Senior Development Officer

University of Victoria; Victoria; Hybrid; CAD 83,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Victoria invites applications for the position of Senior Development Officer for the Faculty of Social Sciences. This full-time role focuses on developing and implementing fundraising strategies, cultivating major gifts, and facilitating relationships with alumni and the broader community. Successful candidates will bring experience in fundraising, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively within a dynamic team environment.

Benefits

Vacation leave starting at 22 days per year

Professional development opportunities

Flexible work arrangement

Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant experience in fundraising or related field.
• Experience in project management in large institutions is an asset.
• CFRE designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Cultivating major gifts and managing donor relationships.
• Meeting activity metrics of 100-120 donor meetings per year.
• Developing donor strategy and soliciting contributions.

Skills

Critical Thinking

Problem-Solving

Communication

Leadership

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Share this job as a link in your status update to LinkedIn.

Organizational Unit

University of Victoria -> Faculty of Social Sciences

Location

University of Victoria - Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 CA (Primary)

Posting Close Date

Please note that positions will close at 4 p.m. on the closing date.

FTE

1.0

Salary Grade

$83,094.00 - $108,088.00

Additional Posting Information

N/A

Salary posted will be pro-rated based on FTE and achieved as per the collective agreement, if applicable.

Classification

SG13

Employee Group:

PEA - Regular

# of Hires Needed

1

Category

About this Opportunity

The world is changing. It needs our critical thinking to address today’s complex challenges. And the University of Victoria (UVic) is ready. Inspired by and honouring place, we are a community-minded, globally engaged university where we transform ideas into meaningful impact. The University of Victoria is seeking to hire a full-time Senior Development Officer in the Faculty of Social Sciences as part of the Alumni and Development team, to connect alumni and community to UVic’s vision as outlined in the university’s 2023 strategic plan: Distinctly UVic.

Reporting to the Director of Faculty Development, and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Senior Development Officer is responsible for determining and managing the faculty’s fundraising strategy. If you are an experienced major gifts officer (gifts of $25,000 +) or fundraiser seeking to grow your career in a post-secondary environment, please consider joining our dynamic major gifts fundraising team. This role will be required to work independently and demonstrate a high level of initiative while being in a dynamic team environment where flexibility and multi-tasking is essential.

About the Faculty:

The Faculty of Social Sciences is comprised of nine areas of study examining all aspects of society and the world we live in. The departments that make up the faculty are anthropology, economics, environmental studies, geography, Indigenous governance, political science, public administration, psychology and sociology.

Led by an established dynamic and forward-thinking Dean who champions fundraising, the Faculty of Social Sciences is positioned well to be a leader in the university’s comprehensive campaign. It is a diverse community of active thinkers and doers, and its students receive exciting opportunities to engage in research and other community activities. The Faculty produces world-class research in a variety of fields. They address topics including global change and sustainability, society and health, oceans and climate, and Indigenous and cultural studies. The Faculty enjoys deep relationships with a wide range of donors and offers many exciting philanthropic priorities and initiatives to share.

About Alumni and Development:

Alumni Relations and Development is the division of the university responsible for creating strong relationships and building philanthropic commitment between the University of Victoria and its alumni, friends and community members with the goal of increasing personal involvement and commitment to the philanthropic support of the university’s academic mission and priorities.UVic offers a combination of dynamic learning, vital impact and an extraordinary academic environment that can’t be found anywhere else. Development provides fundraising expertise and assistance and coordinates and integrates fundraising initiatives for the university community to achieve optimal long-term results with donors.

About the position:

The Senior Development Officer in the Faculty of Social Sciences will work under the direction of the Director of Faculty Development and the Dean in the Faculty. They will have responsibility for projects designed to cultivate major gifts, such as:

• meeting activity metrics of 100-120 donor meetings per year;
• achieving a monetary fundraising goal as set in collaboration with the Director and Dean;
• identifying and qualifying major gift prospects to ensure a rich fundraising portfolio;
• developing donor strategy individually and in collaboration with the Dean and fundraising colleagues;
• drafting inspirational major and principle gift level donor proposals;
• soliciting and stewarding donors;
• drafting and editing correspondence, case documents and other communication pieces;
• philanthropic project management;
• related administration, including maintaining and updating confidential files and information systems;
• creating briefing notes for faculty and university leadership for donor meetings; and
• scheduling and accompanying the Dean or subject matter expert to donor meetings.

What We Offer:

• Vacation leave starting at 22 days per year;
• Professional development: stay current in your field and work towards your professional growth goals with opportunities for professional development such as attending conferences, workshops or courses in addition to professional memberships in AFP and CASE;
• Professional experience: be part of working with a team of professionals on a post-secondary comprehensive fundraising campaign from its start;
• Values-based work. The Alumni and Development values are:
  • Integrity
  • Collaboration
  • Respect
  • Passion
  • Teamwork
  • Flexibility
  • Creativity
• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement.
• When on campus, enjoy the park-like atmosphere working in one of the most beautiful places in the world

*Posting is ongoing until filled, but application review will commence on May 20, 2025”

*This position is eligible for a Hybrid Work Arrangement*

The salary range for this position is:

• Recruitment range: $83,094 -$91,625 maximum starting salary is determined through knowledge, experience and internal equity.
• Performance range: $108,088 salary range ceiling is available through annual performance increases.

Job Summary

Mandate:

Jointly reporting to the hiring Director of Faculty Development, and to the Dean or Unit Head of an assigned portfolio, the Senior Development Officer (SDO) develops and manages their assigned faculty/unit(s) portfolio by establishing and delivering an effective development and fundraising plan. The SDO identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards major and principal gift donors, sponsors and planned giving opportunities through, prospecting one-on-one meetings, and developing meaningful connections with staff, faculty, volunteers, donors and prospects. If their portfolio allows, the SDO may take on a supervisory role and oversee a Coordinator, including orientation, coaching, supervising and performance review duties.

Objectives:

• Build and cultivate a portfolio of 75-90 prospective major gift donors
• Build a Fundraising Work Plan to obtain annually raised major and principal gifts in support of the Faculty/Unit’s approved priority fundraising projects and in support of the University's mission and goals.
• Meet activity metrics outlined annually with Director including face to face meetings, qualifications, major gift solicitations, major gifts closed, stewardship actions and collaborative major gift solicitations.
• Achieve a personal fundraising target as determined annually;
• Ensure Coordinator (if in place) is clearing, releasing, tracking, recording and reporting all gifts as appropriate
• Develop detailed solicitation strategies and tactics for each constituent and work with the Dean/Unit Head, volunteers and faculty to execute these strategies
• Assuming a confident and informed relationship with the Dean in advising on donor strategy and fundraising best practices
• Partner with university and faculty leadership, as a trusted advisor, to articulate fundraising priorities and proposals
• Mentor other members of the Development Department (less experienced fundraising staff) as appropriate

The SDO works both on and off campus, as appropriate, to attend in person and virtual meetings and events with the Director, Dean/Unit Head, volunteers, faculty members, staff and donors. The SDO maintains a working space within their assigned faculty/unit(s). UVic seeks to provide a vibrant on-campus experience and responsive suite of services for our students, faculty, staff and community. Connections to campus, students, clients and colleagues are necessary to some degree in all roles.

A Remote Work Agreement (RWA) may be put into place, as approved by the Director and Dean/Unit Head, to provide the SDO the opportunity to work remotely on a regular basis for a fixed duration of time. RWAs will be reviewed and renewed at regular intervals.

Organizational Structure:

The SDO is a dual reporting position and is part of both the faculty/unit(s) they are assigned to as well as the Alumni and Development Department.

Within the faculty/unit(s), the SDO reports directly to the Dean/Unit Head, who is responsible for setting the vision for and sharing knowledge about their area.

Within the Alumni and Development Division, the SDO reports to the Director, Faculty Development, under the leadership of the Associate Vice-President of Alumni and Development. The Alumni and Development Department is comprised of approximately 70 people including the Alumni Relations, Major Gifts, Leadership Giving, Annual Giving, Student Calling Program, Planned Giving, Principal Giving, Advancement Services, Donor Relations, Gift Processing, Prospect Research and Communications teams. All of which can be seen at:https://www.uvic.ca/givingtouvic/team/index.php

Job Requirements

This position requires a level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree plus five (5) years of relevant experience in the post-secondary or non-profit sector. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing the principles of truth, reconciliation and respect, equity diversity and inclusion, and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Demonstrated administrative and organizational skills
• Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills
• Demonstrates leadership within Alumni and Development by presenting and sharing information or expertise with colleagues and mentoring less experienced fundraisers within the department
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Proven track record achieving fundraising and activity goals
• Demonstrated maturity, self-confidence and poise to deal appropriately with a wide variety of people and situations from the student level to high-profile community leaders
• Open to learning and development, and willing to accept new challenges and assignments
• Effectively administer, organize, plan and manage time
• Use sound judgment in the wording and the inclusion of pertinent and sensitive information
• Assuming a confident and informed relationship with the Dean in advising donor strategy and fundraising best practices
• Have experience engaging or ability to engage in pan-institutional fundraising projects that involve coaching Deans/researchers/professors and other leaders
• Act as a “university community member” who is mindful of work that may be appealing to a donor from other faculties or areas of practice and make connections within the university and community
• Acts autonomously in liaising with donors, alumni and members of the University community

Assets or Preferences:

• A CFRE designation is preferred
• Knowledge in Development practices and processes as well as systems used for day-to-day business is an asset
• Proven experience in project management within a large, complex institution is an asset

Territory Acknowledgement: We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

Equity Statement: UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who are eager to actively participate in that shared responsibility. We actively encourage applications from members of historically and systemically marginalized groups .

Accessibility Statement: If you anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process contact: [e-mail] Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.

What UVic Offers: To learn more click here