Associate Director of Development – UBC Okanagan

Join a bold, world-leading, and highly accomplished development and alumni engagement team at UBC, and help to support the growing Okanagan campus.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global center for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the world.  UBC’s Okanagan campus has the remarkable advantage of having a world-class university here in the Okanagan, an unparalleled experience in Canada.  Based in Kelowna, is a comprehensive, research-intensive learning community embracing bold new ways of thinking that attract exceptional students and faculty.  More than 12,000 students from throughout the Okanagan region, across Canada, and 109 other countries are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs in nine faculties and schools at UBC Okanagan. To support this innovative work and these exceptional students, the Okanagan Development & Alumni Engagement (DAE) team seeks a new Associate Director, Development to engage donors in the life of the University and raise major gifts in support of Okanagan campus priorities.   As a key member of the development team, the Associate Director will partner with key Okanagan academic and programmatic leads to solicit, close and steward major gifts, and ensure appropriate donor recognition, acknowledgement and stewardship programs are in place. This is an exciting time to join DAE with the launch of FORWARD, its most exciting fundraising and alumni engagement campaign ever.  FORWARD will help advance healthy lives, create solutions for the planet, and shape thriving societies.

Additionally the AD will have the chance to:

• Help the Okanagan’s student, research, and academic life in tangible and rewarding ways;
• Leverage UBC’s overall brand and reputation, and its tremendous impact in the region, allowing donors to have an outsized impact for their support;
• Make a mark in one of Canada’s largest-ever post-secondary advancement campaigns, in a highly professionalized and dedicated advancement team;
• Be an anchor staff member and take on a larger leadership role as the Okanagan DAE team expands and grows in future years.

ABOUT UBC OKANAGAN

UBC Okanagan is a comprehensive, research-intensive learning community embracing bold new ways of thinking that attract exceptional students and faculty.  A model of diversity and unparalleled local and international engagement, UBC Okanagan embodies the University of the future.  Young, nimble, and growing rapidly, we are deeply committed to Indigenous and other community partnerships, and welcome students and faculty from across our region, and around the world. Our inclusive interdisciplinary programs draw thousands of first-generation learners, Indigenous students, and young people from all backgrounds.

UBC Okanagan has emerged as a regional powerhouse boasting an intimate and entrepreneurial academic community that stretches the boundaries of teaching, learning and research to advance the greater good.  From helping older adults age in place, to transformative water management strategies, and the impacts of climate change on infrastructure and endangered ecosystems, UBC Okanagan researchers are changing how we live—here at home and around the globe.  Our academic programs have expanded to include unique new offerings such as Canada’s first bachelor’s degree in Indigenous language fluency, and a new Bachelor of Sustainability.

UBC Okanagan is now the country’s fastest growing campus; in just under two decades our student population has grown three-fold to nearly 12,000, and our research funding has likewise tripled to $50 million.  We proudly celebrate more than a decade of growth and discovery including almost 200 collaborative research ventures with industry, governments, and non-profits.

Looking ahead, UBC Okanagan’s Outlook 2040 Plan sets the beautiful Okanagan campus on its long-term course toward ever greater impact and service to the people of British Columbia.  Our ambition is: to create new opportunities for students while strengthening research ecosystems and building vibrant spaces that foster bold thinking and robust collaboration.

What comes next will be the result of collective action from our connected—and rapidly expanding—communities: researchers, donors, students, faculty, staff, and more than 20,000 UBC Okanagan alumni around the world.

 ABOUT UBC

Established in 1908 in Vancouver, UBC is a publicly supported, medical-doctoral university.  It is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world.

For more than 100 years, UBC has lifted its gaze to the horizon, steadily focused on the long view, with all its promise and potential.  The creation of UBC’s Okanagan campus in 2005 is testament to that relentless pursuit of possibility: a dynamic campus that strengthens UBC’s reach, reputation, and impact at home and around the globe.

UBC is home to 65,000 students, including 18,283 international students from 162 countries enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs.  These students are supported by nearly 18,000 faculty and staff on UBC’s two main campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna.

UBC is recognized widely for its achievements.  World university rankings recognize UBC for its excellence in teaching and research as well as its global impact.  The most established and influential ranking all consistently place UBC in the top five per cent of universities in the world. The Times Higher Education (THE) ranks UBC second in Canada overall and 47^th globally out of more than 1,115 participating institutions from 94 countries, based on its contributions through research, outreach and stewardship.

For more information, please visit:  http://www.ubc.ca/ File: Download

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DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AT UBC OKANAGAN 

The Development & Alumni Engagement (DAE) portfolio at UBC joins development (fundraising) and alumni UBC functions under one umbrella.  DAE is delivered through a team that provides centralized support to the nine faculties and schools on the Okanagan campus.  The team works collaboratively with specialized units in DAE, such as gift and estate planning, corporate and foundation relations, and alumni programming and events, to provide exceptional service to its constituents.

Leadership of the team is provided by the Executive Director (Adrienne Skinner) who reports dually to the Principal & Deputy-Vice Chancellor (who provides overall leadership for UBC’s Okanagan campus), and the Associate Vice-President Development for UBC overall.

FORWARD, the campaign for UBC, will raise $3 billion and activate the power of our global alumni by doubling alumni engagement.  The campaign will benefit research, teaching and learning across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses in three key areas:  Advancing healthy lives, creating solutions for the planet, and shaping thriving societies.

Remarkably, UBC Okanagan has increased its year-over-year fundraising by 60% over five years and achieves $10 million and engages over 5,000 alumni on an annual basis. FORWARD is expected to support this success by growing the program to a sustainable, new level of $15 million per year with total funds raised for the campaign projected at $130 million.

In the recently completed fiscal year, the Okanagan DAE team raised over $12 million (well over it $9 million goal) and is achieving its FORWARD campaign goal, having raised $60.3 million.  They also increased non-counted expectancies (future support) from an average of $133,000/year to over $1.5 million.

To learn more about FORWARD, see https://give.ubc.ca/forward/

File: Download

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ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Director is a key member of Okanagan DAE team, responsible for generating strategic prospect contact at the major gift level and raising an average $1+ million annually.  To do this, the AD will manage 75-150 prospects, and make 20-25 solicitations annually.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Associate Director works in partnerships with senior management to facilitate maximum private and public sector support; develops and implements comprehensive and complex plans for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors and develops and manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and meets potential prospects on a one-on one basis.

The AD will ensure appropriate donor recognition, acknowledgement and stewardship programs are in place and oversees the generation of donor/prospect solicitation materials and correspondence and will have some administrative responsibilities.

IDEAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will have strong experience working in major gift programs, complex relationship management and revenue generation, as well as a thorough understanding of higher education fundraising.  Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to plan and execute a variety of complex projects with a collaborative approach and outstanding written and oral communication skills.

To thrive in the Associate Director role, the ideal candidate will possess:

• Significant fundraising experience, with a record of progressive accomplishment and demonstrated ability in developing, implementing, and managing a donor pipeline.
• A proven track record of major gift success in a sophisticated and complex environment, ideally in post-secondary education.
• A highly collaborative nature, and the ability to lead, direct, and manage up and across.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to translate complex information for various audiences, and to seek out needed information.
• Ambition and drive, a positive attitude, and a professional mindset.
• Curiosity, initiative and, enthusiasm for UBC Okanagan’s work and the ability to find solutions where they may not be immediately apparent.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging trends in philanthropy.
• Demonstrated high level of political acumen and perception; acts with integrity, discretion, and tact.
• Skilled decision-making, including the ability to make decisions with the appropriate level of consultation and transparency expected in an academic institution.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Persistence and assertiveness to keep forward momentum and progress; proactive, and a strong inclination towards action.
• A post-secondary degree is strongly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Ability to travel both for local donor and alumnae meetings, as well as nationally and internationally as needed.

WORK PERFORMED

The Associate Director:

• Works in partnership with senior management to facilitate maximum private and public sector support for UBC Okanagan, with a Faculty/unit specific individual annual dollar goal;
• Develops and manages a portfolio of major gift prospects (75-150) making face-to-face visits (100-200 annually) for the purposes of discovery, cultivation, and solicitation strategies for prospects at the major gift level (defined as $25,000 and up).
• Coordinates and attends face-to-face prospect/donor meetings, with an expectation to meet annual benchmarks for these meetings;
• Develops and implements a comprehensive plan for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors.
• Develops proposals and works with donors to generate gifts for priority projects.
• Develops and implements strategies for closing major gift solicitations, with an expectation to make solicitations (20-25 annually) at the major gift level;
• Ensures that appropriate donor recognition, acknowledgment and stewardship programs take place;
• Generates donor/prospect solicitation materials and correspondence.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO APPLY

To apply or learn more, please contact UBC Okanagan’s search partner, Christoph Clodius at The Discovery Group, at christoph@thediscoverygroup.ca.

Deadline: All submissions should be received by May 19, 2023

Compensation, Perquisites and Flexible Hours: UBC’s benefits plans are designed with the continuing health and wellbeing of our staff, faculty, and their families in mind.  Examples of UBC staff benefits include a generous vacation package, extended health and dental coverage, a health spending account, enrolment in UBC’s pension plan, tuition waivers on UBC courses, counselling, and family support services, and much more.

The Associate Director’s compensation range is between $87,340 and $136,468, with a hiring target of $109,175.

The incumbent is expected to be on campus a few days a week, with some flexibility based on the needs of the role and donor activity.  While UBC Okanagan is based in Kelowna, the successful AD may also be based in a nearby Okanagan community such as Vernon or Penticton.

Equity: Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence.  An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.  We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.