Director, Community Relations

POSITION TITLE:
Director, Community Relations

REPORTS TO:
Executive Director

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT:
Contract (full-time) until September 2022

ANTICIPATED START DATE:
October 4, 2021

LOCATION:
Calgary, Alberta

Established in 1980, Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society (“Discovery House”) provides a continuum of care to women and their children fleeing domestic violence.  Discovery House facilitates transitional housing – offering longer-term, safe places for women and children to call home while they begin to rebuild their lives.  Discovery House provides women access to counselling support and programs to ensure they never return to abusive partners and mitigates the effects of trauma in children to prevent the cycle from repeating.

Discovery House is about hope and healing.  Every woman and child who stays at Discovery House is partnered with a case manager, and receives integrated wrap-around services, including:

Essentials: relocation, transportation, food, clothing and other basic needs.
Support: trauma-informed counselling, programming, and clinical services.
Quality of life experiences: opportunities to foster their value as members of the community.

Additionally, Discovery House collaborates with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, university research institutes (including Harvard and the University of Pittsburgh), and other community partners to drive transformational social change.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Discovery House is seeking an experienced fund development professional who can inspire, elevate and mentor our Community Relations team. The Director of Community Relations is responsible for leading the community relations activities of the organization including communications and marketing, volunteerism, philanthropy, government relations, and events.

Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the Leadership Team, this position works collaboratively with employees, funders and community organizations to develop and nurture relationships to achieve the Discovery House vision of a community free of domestic violence. The successful candidate will oversee the execution our development strategy to ensure sufficient funds are available to achieve the organization’s objectives.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Actively contribute to a healthy organizational culture and model the values of diversity and inclusion.
• Provide leadership to the Community Relations team to achieve fundraising targets, while recognizing that achievement of financial targets is not the only measurement of success for a fundraiser.
• Implement a comprehensive fundraising plan, including developing evaluation and outcome measurements.
• Provides strategic oversight for marketing and communication strategies, fund development, volunteerism and events.
• Work collaboratively with the Leadership Team and Board of Directors to facilitate a culture of philanthropy and to develop our strong relationships with existing and potential funders and partners.
• Personally, manage and build a diverse prospect portfolio and assist others in identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors.
• Increase the brand profile of Discovery House through the implementation of a comprehensive communications and marketing plan, including awareness campaigns, key messaging and brand standards, media relations, digital marketing, social media, and internal communications.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• A university degree in a related field with 5 years of fundraising experience in a non-profit setting.
• CFRE designation and Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) membership preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing and evaluating a comprehensive fund development program that includes annual giving, monthly giving, digital fundraising, and major gifts.
• Experience in development and execution of communications and marketing strategies.
• Track record in cultivating and successfully soliciting six-figure major gifts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities. Ability to articulate a vision and engage stakeholders and donors. Strong listening skills.
• Sound judgment and decision-making with the ability to work independently, yet collaboratively.
• Working knowledge of donor databases, with specific experience with Donor Perfect viewed as an asset.
• Proven success in leadership and management of resources (budget, staff, volunteers).
• Knowledge of CRA regulations, charitable giving standards and current trends in fund development.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Candidates for the role must demonstrate the following personal characteristics:

• Passion for the Cause: You want to build an effective, sustainable organization that supports women and children leaving and recovering from domestic violence.
• Leadership: You are a positive influencer. You see and seek out the best in others and create space for them to develop their potential. You put people first.  You have integrity.
• Creativity: You are a problem-solver. Where others see a roadblock, you focus on finding a path forward. Your passion for making a difference inspires others to do the same.
• Respect and Collaboration: You treat everyone, both inside and outside of the organization, with respect and courtesy. You are trustworthy and accountable.  You maintain confidentiality.  You give others the responsibility and the authority to make decisions.
• Personal Presence: You earn the trust of others by modelling high ethical standards. You make the work environment collaborative.  You promote a healthy, sustainable balance in life and work.

TO APPLY:

Please send your resume and cover letter to careers@discoveryhouse.ca stating the job title in the subject line. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We offer competitive salary, full benefits and a great environment to work in.

Discovery House is a committed equal opportunity employer. We acknowledge that we are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Siksika, the North and South Piikani Nations, and the Kainai Tribe, including other members of Treaty Seven First Nations the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the three Bands of the Stone Nakoda Nations; Chiniki, Wesley, and Bearspaw. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III, and all those who have made their home in this area.