's most complex challenges and creating positive change locally and globally.

Consistently ranked among Canada's top universities and recognized internationally for research excellence, innovation, and student success, McMaster is home to more than 37,000 students, over 200,000 alumni worldwide, and a vibrant community of scholars, researchers, learners, and partners. From pioneering discoveries in health sciences and engineering to advancing social innovation and community wellbeing, McMaster's impact extends far beyond our campus.

As we look toward the future, philanthropy will play an increasingly important role in enabling the University's aspirations. Through strategic partnerships with donors, alumni, foundations, corporations, and community leaders, McMaster is creating opportunities to accelerate discovery, enhance student experiences, support breakthrough research, and strengthen its impact on society.

About University Advancement:

University Advancement serves as the bridge between McMaster's mission and the philanthropic community that helps bring that mission to life. Through fundraising, alumni engagement, stewardship, advancement services, and strategic partnerships, University Advancement fosters meaningful relationships that create lasting impact for the University and the communities it serves.

Guided by a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and innovation, University Advancement is building a culture of philanthropy that supports McMaster's strategic priorities and future ambitions. The division is entering an exciting period of growth and opportunity as it continues to strengthen fundraising capacity, deepen donor engagement, and position the University for future campaign success.

About the Faculty of Science:

Established as its own Faculty in 1967, McMaster's Faculty of Science has grown into one of the largest and most research-intensive science faculties in the country. Across eight departments and schools—from Biology and Physics & Astronomy to Earth, Environment & Society and Kinesiology—nearly 7,000 undergraduate and 600 graduate students learn alongside more than 200 full-time faculty, 99% of whom hold a PhD, the highest share of any Faculty at McMaster.

This is a Faculty built on research excellence: it is home to 17 Canada Research Chairs, five endowed research chairs, and the University's only Canada 150 Research Chair, with faculty collaborating across more than 30 countries and securing close to $25 million in research funding annually. That research strength shows up in the world, too—from the neutron spectroscopy work that earned McMaster physicist Bertram Brockhouse a Nobel Prize, to a nuclear reactor that remains the only one on a Canadian university campus, to five research institutes and centres advancing work in climate change, biointerfaces, physical activity, the origins of life, and music and the mind.

What distinguishes Science at McMaster, though, is how directly students are drawn into that research culture. Every undergraduate has the opportunity to work in a lab or in the field, and more than 500 students complete a senior thesis each year under faculty and graduate student supervision. It's a Faculty whose more than 33,000 alumni carry that hands-on, discovery-first formation with them — and whose current momentum, from new research institutes to a bold philanthropic vision, makes this an exceptional moment to join the team building its future.

About the role:

The Development Officer will assist in maximizing private financial support to McMaster from alumni, individuals, corporations, foundations and other sources. Development Officers will support a portfolio that will be either program based or prospect based, while following the underlying goals and priorities as directed by team leaders.

In this role, the immediate priority is the identification and qualification accountabilities below, applied at volume across the Faculty's alumni base in support of the new centennial-anchored giving initiative with portfolio management and direct solicitation growing over time as that pipeline matures.

Accountabilities:

• In consultation with the leader and fundraising staff, support the development of strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward funders and potential funders.
• Support the development of annual and long-range action plans for securing financial support from a portfolio of potential funders, which includes assisting with outlining goals and objectives as well as detailed timelines and strategies, as directed by supervisor.
• Assist with developing advocacy and support by calling on potential funders and accompanying University leadership and key volunteers on corporate and foundation calls, as directed by supervisor.
• In consultation with supervisor, communication with funders to raise new revenue at the Major Giving level in line with targets established by supervisor.
• Maintain a professional and cooperative relationship with funders and other supporters.
• Support the evaluation of gift capacity and funder interest, with assistance from supervisor.
• Act as a first point of contact between funders and other University departments to resolve, or elevate, issues arising from changes in University or government policies which have an impact on the funder's original intentions or expectations.
• Utilizing standardized documents, write detailed proposal and gift documentation to individuals, foundations, corporations and other potential funders aligning their philanthropic interests with University fundraising priorities, as appropriate.
• Utilizing standardized documents, write gift agreements, and stewardship plans geared to accountability, donor recognition and securing ongoing support, as appropriate.
• Write a variety of documents, including but not limited to, correspondence, contact reports, and briefing notes.
• Run detailed reports on fundraising goals and performance.
• Complete and submit development-related expenses within the Development Officer’s portfolio
• Compile and review funder data that is used to contribute to the development of an analysis of a pipeline of potential funders.
• Manage volunteers connected to giving programs. This includes recruitment, orientation, training, recognition and on-going program coordination.
• Coordinate campus visits, contact prospects and participate in other cultivation activities to promote and enhance the University’s fundraising efforts.
• Utilize a sophisticated database to assist in the management of relationships and information.
• Gather and compile information on institutional and faculty fundraising priorities, research, and programs.
• Support visit set up and develop information kits and publications.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study. A McMaster degree is an asset

Experience:

• Requires a minimum of 3 years of prior experience
• Experience managing volunteers
• Experience developing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward funders and potential funders
• Demonstrated experience meeting individual and team financial and activity goals

Knowledge & Skills:

• Superior interpersonal, communication (both written and verbal), and relationship management skills required to interact with the funders and other internal and external supporters
• Extreme professionalism, excellent judgement and decision making abilities, as well as display tact and sensitivity Strong organizational skills and integrated approach
• Strong computer skills and experience with databases (ADVANCE)
• Excellent customer-service skills and strong service orientation
• Time-management and multi-tasking abilities
• Knowledgeable about McMaster University policies and guidelines; and University Advancement policies and procedures

Pay Transparency Statement

The posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.

Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.