Executive Director - Advancement

Ontario Tech University; Oshawa; Hybrid; CAD 152,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Tech University is seeking an Executive Director for Advancement to manage its fundraising efforts. This pivotal role involves strategic planning, team leadership, and direct contributions to fundraising goals, ensuring the university's philanthropic culture thrives. Applicants should have extensive experience in fundraising and alumni relations.

Qualifications

• Ten to fifteen years of comprehensive fundraising and campaign experience.
• Five or more years in alumni relations experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage the capital campaign and support senior fundraising volunteers.
• Develop and lead strategies to increase fundraising results and alumni engagement.

Skills

Management skills

Fundraising skills

Marketing

Financial management

Organizational behavior

Education

Completion of a university program consisting of four academic years

Job description

Executive Director - Advancement

Tracking Code: req1614

Faculty/Department:Advancement Department

Number of Positions:1

Appointment Type:Full-Time Continuing

Hours of Work:35 hours per week

Non-Union Hiring Zone: Job Level 13 - $152,900 - $191,400

Posting Date:July 8, 2025

Closing Date: July 21, 2025 (7:00 pm EST)

Job Summary:

Ontario Tech University is pleased to invite applications for a key role within its Advancement team, supporting the university’s ambitious and growing fundraising efforts. As a dynamic and innovative STEM-focused institution, Ontario Tech is on a strong upward trajectory—with 11,000 students, more than 33,000 alumni, and research income that has more than doubled to over $28 million since 2018.

This position is essential to direct, manage and implement strategies with the team and volunteers to support campaign and alumni engagement objectives.

Nature of work:

Reporting to the Vice-President, Advancement and a key member of Advancement’s leadership team, this position will manage our capital campaign, support senior fundraising volunteers and leaders and directly contribute to fundraising goals by personally soliciting leadership gifts. In addition, the position will develop and lead strategies to increase fundraising results, strengthen pipeline development and alumni engagement. The Executive Director of Advancement will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Advancement office. The university is currently working in a hybrid capacity with 1-2 days a week in office.

Responsibilities/accountabilities:

Organizational Strategy and Development

• Contribute to ongoing strategic and operational planning, as part of the leadership team; develop, lead and implement annual and multi-year business plans and strategies to achieve transformational growth in fundraising and alumni engagement results
  
• With the VP, Advancement, grow the culture of philanthropy within the university community
  
• Report regularly to the VP, Advancement, Senior Leadership Team and volunteer leadership on the status of campaign fundraising activity and alumni engagement
  
• Make recommendations for continuous improvement and mitigation of any negative circumstances; implement changes as appropriate
  
• Ensure Advancement Office best practices are in place regarding fundraising and wrap-around supports and advise senior leadership colleagues of best practices and conditions for fundraising and campaign success
  
• Director, Engagement Services and Alumni Relations; Director, Philanthropy; Manager, Campaign Communications & Marketing, and Campaign Coordinator will report directly to the Executive Director, Advancement

Fundraising and Team Leadership

• Provide leadership, direction and mentorship to major gift and annual fundraisers, stewardship, communications, finance, research and alumni specialists while building a culture of aspirational giving, relationship development and effective pipeline development
• Support team members through coaching and by providing opportunities for growth and professional development
  
• Provide guidance and oversight to all fundraising activities and communications; ensure effective and efficient fundraising programs with supporting communications and marketing that advance the university and contribute to the success of the campaign
  
• Serve as the Campaign Director, develop, implement and oversee campaign activities; collaborate with and support leadership and senior volunteer fundraisers in their fundraising activities
  
• Work collaboratively with the VP, Advancement, senior leadership and faculty deans to strengthen collaborations with Advancement, identify strategic academic priorities, translate them into compelling cases for support
• Actively engage faculty to optimize fundraising results
  
• Build internal and external partnerships and liaise with the Government Relations and Partnership Offices

Alumni Relations Leadership

• Develop and implement short-term and long-range strategies with objectives of significantly increasing alumni engagement, philanthropic giving and leadership
  
• Direct and guide alumni relations team and activities to deliver on strategic objectives, through effective collaboration with faculties, developing and implementing enriching and valuable experiences and relationship building activities that continue through the alumni life cycle

Required Skills:

• Exceptional management skills and experience including short and long-term planning, directing and motivating staff and volunteers, oral and written communication, marketing, financial management, organizational behavior and development
  
• Experienced in organizing and directing multi-million-dollar campaigns
  
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with High Net Worth individuals, securing large commitments and developing relationships with donors and prospects
  
• Proven ability to develop and negotiate complex relationships

Required Education:

• Completion of a university program consisting of four academic years
• A combination of education and experience may be considered for this role

* Verification of Academic credentials may be required

Required Experience:

• Ten to fifteen years of comprehensive fundraising and campaign experience, grounded in best practice, including capital campaigns, major and planned giving, donor and volunteer management, research and cultivation practices
• Five or more years in alumni relations experience preferred

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit in electronic format a covering letter and their resume. Applications will be accepteduntil July 21, 2025or until a suitable candidate is found. We appreciate all applications received; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Ontario Tech University is actively committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, indigenization and decolonization (EDIID), and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, while especially encouraging applications from First Nations, Metis, Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and those eligible to work in Canada, will be given priority.

Ontario Tech University respects people's different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

If you require accommodation, please contactJulie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist.For more informationabout the universities policies for accommodating employees with disabilities please review the university’sAccessibility Policy.

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of theMississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location:Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Expected Start Date:9/15/2025