Director, Development, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape

Position Overview

The Department of Faculty Development in the Advancement Office is currently seeking a Full-time Temporary Relief Director, Development (School of Architecture, Planning and Development) for approximately 12 months.

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university, a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. The university has a burgeoning new strategic direction, Growth through Focus. We will be Canada’s most entrepreneurial university in the country’s most enterprising city by ensuring a transdisciplinary focus for our scholarship; deeper partnerships and integration with businesses, governments and purpose organizations in our community; and future-focused program delivery that sees us offer more modes of instruction, modularization and micro-credentials.

The Advancement Office exists for the mutual benefit of the University of Calgary and its stakeholders and coordinates development, alumni relations, communications and community partnerships. The development area in particular is an active, collaborative team that enhances University fundraising efforts in support of designated University priorities.

The Director, Development is a senior position reporting to the Executive Director, Faculty Development and the Dean, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL). This position is responsible for leading and supporting a small team working on both SAPL related and transdisciplinary priorities. The Director will engage in strategic planning and procedure development for key fundraising operations that support the University’s development goals and partnerships. This position is also responsible for advancing donor relationships through face-to-face meetings, personally managing a number of key donor relationships.

This position requires an ability to work under pressure, juggle multiple timelines, manage professional staff, negotiate with donors, and interact with a diverse client base including all members of the Advancement team. The impact of the decisions of the incumbent will have a significant effect on the Advancement office and the University.

The position has access to highly sensitive and confidential information and is frequently a first point of contact for key stakeholders including major donors, community leaders, as well as the University’s program directors, Deans and Department Heads. The advice, decisions and actions of the Director may create contractual, legal, tax and ethical implications for the University.  This role requires the excellent leadership, diplomacy, foresight and sound judgment to ensure continued goodwill and financial support for the University.

Primary Purpose of the Position: 
To generate philanthropic support, sponsorship revenue and lasting relationships which will contribute to achieving the vision of the University of Calgary. The position will be responsible for planning, conducting and managing all philanthropic and sponsorship activity related to SAPL faculty priorities, and for building and cultivating relationships with donors, alumni, corporations, foundations, community leaders, key community stakeholders, and volunteers.
The position is expected to exercise independent managerial discretion in the development of strategic and annual plans to engage sponsors and donors in the development program.  This individual has independent discretion and operates across all aspects of typical managerial decisions.

This position is accountable to develop and execute strategies that will result in the securing of major philanthropic gifts for both SAPL and interdisciplinary priorities. The position is also accountable for developing strategies that will result in the engagement of alumni as a key constituency for the SAPL faculty and university as a whole.

Maintaining professional relationships with donors, stakeholders and members of the academy is vital to the success of this role and its ability to positively impact the University.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Key accountabilities for the Director of Development include ensuring stakeholders are appropriately involved and consulted in developing and implementing fundraising plans and advancing donor prospects. The Director will recruit, train, support and motivate volunteers, staff and faculty to assist with fundraising activities and directly interact with corporations, foundations and individuals, to secure financial support. The position will ensure compliance with all relevant University policies and procedures.
 
The scope of the responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Contribute to the achievement of pan-university fundraising targets
• Set fundraising metrics for activity with the Dean and Executive Director, Faculty Development.
• Work with the overall Advancement Office to integrate and coordinate fundraising planning and execution with that of the University as a whole.
• Provide leadership in the development of short and long-term strategic fundraising plans.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan that incorporates annual giving (from alumni/ae and others), sponsorships, major gifts, specialized campaigns and legacy giving.
• Develop prospect lists and assist the Dean, others leaders and volunteers in identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors in support of the University.
• Write briefs, proposals, stewardship reports and other persuasive fundraising collateral.
• Develop and lead a donor stewardship program to support increased number of donors and increased size of gifts.
• Uphold Prospect Management Guidelines
• Ensure effective alumni engagement strategies are undertaken and that they leverage and align with university-wide alumni initiatives to maximize efficiency.
• Collaborate with members of the faculty administration team who have responsibilities for external relations and communications to ensure effective positioning of fundraising activities with its various stakeholders.
• Successfully lead a small team and manage fundraising resources (budget, senior University officials, staff, and volunteers) in alignment with overall University initiatives.
• Practice ethical fundraising in keeping with the University’s mission and values and in accordance with charitable giving standards.
• Ensure ongoing familiarity with current trends in fund development and alumni engagement.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A university degree in a related field, preferably in Business, Communications or other related field with a minimum of 5 years fundraising experience.  Previous experience working within the non-profit sector, a post-secondary educational setting or a large, complex organization is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in major gift ($25,000) solicitations is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Sound judgment and decision-making capabilities and the ability to work independently.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• The ability to coach and train academic leadership in the area of fundraising.
• Ongoing personal development as a professional fundraiser.

Application Deadline:  January 6, 2023

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is classified in the Professional Career Band, Level 4 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. Management and Professional Staff (MaPS) Positions are currently under review as part of the Alberta Labour Relations Board exclusion review process. Visit the HR website for more information.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.