Manager, Development Operations

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Vancouver seeks a Manager, Development Operations to oversee operations of development programs and enhance fundraising strategies. This role involves managing ongoing operations and complex relationships with donors and senior university administrators. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills, along with a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Proven experience in fundraising is essential, with the expectation to raise major gifts in support of the university's mission.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of related job experience including experience in fundraising.
• Commitment to enhancing awareness of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Ability to work independently with sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Manage ongoing operations of development programs.
• Oversee administrative operations and relationship management.
• Develop and implement strategic plans for fundraising.

Skills

Leadership

Process optimization

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

University degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in commerce, marketing, or economics

Tools

Blackbaud relationship management system

Microsoft Office

Job description

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Development & Alumni Engagement, Level D Job Title Manager, Development Operations Department Operations | Development | Development & Alumni Engagement Compensation Range $8,305.08 - $12,952.33 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

December 24, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

The Manager, Development Operations plays a pivotal role in supporting the Development senior leadership team, the broader Development division, and the overall DAE portfolio. This position ensures operational excellence through comprehensive internal and external fundraising reporting, in-depth analysis, and comprehensive annual and campaign projections.

Key responsibilities include designing and implementing training programs, developing clear and effective process documentation, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The Manager also provides strategic recommendations for enhancements to proprietary applications and oversees user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure system functionality aligns with business needs.

The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of leadership, process optimization, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights that advance organizational goals and priorities while working within university fundraising policies.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The incumbent of this position is responsible for managing ongoing operations of development programs and/or resource development activities at a total program level of an average of $5+ million. As a Manager of Development, the incumbent coordinates and integrates operational efforts in all areas that affect fundraising in support of the overall fundraising program, and may be expected to personally raise major gifts in support of established funding priorities.

Responsible for managing much of the liaison with other development and alumni engagement portfolio units; responsible for managing the strategy for the prospect pipeline; responsible for planning and reporting. Will work directly with senior university administration and manage complex relationships with multi-unit stakeholders.

Annual targets to be set by workplan goals and objectives. If position has direct donor contact, metrics and financial goals are included as per the annual work plan.

Organizational Status

Reports to: One of: Director/Senior Director/Assistant Dean or Executive Director of Development.

Works with: UBC faculty and staff involved in fundraising including the VP, Development and Alumni Engagement, AVP Development, the President of the University and other senior administrators as appropriate.

Contacts: Donors and outside community groups and organizations.

Supervises: May supervise Development Officers, Development Coordinators and support staff.

Work Performed

• Works closely with the Senior Director/Assistant Dean or Executive Director of Development, and senior management to facilitate maximum private and public sector support for the University.
• Oversees administrative operations of the unit, including: strategic administrative planning, overall workflow and information flow, including donations reporting, and records and the unit’s budget.
• Responsible for managing complex relationships involving donors, other campus units, other DAE units and colleagues and maintaining communications that are critical to the success of the fundraising program.
• Manages the liaison between the Faculty/unit and other development and alumni engagement portfolio units (i.e. Research, Prospect Management).
• Oversees implementation of appropriate donor recognition; ensuring acknowledgement and stewardship programs are in place.
• May develop and manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects making face-to-face visits for the purposes of discovery, cultivation and solicitation strategies for prospects at the major gift level (defined as $50,000 and up).
• May oversee and/or develop proposals and may work with donors to generate gifts for priority projects.
• Manages strategy for the donor pipeline, ensuring that donor records are up to date, and is expected to be an expert user of the Blackbaud relationship management system.
• Manages and motivates staff, responsible for hiring, training and terminating staff, conducts annual staff evaluations, performance reviews, ensuring benchmarks and performance goals are achieved.
• Plans and approves professional development for unit staff, reviews annual benchmarks and performance goals across the unit to ensure these are achieved.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The position is a critical point of contact for donors and university staff in relation to development activities. The Manager is expected to make decisions and recommendations impacting a total development program of $5+ million. Incorrect interpretation or communication of university policy and procedures or lack of tact, diplomacy or sensitivity in dealing with major donors and senior administrators could potentially result in damaged relationships and credibility, leading to the potential loss of these donations.

The incumbent participates in decisions concerning the planning, organization and utilization of staff, staff selection and job performance reviews.

Supervision Received

The position is a critical point of contact for donors and university staff in relation to development activities. The Manager is expected to make decisions and recommendations impacting a total development program of $5+ million. Incorrect interpretation or communication of university policy and procedures or lack of tact, diplomacy or sensitivity in dealing with major donors and senior administrators could potentially result in damaged relationships and credibility, leading to the potential loss of these donations.

The incumbent participates in decisions concerning the planning, organization and utilization of staff, staff selection and job performance reviews.

Supervision Given

The incumbent is responsible for the supervision and oversight of development officers and support staff within the Faculty.

Minimum Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of five years of related job experience including experience in fundraising alumni relations, advancement experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• A graduate degree and/or undergraduate degree in commerce, marketing, or economics is preferred.
• Experience in Major-Gift fundraising and skilled in strategy development.
• Requires UBC wide knowledge and understanding of priorities, projects and opportunities.
• Ability to work independently while exercising good judgement at all times.
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills are required, along with skills in conflict resolution.
• Strong conceptual abilities combined with high attention to detail.
• Ability to work simultaneously on a variety of complex projects with imposed deadlines; ability to formulate strategic plans; effective communication skills, verbal and written; strong interpersonal and negotiation skills required in liaising with major donors, corporate executives and senior university administration; proven ability to work with the University’s senior‑most donors to advance the University’s mission; tact, diplomacy, discretion and sound judgement required.
• The incumbent should have exceptional management abilities, including the ability to plan, coordinate and supervise the work of others, in order develop the abilities of the fundraising team as well as to execute a variety of complex projects with imposed deadlines.
• Computer experience required; MS Windows environment, Microsoft Office preferred. Experience working with a centralized fundraising system an asset.