Associate Director, Development Communications

Description

The Office of Development and Alumni within VP Development and Alumni is currently seeking a Full-time Staff Limited Term Associate Director, Development Communications for approximately 2 years.

The Office of Development and Alumni is dedicated to amplifying the impact of the University in our communities through 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 to expand our collective ability to advance UCalgary's mission to make a transformative contribution to the city, the region, the country and the world. The Office of Principal Gifts and Strategic Donor Engagement directly develops and implements focused, integrated fundraising strategies to drive donor engagement and advance philanthropic investment opportunities in support of UCalgary's strategic vision, plan and priorities.

The Associate Director, Development Communications is responsible for developing fundraising communications strategies to support institutional priorities, with a particular focus on the upcoming Faculty of Science capital campaign. Science research and innovation at the University of Calgary are in for an extensive and game-changing expansion thanks to a $55 million investment in the creation of a new multidisciplinary science hub in the Government of Alberta Budget. Construction of the Hub should begin next year. The Faculty of Science will embark on an ambitious capital campaign to raise philanthropic dollars to support this project. This role will be crucial during the quiet phase of the campaign and will help prepare for a dynamic public phase.

Reporting to the Director, Donor Engagement, the Associate Director, Development Communications will develop communication strategies and collaborate with partners across campus to adapt and implement. This role requires a strong project manager to create compelling fundraising materials, manage complex projects, and engage partners effectively. The Associate Director, Development Communications will be a talented writer who will execute writing and communications tactics to engage with major and principal giving donors.

The Associate Director, Development Communications is responsible for creating and executing strategic plans to support institutional fundraising initiatives. This includes the translation and integration of complex academic and non-academic initiatives and information into compelling, engaging materials and stories. In addition to working with academic leaders and researchers, this position works closely with the Development Leadership Team and collaborates with members of various teams across campus, particularly Faculty of Science Communications and Central Stewardship. The work requires strategic thinking; attention to detail; creativity; strong writing and the capacity to meet constant deadlines with best-in-class work. The position will uncover the stories that highlight impact and connect these stories to the priorities, strengths, and vision of the institution to help advance cultivation and solicitation of donors and lead to philanthropic gifts. Long-term planning and strong, intelligent, persuasive, engaging, relevant and accurate writing is key to the successful navigation of this role.

The Associate Director, Development Communications should be self-motivated and highly flexible, with the ability to prioritize workflow in response to changing workloads and shifting priorities. Keen analytic ability; experience interpreting, translating and writing highly technical and scientific content; the ability to work with and lead a broad range of individuals and teams; and superior verbal and written communication skills are required. This individual must have the ability to work courteously and professionally under stressful conditions and tight deadlines, using tact and diplomacy while respecting appropriate confidentialities. The position requires both a technical and creative thinker and fast learner who is proficient with information and communication technologies, and who wants to continuously improve their knowledge base and skill sets.

This position will deal with highly confidential materials that call for discretion and sound judgment. This full-time limited-term position aligns with a 35-hour work week.

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

• This position is responsible for creating communications strategies and implementing tactics to support those strategies. The development, delivery and management of best-in-class materials will support fundraising efforts and further the ability of our leadership and frontline fundraisers to effectively communicate the purpose and scope of the philanthropic needs of the institution, and specifically the science campaign and, thus, generate philanthropic revenue.
• This includes:
  • Collaborate with research experts, fundraisers and communicators to identify relevant information and data as well as supporting examples and compelling stories of impact.
  • Research, write, curate, edit and produce persuasive case for supports, fundraising proposals, reports, pitch decks, feature and news stories and other fundraising materials that clearly articulate existing and emerging areas of excellence.
  • Craft clear, compelling and tailored communications for different audiences, including prospective donors, campaign cabinet members and other partners to help advance fundraising efforts.
  • Oversee the planning, coordination and execution of fundraising activities, including salon style events and small donor tours.
  • Write, review and edit copy for a variety of assets and channels including print, digital and web.
  • Play a key role in creating tone, voice and messaging for development-focused campaign communications and help to develop usage guidelines to ensure consistency and alignment across the institution.
  • Help prepare and strengthen fundraising meetings, presentations and pitches led by the President, Vice-President and other development leaders.
  • Review and edit documentation for accuracy, consistent messaging, formatting, grammar and compliance with university standards and style.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• University degree with five to seven years of relevant experience in fundraising communications/strategy and/or business development.
• Ability to synthesize a broad range of academic and non-academic information into a concisely persuasive narrative for non-academic audiences.
• Proven track record in developing communications strategies to communicate complex topics, ideally for fundraising purposes.
• Excellent organizational, project management, analytical, problem-solving, interviewing and research skills.
• Ability to develop and manage multi-step projects including timelines and approvals within a complex organization ¿ examples may include events, annual reports or community engagement projects.
• A demonstrated portfolio of excellence in writing, editing and producing a variety of different types of content that speak to depth and breadth of ability.
• Experience writing fundraising proposals, grant applications and pitches that directly lead to results (i.e., increased sales and/or philanthropic investment) will be highly relevant to the role.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, work under pressure and with frequent deadlines, and handle numerous priorities at once.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Innovative and self-motivated.
• Knowledge of post-secondary educational environment.
• High-level of problem solving and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to use discretion with confidential material; high level of tact, diplomacy, professionalism and a strong work ethic.
• Experience working for or within post-secondary environment is an asset.
• Knowledge of fundraising is an asset.
• Creative and collaborative.

Application Deadline:  October 3, 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 P3 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.