Director Donor & Volunteer Engagement

McGill University; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 116,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Life Insurance

Defined contribution pension plan

RRSP and TFSA

Competitive vacation policy

Personal days

Floating holidays

Summer Fridays

December time off

Tuition waiver

Job summary

McGill University seeks a Development & Alumni Relations leader to design and execute a donor recognition and senior volunteer engagement strategy across the University. You will coordinate with faculties, Advancement Operations, Communications, and Alumni Engagement to maximize donor impact and leadership involvement.

You will guide two teams, foster cross-unit collaboration, and leverage CRM systems and fundraising technologies to measure outcomes and drive governance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 8 years related experience.
• Demonstrated success in donor relations and volunteer engagement programs.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a donor recognition and engagement strategy across the University.
• Oversee the Leaders Alliance and relationships with major donors and volunteer boards.
• Collaborate with Advancement units to align events, reporting, and communications with objectives.
• Provide strategic advice and leadership to senior colleagues in donor relations and volunteer partnerships.

Skills

Donor relations

Volunteer engagement

Strategic planning

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office Suite

Fundraising technologies

Job description

University Advancement (UA) promotes McGill to its global community and to the public, engaging alumni, volunteers and friends of the University, and building on McGill’s record of fundraising success in support of University priorities.

By joining UA, you can be part of a dynamic and exciting team of professionals that is making an extraordinary impact on the world by advancing the philanthropic and engagement ambitions of McGill University.

To find out more about UA, please visit us at www.mcgill.ca/advancement/ua-careers .

Position Context:

Under the direction of the Senior Director, Bequests & Planned Gifts and Donor & Volunteer Engagement and in collaboration with the Assistant Vice-President, Development and Volunteer Partnerships, lead the development and execution of a strategy for the substantive recognition and engagement of donors and senior volunteer leaders across the University.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead the development and execution of a strategy for the substantive recognition and engagement of donors to deepen their relationship and amplify their giving to the University. Lead the development and execution of a strategy for the substantive engagement of senior volunteer leaders across the University who can assist in achieving current campaign objectives and moreover be nurtured for enhanced and sustained leadership service in support of the University’s philanthropic goals. Build and maintain effective collaboration and communication with development staff, Advancement Operations, Advancement Communications, and Alumni Engagement to ensure alignment of activities and timelines and optimal cross-unit efficiencies. Exercise innovative leadership in the development of long-term and annual plans and provide progress reports towards goals. Identify emerging methods and opportunities to recognize and engage McGill’s donor and volunteer community. Conceive, develop and implement innovative plans and activities to support and promote such methods and opportunities. Serve and work in close collaboration with Advancement’s development team and the Faculties to ensure effective recognition and engagement of our donors and volunteers. Build productive relationships with fundraisers, faculty leadership and administrative units to ensure each donor is meaningfully and strategically recognized and engaged. Play a lead role in the development and strategic use of events that convene donors and volunteer leaders across the University, such as the Leaders Alliance. Identify the need for technology to support the mission of the department and create greater efficiencies; work with colleagues within University Advancement to build systems and reports and source external vendors and platforms, as necessary. Lead two teams of advancement professionals – Donor Relations and Volunteer Partnerships. Ensure objectives and performance are aligned with strategic priorities of the Development Unit and of University Advancement as a whole. Act as a subject-matter expert and an ambassador of Advancement. Establish productive relationships with external and internal stakeholders in order to advance Advancement’s mission as appropriate. Provide leadership, professional guidance and strategic advice to senior colleagues in the area of donor relations and volunteer partnerships. Perform other related duties as required.

Donor Relations specific:

Foster a culture of philanthropy across the University that promotes the importance of donors in advancing the University’s priorities. Lead the development and execution of a donor-centered stewardship and recognition framework that enhances donor engagement, satisfaction, and long-term philanthropic commitment, while balancing institutional priorities and resources. Work in close partnership with other Advancement units, specifically the Fundraising and Compliance functions,the who to job functions: (Incomplete?), Work closely with the Communications team to ensure that tailored and broad-reaching reporting and recognition communications are closely aligned with strategic objectives and priorities. In collaboration with other Advancement departments, develop strategies and metrics to understand, measure and monitor the output and impact of the Donor Relations program.

Volunteer Engagement specific:

Foster a culture across the University that promotes “careers” of volunteer service through increased levels of responsibility and engagement in programs of varied institutional focus. Help to establish a culture that values volunteerism and recognizes the role of volunteers in advancing the University's mission. Contribute to volunteer identification and recruitment and develop and implement training programs for volunteer service and leadership development, as well as training for Advancement and University staff who work with volunteers. Oversee the building, management and growth of the Leaders Alliance program, including minimum standards, protocols and materials that support consistent engagement across all stages of the volunteer cycle. Mentor and collaborate closely with senior development leads and the Vice-President (Advancement) to ensure effective management of Faculty Advancement Boards (FABs) and Regional and National Advancement Boards (RABs and NABs). Collaborate with the Vice-President (UA) and Assistant Vice-President on the strategy and management of the Advancement Council, Council of Chairs and Emeriti Council.

Other Qualifying Skills And/Or Abilities:

Extensive experience leading the strategic development, implementation, management and evaluation of comprehensive volunteer engagement and donor relations programs, preferably in an academic/higher education setting. Proven ability to establish and execute long-term strategies that enhance donor engagement, volunteer participation, philanthropic outcomes, and institutional reputation. Expertise in overseeing complex, donor-facing initiatives, events, and recognition programs from strategic conception through implementation and evaluation. Strong understanding of the role of leadership volunteers and of donor experience and stewardship within an integrated fundraising framework, and the ability to align programs and resources with institutional priorities and advancement objectives. Knowledge and understanding of McGill University’s mission, strategic priorities and advancement goals are an asset. Demonstrated success leading, developing, and inspiring high-performing professional teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a complex and evolving environment, balancing competing priorities while leading multiple large-scale initiatives and delivering timely results. Exceptional strategic thinking, organizational leadership, planning, and project management capabilities, with a proven ability to translate vision into actionable plans and measurable outcomes. Highly developed judgment, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to address complex and sensitive issues, identify opportunities, manage risk, and drive organizational change. Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills, with the ability to engage, advise, and collaborate effectively with senior administrators, academic leaders, volunteers, donors and internal and external stakeholders. Client-centered and service-oriented, with exceptional interpersonal skills, professional credibility, political acuity, diplomacy and discretion. Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication skills in both French and English, with demonstrated ability to represent the University with confidence and professionalism before diverse audiences. Strong proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems, fundraising and engagement technologies, data-informed decision-making and the Microsoft Office suite.

As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:

• Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance)
• Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%)
• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Competitive vacation policy
• Two (2) personal days
• Two (2) floating holidays
• Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
• Paid time off over the December holiday period
• Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
• Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits

Minimum Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree 8 Years Related Experience / Annual Salary: (MPEX Grade 09) $115,590.00 - $144,490.00 - $177,940.00

Job Profile:

MPEX-COM4C - Development & Alumni Relations - Director or equivalent (C)

Hours per Week:

33.75 (Full time)

Supervisor:

Senior Director Planned Giving & Donor and Volunteer Engagement

Deadline to Apply:

2026-10-30

Commitment to equity and diversity:

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].

About McGill University:

Located in one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGillians are proud to be part of a community that is both global and local, inspired by challenge and committed to shaping a better future. McGill received a Platinum STARS rating in sustainability, is among Canada’s greenest employers, and is a top Montreal Employer.

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