ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

Guided by a bold Academic Plan, an ambitious research agenda, and a Master Plan to revitalize the campus and surrounding neighbourhood, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is among the most applied-to universities in Ontario and its reputation with business and community leaders continues to rise.

Toronto Metropolitan University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate programs. Culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 48,000 students, including nearly 3,000 master’s and PhD students, over 3,800 faculty and staff, and more than 200,000 alumni worldwide.

In 2023, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) ranked number one on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity 2023, a ranking of the top 150 organizations across the country promoting creative, diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. TMU’s Diversity Self-ID program has been critical in supporting efforts to increase representation of equity-deserving groups and informing equity, diversity and inclusion goals, and used to measure the university’s progress.

TMU cherishes its role as a city builder and continues to reshape the downtown core of Toronto. The Mattamy Athletic Centre at Maple Leaf Gardens has brought an iconic building back to life, the Image Centre has helped make Toronto an international photography destination, and the Sheldon and Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre is transforming Yonge Street. In the past five years, TMU opened two new buildings. The Centre for Urban Innovation, a research, incubation and commercialization hub, which opened in fall 2018. In summer 2019, TMU opened the multi-functional Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, a combined academic, administrative and student residence building.

ADVANCEMENT AT TMU

At TMU, fundraising goals aim to ensure that the university will continue to provide students with exceptional experiences and opportunities in and beyond the classroom. These opportunities equip students with the skills and experiences to build thriving careers in today’s global knowledge economy. Through scholarships and awards, program enhancement, new facilities and the latest technology, the support of alumni and friends has direct impact on the lives of students, strengthening the capacity to challenge, support, and encourage students to grow as responsible global citizens.

The university itself is a diverse community, and is constantly pursuing new ways to collaborate with, interact with, and include the communities because that is what leads to a vibrant learning environment. Support from alumni and friends strengthens those connections.

Gifts from alumni and friends also strengthen the ability to attract and retain world-class faculty members, produce leading-edge research, and provide students with the kind of learning experiences that shape a life and career.

The Office of Advancement’s vision is to ensure that TMU be recognized as Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Donors are helping to realize this vision. From new research and policy centres to world-leading entrepreneurial zones, the university develops the talent, incubating the ideas and innovations, and generating the economic, social and cultural advances that enrich the fabric of society and improve the quality of life. Alumni, friends and organizations are invited to partner in this endeavor, to help invest deeply in researchers, students, and learning environments.

ADVANCEMENT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

With Advancement’s assistance, the university has made significant progress in the priority areas of the Strategic Framework:

Student Learning Experience
Research Prominence
Financial Sustainability

In 2020, the Office of Advancement created a plan Toward TMU 2030 to support the University’s strategic plan. This 10-year plan will see advancement increase revenue and engagement to help strengthen excellence across the university.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Office of the Vice-President, University Advancement and Alumni Relations

Toronto Metropolitan University is seeking an experienced senior leader with a track-record of fundraising success to help drive the University’s strategic priorities through the expansion of Advancement activities.

Mandate

Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the University Executive Team, the Vice-President will be a dynamic catalyst with the ability to build engagement and deliver results that increase philanthropic support for TMU. Able to strike the balance between strategic focus and tactical implementation to meet goals, the new Vice President will use this lens to build positive and constructive internal and external relationships with staff, donors, alumni, community members and other partners to further Advancement goals.

A collaborative and collegial builder of high-performing teams, the Vice President will have overall responsibility for a team of 90 and will directly supervise the Assistant Vice President Advancement, Assistant Vice President Engagement, and an Executive Assistant. The Vice President will also work closely with academic and administrative leaders across the university, and with key volunteers who support TMU’s advancement and alumni engagement efforts.

TMU offers a progressive compensation and benefits package for this role, including extended health benefits and pension. Contingent on demonstrated experience, qualifications, and competencies, the base salary for this role is $305,000 with a potential bonus of $30k – $40k.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Offer guidance and strategic counsel to the President for the planning, design, implementation, assessment and administration of the University’s advancement, fundraising and alumni relations activities, to advance and enhance the University’s image and reputation as both an international academic leader and a good corporate citizen locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.
Work as a member of TMU’s senior administration and participate actively on the Board and other committees relating to the areas of mandated responsibility.
Play a leadership role in the overall management of the University by actively contributing to the University’s executive committee.
Lead a cohesive approach to the development and enhancement of TMU’s advancement and alumni relations/engagement strategy, to further the University’s interests with its key donors, alumni and other partners.
Build and maintain relationships with a broad array of key groups, including alumni, donors, prospects, associated communities, and the public at large and transform these relationships into greater engagement and revenue.
Provide leadership, guidance, and support to a team of approximately 90 staff members, including three direct reports, in the University Advancement and Alumni Relations/Engagement departments, through a coordinated decentralized model.

Development

Collaborate with the President and work with the Provost, Vice-Presidents, the Deans of the Faculties and Chief Librarian, University Relations, as well as other senior leaders to inform the establishment of advancement priorities.
Develop and support a multi-year fundraising plan that aligns with the University’s academic and strategic plans, including plans for forthcoming campaigns in support of the School of Medicine School of Law, Student Well-Being Centre and other key priorities.
Lead, develop and monitor the advancement team to deliver revenue goals through rigorous pipeline development and exceptional donor relations.
Manage a portfolio of principal/transformational donors, supporting cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, in partnership with colleagues and volunteers.
Increase funding from diverse and new revenue streams, building a department prospect pipeline that constantly moves existing donors through the fundraising cycle and identifies, cultivates and solicits new, partnerships, with business, foundations and individuals on an ongoing basis.
Build a robust and sustainable culture of philanthropy within the University and among the alumni community and beyond in the city, nationally, and internationally that will serve the University in the decades to come.
Engage as a coach and sounding board for donor strategy in a proactive manner to support the learning and success of colleagues.
Reinforce TMU’s profile and overall positioning in the national and international community, strengthening relationships with alumni, donors, business leaders, other educational institutions, community groups, and other key partners.
Work with the Advancement team and collaborate across the University to strategically position TMU’s philanthropic value proposition and case for support in a manner that will increase profile and revenue in a highly competitive marketplace.
Integrate the University’s fundraising objectives with its communications and external positioning strategy, to ensure a consistent and coordinated message to the University’s various communities.
Foster an ongoing, collaborative and productive relationship with University Relations (Communications, Marketing, Government Relations, and Community Engagement).

Alumni Relations/Engagement

Oversee the creation, enhancement, implementation, and promotion of alumni programs that support TMU’s strategic, and advancement plans, in collaboration with the AVP Engagement and their team, and with other colleagues within Office of the President, the Provost’s Office, and throughout the Faculties.
Expand and foster positive relationships with the Alumni Council while implementing innovative approaches to increasing alumni engagement.
Establish and build relationships and regular communications with a wide range of alumni, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Advance programs to educate graduating students about alumni benefits and engagement opportunities.
Work with the Advancement Services team to ensure that alumni database records contain accurate and complete biographical and career information via surveys, projects, correspondence, website, etc.

Human Resources Management

Lead, coach, and engage three direct reports along with the full Advancement team to ensure a cohesive, collaborative, and high-performing team that is strongly mission-aligned and enthusiastically pursues individual and team goals.
Support the hiring, training, and development of staff, and encourage direct reports to effectively support, coach, and manage performance of their respective teams.
Provide clarity of roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities to enable staff to manage their areas of responsibility in an effective, efficient, and transparent manner.
Seek out opportunities to enhance individual and team commitment and practise in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Qualifications

A strong understanding of, and commitment to, academic values, and to the cultivation and enrichment of a community devoted to learning and discovery.
Great comfort, skill, and agility leading within complex and ambiguous environments.
Progressive senior Advancement leadership experience.
- Experience in post-secondary advancement or in another complex, publicly funded institution is a definite asset.
A strategic and analytical thinker, with the ability to understand the context in which TMU is functioning and establish a clear direction that will achieve the organization’s vision and goals.
Excellent strategic abilities with the capability to also work tactically, taking strategy through to execution.
Capacity to be innovative, generate new approaches and strategies that challenge the status quo with a track record of successful implementation of successful solutions.
Experience managing a broad, diverse set of relationships with senior executives, staff, non-fundraising partners, community leaders, and donors.
Demonstrated practices and results that recognize and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Ability to work collaboratively across an organization to ensure consistent programs, messaging and service delivery.
Highly experienced with a proven track record of success in all areas of revenue development including pipeline development, diversification of revenue, and donor relations.
Proven success in Institutional Advancement, securing $1M+ principal gifts and leading a comprehensive team of fundraisers.
Experience working on major institutional fundraising campaigns.
Experience creating and implementing alumni relations, membership or grateful patient programs that align with the strategic objectives of an organization.
A growth mindset with the ability to rally a team around a plan and build momentum to support the attainment of individual and team goals.
Demonstrated ability to bring diverse groups together around a shared, common purpose.
Exceptional verbal and written communication, presentation, and public speaking skills with a proven ability to communicate effectively to diverse groups in a variety of settings.
Engaging, approachable, diplomatic and collaborative, with the ability to thrive and seek a high level of interaction with others internally and externally.
A high standard of honesty, integrity, trust and transparency.
The ability to meet multiple and conflicting deadlines on a regular ongoing basis.
Frequent availability to attend evening and weekend events.
A post-secondary degree or a combination of relevant education and experience.

Closing On: September 13, 2023

Location: Toronto, ON Employment Type: fulltime Level: management

Salary Range: Base Salary is $305,000

Website: https://kciphilanthropy.com/kci-talent/

HOW TO APPLY

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Toronto Metropolitan University. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Tara George or Samantha at KCI Search + Talent, by email at TMUVP@kcitalent.com

Interested candidates are invited to send a resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by September 13, 2023. All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence.

To view full position brief, please visit www.kcitalent.com

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us in realizing the benefits of embedding these values into the work at every level and in every unit of the university.

In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada and to bring lived experiences to the work, we encourage applications from members of equity deserving groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada, First Nations Peoples in the United States, racialized people, Black people, persons with disabilities, women, and 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Preference will be given to candidates with lived experiences as people from equity deserving groups, as well as experience working with these communities with which the University works every day. Please note that all legally eligible qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, and we welcome newcomers and immigrants to Canada.