Senior Advisor, Alumni and Donor Relations | Conseiller(-ère) principal, Relations diplômés et [...]

Universite Saint-Paul; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 69,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A Canadian university located in Ottawa seeks a Senior Advisor for Alumni and Donor Relations to strengthen connections with alumni and donors. Responsibilities include developing engagement strategies, managing donor relationships, and overseeing data management. Ideal candidates will have a degree, 3-5 years of relevant experience, and bilingual skills in French and English. This permanent, full-time position offers a salary of $69,782 to $88,178 CAD.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in alumni relations, fundraising, or community engagement.
• Strong data management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement alumni engagement programs.
• Manage relationships with current and prospective donors.
• Develop communications for alumni and donors.

Skills

Alumni relations experience

Fundraising skills

CRM database management

Bilingualism (French and English)

Education

University degree in a relevant field

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Job Title

Senior Advisor, Alumni and Donor Relations

Job Details

• Competition Number: 004-2025
• Administrative Unit: Alumni and Development Office
• Immediate Supervisor: Director, Philanthropic development and outreach
• Job Type: Permanent, Full time (Unionized)
• Work Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Salary Scale: Level 8 – $69,782 – $88,178

Summary

The incumbent strengthens the connection between the institution, its alumni, and its donors. Working collaboratively with internal and external teams, they develop and implement strategies to actively engage alumni while supporting the university’s philanthropic goals.

Responsibilities

• Alumni Engagement
  • Develop and implement programs that encourage alumni engagement through events, digital communications, and strategic initiatives.
  • Plan and oversee meaningful alumni events such as reunions, conferences, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
  • Create tools and resources to involve alumni in institutional initiatives (career opportunities, etc.).
  • Establish an alumni association and serve as the primary point of contact for alumni, fostering ongoing engagement with the university and supporting their contributions to strategic initiatives.
• Donor Relations
  • Manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors, fostering strong relationships and supporting fundraising campaigns.
  • Develop funding proposals and coordinate donor recognition and stewardship activities.
• Digital Communication & Strategy
  • Develop communications for alumni and donors, including newsletters, social media content, and website updates.
  • Create engaging content to highlight inspiring alumni and donor stories.
  • Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to produce compelling and mission‑driven content.
• Database Management
  • Import data from CSV or Excel files into the database, integrating information on new alumni or donors, address updates, events, and financial contributions.
  • Generate targeted lists for specific campaigns by creating queries to segment alumni based on academic programs and geographic location or donors by category (donation amount, frequency, tenure).
  • Identify and merge duplicate records while regularly verifying key data integrity (such as alumni status and donation amounts) to ensure accurate reporting and communication.
• Gift Processing
  • Oversee the recording and processing of donations in the database, issue tax receipts and thank‑you letters, and manage online and recurring donations to ensure proper allocation and tracking.
  • Reconcile donations with bank deposits, manage special funds (scholarships, projects), and provide impact reports to donors to demonstrate the use of their contributions.
  • Conduct regular audits to ensure the accuracy of records and transparency in fundraising processes, in collaboration with the finance team.
• Institutional Collaboration
  • Partner with other departments (e.g., Faculties, Schools, Services, and Centers) to integrate alumni and donors into key initiatives.
  • Recruit, train, and support alumni volunteers to represent the university at events.

Required Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field (marketing, administration, communications, etc.).
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in alumni relations, fundraising, or community engagement.
• Extensive experience in CRM database management and segmentation, with strong data management skills.
• Ability to network and build lasting relationships, both in person at events and on platforms such as LinkedIn.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends and travel occasionally.
• Bilingualism (French and English) required.

Assets

• Experience in the postsecondary education or nonprofit sector.
• Familiarity with digital tools and platforms for event and alumni relationship management (e.g., Raiser’s Edge).

EEO Statement

We are committed to ensuring employment equity and encourage the participation of all individuals eligible to work in Canada. If your application is successful and you require accommodation during the selection process, please notify us when you are contacted for an interview. Your personal information is protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act.