Senior Director of Development, Cumming School of Medicine

Position Overview

The Cumming School of Medicine and the Office of Advancement are currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Director of Development.

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.

On June 30, 2020, we closed Energize: The Campaign for Eyes High, a $1.3 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign.  The Campaign was a tremendous success that has positively charged our campus community, our city and beyond through philanthropic support for student experiences that unleash potential; research outcomes that benefit society; and community connections that strengthen our ties.  We have just finished a Year of Gratitude that saw us celebrate and honor our generous donors and stakeholders. Today we set our sights on fundraising for transformational transdisciplinary projects and programs that are of utmost importance to our diverse stakeholders.

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 Senior Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine is a senior position reporting to the Executive Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine. This position is responsible for leading and supporting a large team of experienced fundraisers working on Cumming School of Medicine priorities, institutional health priorities, and other transdisciplinary priorities. The Senior Director will also 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 institutional donor relationships through face-to-face meetings, personally managing a number of the University’s key donor relationships and driving a significant portion of the University’s annual fundraising goal.

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 significant interaction with faculty and staff across the institution . The impact of the decisions of the incumbent will have a significant effect on the Advancement office and the University.

This senior position is frequently a first point of contact for key stakeholders including major donors, community leaders, as well as the Cumming School of Medicine’s program and institute directors, Deans executive leadership team and department heads. The advice, decisions and actions of the Senior Director may create contractual, legal, tax and ethical implications for the University.  This role requires the Senior Director to exercise leadership, diplomacy, foresight and sound judgment to ensure continued goodwill and financial support for the University.

The Senior Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine is accountable and responsible to the Executive Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine for advancing the current fundraising strategic vision and achieving annual goals and objectives. The incumbent will provide coaching and mentoring, direction, structure, expertise, priorities and procedures to a team of development staff. The incumbent’s team is responsible for supporting priority projects for fund development in partnership with project leads, faculty dean, department heads, and institute and/or centre directors.

The Senior Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine will oversee the short and long-term planning, development, delivery and evaluation of fundraising priorities and the related staff fundraising team. They will collaborate with the Executive Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine, development leadership team members, and colleagues overseeing related efforts in prospect management and research, donor relations/engagement, principal gifts, and development services. This position will also be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors within their own pipeline.

The Senior Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine will be responsible to help recruit, hire, motivate, and lead a diverse team. This position manages the strategic objectives of direct reports, including annual goal setting and regular performance reviews and will be accountable for all performance management related issues pursuant to their team.

Position Description

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

• Develop and implement plans and strategies to enhance the University’s fundraising efforts and to generate consistent and significant increases to the funds generated.
• Provide leadership and counsel to a team of professional staff members working in support of institutional and faculty-based priorities.
• Specifically lead assigned priority projects and associated staff.
• Actively engage with select major gift prospects and donors to advance their philanthropy
• Evaluate and make recommendations to the Executive Director, Development, Cumming School of Medicine and university senior leadership, regarding human resources strategies for development operations: recruiting, hiring, ensuring sound orientation and ongoing training, and support for professional development.
• Conduct regular and ad hoc review meetings with directly reporting staff as well as formal mid-year and annual evaluations. Ensure that all staff within portfolio are well-managed and all HR requirements are met.
• Engage with University’s executive leadership, faculty deans, department heads, institute and/or centre directors to guide fundraising strategies and ensure that fundraising tools such as cases for support and proposals are in alignment with institutional goals.
• Ensure the key components of their work is coordinated with both faculty-based and institutional fundraising efforts to capitalize on relationships with the corporate community, foundations, alumni, and individuals.
• Ensure compliance with prospect management procedures.
• Provide direction and leadership to direct reports to ensure goals are met on schedule.
• Ensure ongoing familiarity with University direction, economic environment, current trends in philanthropy and best practices in fundraising and leadership.
• Lead by example in building a strong culture of trust, collaboration, innovation and teamwork.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A University degree in a related field with 5-7 plus years fundraising experience in a post-secondary education institution is preferred. Substantial exposure to the non-profit sector, within a University environment or a large, complex organization is highly desirable. Experience working with Alberta Health Services and supporting large, complex, health foundation partnership relations would be beneficial.
• Candidates will possess the following: excellent communication skills (verbal and written); excellent listening skills; proven leadership ability; strong organizational skills; ability to analyze the market place and make appropriate recommendations; ability to combine people and resources in a manner that will achieve objectives within established limits; ability to coach and mentor a portfolio of faculty development teams and individuals; good negotiation skills, ability to manage relationships; honesty, integrity, high standards; understanding and commitment to an academic environment; innovation; ability to motivate others; and a passion for what you do.  Sound judgment and decision-making capabilities and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively are required.
• Proven leadership, management of professional staff and effective setting of goals and priorities are an important part of this role. Organizational abilities including planning and organizing complex programs and high-impact projects with minimal direction. Proven ability to build fundraising strategies in support of organizational goals, develop prospective donor relationships and secure major gifts. Experience in all facets of an integrated development program including events, sponsorship, alumni giving, annual giving, major gifts and legacy giving.
• Must be comfortable working directly with members of the University’s executive leadership team, Deans, and Department Heads. Ability to exercise a high level of tact and discretion in both internal and external interactions.
• Ability to demonstrate:
  • Fundraising expertise in a large, complex environment.
  • Accomplished leadership skills, strategic vision and successful change implementations in a large/complex organization.
  • High level of knowledge about relational database systems and technology applications to enhance business workflow and scalability.
  • Capacity to analyze, translate and report financial and statistical data.
  • Sound judgment and ethical decision-making capabilities and the ability to work collaboratively.
  • Strong customer-focused attitude.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills.
  • Sound facilitation, strategic planning, project and resource management

Application Deadline:  July 7, 2021

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 Management Career Band, Level 3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.

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.

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.

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 professional success while they are here. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.