Director of Development

Keynote Search; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CPAC, Canada’s national bilingual network focused on parliamentary and public affairs, seeks a Director of Development and Communications in Ottawa. This senior role leads development, philanthropy, donor engagement and diverse revenue streams.

You will establish development strategy, build relationships with donors, foundations and sponsors, and help CPAC transition to a more sustainable funding model.

Qualifications

• Progressive experience in fundraising, development, communications or public affairs.
• Experience securing major gifts and developing fundraising strategies.
• Strong ability to build and sustain relationships with donors and partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual development plan and campaign calendar for CPAC.
• Lead fundraising efforts including major gifts, grants and strategic partnerships.
• Cultivate and steward donors, manage donor journey from identification to retention.

Skills

Relationship building

Fundraising

Communications

Public affairs

Bilingual English/French

Job description

CPAC is an important part of Canada’s media landscape. As an independent, not-for-profit and commercial-free organization, CPAC helps connect Canadians to their democracy by providing direct access to the people, institutions and issues shaping public policy. Since its launch in 1992, CPAC has provided Canadians with comprehensive coverage of Parliament and Canadian political and public affairs through television, digital and social platforms.

As Canada’s only national bilingual network focused exclusively on parliamentary and public affairs, CPAC has a unique role to play. Its commitment to providing accessible, impartial coverage of Canada’s democratic institutions is particularly relevant at a time when the media landscape is changing rapidly and Canadians are consuming information in new and increasingly fragmented ways. CPAC continues to evolve how it reaches audiences while staying true to its core purpose of making democracy more accessible to Canadians.

As CPAC looks to the future, it is thinking differently about how to grow its reach, strengthen its impact and build a more sustainable future. CPAC is on the cusp of becoming a Registered Journalism Organization, a CRA qualified donee able to issue donation receipts for gifts received. To support this work, CPAC is looking to add a Director of Development and Communications. This is an opportunity for a relationship-oriented leader to help establish CPAC’s philanthropic efforts, strengthen its external profile and develop the partnerships and funding to support the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Summary of the Role

Reporting to the COO and joining CPAC’s senior leadership team, the Director of Development and Communications will play an important role in CPAC’s growth and future sustainability. Working closely with the CEO, you will lead the organization’s development efforts, with a particular focus on philanthropy, donor engagement and diversifying CPAC’s sources of revenue.

As the Director, you will help establish and execute an annual development plan and campaign calendar that brings together major gifts, broad-based giving, grants and strategic partnerships. Relationships will be at the heart of the role. Identifying and cultivating new prospects, while building strong, lasting relationships with existing donors, will be key. You will be involved throughout the donor journey, from identification and cultivation through solicitation, stewardship and retention.

One of the most important aspects of the role will be helping CPAC transition from its traditional reliance on cable subscriber fees toward a more diversified funding model that includes private philanthropy and the emerging Service of Exceptional Importance Fund model. As the Director, you will help build the strategy, relationships and infrastructure needed to grow annual fundraising.

You will also help establish some of the core pillars of CPAC’s emerging philanthropic program. This will include supporting the launch of the inaugural Philanthropic Advisory Committee, helping committee members make connections and follow up on opportunities within their networks, and ensuring CPAC’s internal systems are ready to support the organization’s fundraising ambitions.

While the role includes communications, the immediate priority is development. CPAC already has a strong communications team and established capabilities in this area. You will provide strategic oversight while helping the team continue to grow, with your primary focus on fundraising, external relationships and expanding CPAC’s presence in the community.

Why Should You Consider This Role?

This is a rare opportunity to build something meaningful. CPAC is at an important point in its evolution, and the successful candidate will have the chance to help establish philanthropy as a meaningful and sustainable source of support for independent democratic media in Canada.

You will have the opportunity to work closely with the CEO, COO, board and senior leadership team, while developing relationships with donors, foundations, corporations and other influential stakeholders across the country. There is also an opportunity to see the impact of your work quickly, with the 2027 fundraising events providing an immediate platform to create momentum and raise CPAC’s profile.

Importantly, the groundwork is already underway. CPAC has a clear sense of where it wants to go and is putting the pieces in place to support its philanthropic ambitions. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to take that work forward - bringing energy, ideas and relationships to an organization that is ready to evolve.

Is This For You?

You are someone who enjoys building and is energized by the opportunity to create something that has not existed at this scale before. You bring a strong relationship-building instinct, professional maturity and the confidence to move comfortably between strategy and execution. From developing a major donor strategy to following up on a prospect or helping organize a fundraising event, your days will be varied.

You bring progressive experience in fundraising, development, communications or public affairs, ideally with experience securing major gifts and/or developing and executing fundraising strategies. And you are someone who enjoys meeting people, opening doors and turning relationships into meaningful support for an organization’s mission.

Given CPAC’s national mandate, bilingualism in English and French is required. The position is based on-site in Ottawa, with some travel expected to develop relationships and pursue opportunities across the country.

Most importantly, you will be motivated by CPAC’s mission and excited by the opportunity to help shape its next chapter. You are collaborative and approachable, but also comfortable taking ownership and being accountable for results. You are curious, resourceful and willing to roll up your sleeves—someone who can build a strategy, make the call and get the work done.

This posting is for a permanent full-time position with The Cable Public Affairs Channel.

We use AI-powered tools (such as Fathom, Gemini, and Monica) to support certain administrative aspects of our recruitment process, such as interview note-taking, transcription, and summarization. These tools are used to improve efficiency and consistency. All AI-generated outputs are reviewed by a qualified recruiting professional, and all hiring decisions are made by humans. We do not use AI for selection purposes but do utilize AI powered search functions (Microsoft/Google) to help identify candidates on behalf of our clients.