Director of Development, Libraries and Cultural Resources

Description

The VP Development and Alumni is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Director of Development, Libraries and Cultural Resources.

Development and Alumni at the University of Calgary are a team of professionals dedicated to amplifying the impact of the University in our communities. The unit features a number of major functions including Development, Alumni, and Advancement Services. We work in partnership with our academic and administrative colleagues across the University and with a wide variety of community members. These partnerships, along with a deeply integrated approach within Development and Alumni, expand our collective ability to advance the University of Calgary in its mission to make a transformative contribution to the city, the region, the country, and the world.

The Director of Development is a senior position reporting to one of the Senior Directors of Development and to the Vice-Provost, Libraries and Cultural Resources. This position is responsible for leading thework to support fundraising for priorities in the  Libraries and Cultural Resources portfolio. 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.

A primary purpose of the position is to generate philanthropic support, sponsorship revenue and lasting relationships which will assist the Vice-Provost, Libraries and Cultural Resources in contributing to achieving the vision of the University of Calgary. The position will be responsible for planning, conducting and working in partnership with the LCR team to manage all philanthropic and sponsorship activity related to the portfolio's 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 position is accountable to develop and execute strategies that will result in the securing of major philanthropic gifts for Libraries and Cultural Resources and interdisciplinary priorities. The position is also accountable for developing strategies that will result in the engagement of alumni and community members as key constituencies for Libraries and Cultural Resources and the university.

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.

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

• Ensure stakeholders are appropriately involved and consulted in developing and implementing fundraising plans and advancing donor prospects.
• 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.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant University policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the achievement of pan-university fundraising targets.
• Set fundraising metrics for activity with the Vice-Provost and the Senior Director of 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, sponsorships, major gifts, specialized campaigns and legacy giving.
• Develop prospect lists and assist the Vice-Provost and 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.
• 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.
• Ongoing personal development as a professional fundraiser.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A university degree in a related field, preferably in Communications, Library Science or a Master of Library & Information Science, or other related field with a minimum of 7 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 soliciting six to seven figure gifts is required.
• Demonstrated experience in closing and managing complex gifts, such as collections or estates, is required.
• Demonstrated experience in soliciting and managing Legacy gifts 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.

Application Deadline:  September 6, 2024.

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.

This position is classified in the Professional Career Band, Level P4 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. 

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy 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]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

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