Director of Major Gifts York University, Division of Advancement

Transcription

1 Director of Major Gifts York University, Division of Advancement THE OPPORTUNITY Reporting to the Assistant Vice President (AVP), Development, the Director of Major Gifts will be responsible for leading and managing York University s fundraising efforts in Major Giving, including full operational and people management responsibilities for a decentralized team of 7 employees. The incumbent will serve as a member of Development s senior team leading, managing and recommending improvements to Major Gifts fundraising approaches and processes. The Director will work closely with the central Campaign fundraising team including the Vice President, Advancement, the AVP Development, the Executive Director, Alumni Relations, the Director, Advancement Services and the Development Leadership team. The Director will establish and implement a strategic plan for the Major Gifts Program, and will ensure alignment with the University s and Development s objectives and priorities. The Director of Major Gifts will be responsible for identifying potential major funding sources, and for developing and implementing strategies to secure major gift support for the University s academic, programmatic and capital needs. To contribute to the goals of the University, and also to demonstrate leadership, the Director will maintain a portfolio of active major gifts prospects, and will be responsible for the successful solicitation of these prospects. The Director will provide effective leadership and management of the Major Gifts team, including the establishment of and management to core metrics, the motivation of the Major Gifts team as they seek to achieve these metrics, and the active partnership with the Major Gifts teams as they work with their Deans and other academic leads to devise and implement the most effective strategies to achieve fundraising success for their faculties and units. ABOUT YORK UNIVERSITY THIS IS OUR TIME Today, York University is leading the way. Every day, in every field, we at York are redefining excellence. Cultivating creativity, collaboration and innovation, we are building a culture of student success, academic and research excellence and community engagement that is shaping the global thinking of tomorrow. York is a comprehensive, research-intensive university that is committed to pursuing excellence, student success, outreach and partnership by engaging students, faculty, staff, alumni and external partners in a joint venture that transforms teaching into learning, research into discovery and service into citizenship. Founded in 1959, York has become a leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university, all while staying true to our original values of accessibility, social responsibility and academic excellence. We have a student population of over 55,000, a family of more than 290,000 alumni worldwide, 7,000 faculty and staff, two campuses in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (with a third on the way in Markham), 11 Faculties offering more than 5,000 courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and a budget of nearly $940 million making us the second largest university in Ontario, and the third largest in Canada

2 Our unique research collaborations have social, scientific and technological impact, and our 288 international partnerships are helping students think bigger, broader and more globally than ever before. We are one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the world, with enormous potential for future development given our location in the centre of a region experiencing the fastest growth in both population and innovation. Academic & Research Excellence Our goal is to offer a quality postsecondary education enriched through the research and scholarly activities of faculty that demonstrably provide students with the knowledge and skills needed in a future fuelled by entrepreneurial creativity. As we become more research intensive, we strengthen our reputation as a leader in social and pedagogical innovation as well as experiential education and technology-enhanced learning. Student Success York s top priority is the success of our students, who are thinking bigger, broader and more globally than ever before. Our students are our biggest source of pride. We are committed to nurturing their skills in research and analysis, communication and critical inquiry, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their communities today and in the future. We have strengthened our new student support programs, expanded our communications and outreach efforts, and delivered countless services to help our students achieve their personal and professional goals. Community Engagement York has adopted a global perspective on the concept of community. Through innovative research and community-engaged scholarship, we are fuelling progress in communities here at home and around the world. Our students are benefiting from unique experiential education opportunities, our programs are reaching communities near and far, our researchers are contributing invaluable knowledge to a wide array of disciplines, and our alumni are taking their comprehensive training to countries across the globe. Employee Engagement We are home to a host of talented faculty and staff whose curiosity, passion and engagement with their local and global communities is changing the world. York believes in nurturing a culture of respect. We value the contributions of all members of our community and celebrate each success as both an individual accomplishment and an institutional one. Capital Investment We are in the midst of a tremendous transformation on campus. As our campuses expand, so do our horizons. In just a couple of years we will be connected to the GTA by subway. Our thriving new Lassonde School of Engineering is housed in a state-of-the-art facility and building on our existing programs. The construction of the new, fully accessible CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium provided our athletes, students and residents a place to train and compete at home, as well as an opportunity to shine on the world stage during the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. Resource Integration & Planning One of York s key priorities is to support our academic mission and enhance our student experience through fiscal responsibility. The University has achieved significant efficiencies without compromising services. Across all functions, resources are aligned with academic objectives and implemented through effective services. ADVANCEMENT AT YORK UNIVERSITY The Division of Advancement promotes York University s teaching and research priorities by engaging our diverse community of alumni and friends to build long-term mutually-beneficial relationships and provide support to the University s faculty and students. Our team is comprised of about 80 employees in three departments: Advancement Services manages alumni and donor information and processes gifts to the University Alumni Relations provides programs and services to over 290,000 York alumni worldwide Development leads efforts to promote and secure philanthropic support from alumni, donors, parents and friends - 2 -

3 Our mission is to inspire and cultivate meaningful engagement and philanthropic support within our diverse communities to advance York University s excellence in education, research and community service. We accomplish our mission through our values of accountability, collaboration and entrepreneurship. York University s Major Gifts fundraising efforts are focused on gifts of $25,000 and above to fund vital programs for the University principally at the faculty level. These efforts are at the core of Development s overall fundraising efforts not only for near term annual objectives in support of the University s priorities but also to build a pipeline of support for York University for the future. This is an exciting time to be at York. The highly successful York to the Power of 50 fundraising campaign was generously supported by more than 30,000 alumni, donors and friends, allowing the University to undertake a wide variety of new projects. Taking an integrated approach, the Division of Advancement is building on this success to enhance York s engagement with our many communities. Together with our partners across the University, we will enable York to become a leading research university in the 21st century. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE Enthusiastic and highly motivating, the ideal candidate will be an exceptional coach and mentor who will mobilize our talent and focus on helping each person to reach their full potential. Adaptable in dealing with differing needs and styles of individuals, the Director of Major Gifts will have a service-orientation and be ambitious for the entire team to succeed. Proactive and persistent, the successful candidate will understand how to work effectively and efficiently in a complex environment. The Director will be supportive of colleagues across the Division and the University, and will foster and support collaboration amongst teams and individuals. The ideal candidate will have strong administrative and problem solving skills, and will skillfully manage both up and down. The Director of Major Gifts will serve as a conduit who translates vision and strategy to tactics and actions. The incumbent will be an articulate communicator who understands the importance of frequent communication and keeping others informed. Calm, confident, and respectful, the Director will establish and provide clear expectations, and will model appropriate activities and behaviours. The successful candidate will bring energy and initiative to the role, and will use persuasion and influence to build buy-in and commitment from others. A principled person with substance and integrity, the Director will bring a high level of emotional intelligence and maturity to the role. Intelligent and inquisitive, the successful candidate will possess a strategic mindset and approach. A mission-driven individual and excited about York s vision and future, the ideal candidate will have significant professional major gift fundraising and a demonstrated track record of success. Experience in a major institutional campaign would also be desirable. MAJOR DUTIES Leads the Major Gifts staff team and function to develop an environment that fosters team cohesiveness, optimizes collaboration, ensures operational efficacy and efficiency, and upholds stringent service quality standards in order to maximize the near, medium, and long-term fundraising and relationship-building outcomes for the University. Creates and implements the strategic framework for the Major Gifts team, and oversees the development and implementation of a multi-year plan and corresponding performance plans of Major Gifts team staff. Works with management (principally the Vice-President, Advancement, Assistant Vice-President, Development, the Executive Director, Alumni Relations, the Director, Advancement Services, Deans, and staff to provide direction and ensure that priorities are implemented, monitored, evaluated and refined. Manages Major Gifts team. This includes hiring, coaching, and motivating staff; setting, directing and monitoring the implementation of annual plans; and performance development. Oversees plans for generating revenues to support fundraising activities

4 Collaborates with other fundraising faculty Directors and the Major Gifts team to evaluate performance and achievement of strategic objectives. Reports quarterly and annually on Major Gifts activities and financial performance to the AVP Development. Manages a portfolio of prospects and conducts major gift fundraising activity for select projects as a member of the senior central fundraising team. Oversees the financial operations of the Major Gifts team and, in collaboration with the Director, Advancement Services via Manager, Finance and Administration, reports to the Assistant Vice-President, Development on budget performance and oversight of Major Gifts Program financial assets and resources. Provides leadership to all aspects of the unit, ensuring that all operations are optimally efficient, complying with Advancement s Divisional policies, University policies and accepted protocols and procedures, and serves and advances the strategic interests and priorities of Major Gifts Program and the Division of Advancement. Oversees the development, introduction and refinement of specific operational policies and procedures, and service standards for Major Gifts Program s operation, within the parameters of Divisional and institutional policies as required. SCOPE OF DECISION-MAKING Makes decisions regarding the selection, appraisal, performance development, and termination of members of the Major Gifts team. Leads the planning, implementation and oversight of the Major Gifts operations. Determines with whom to consult and how best to complete Major Gifts Program s strategic plan and what to include and exclude in the plan. Establishes how best to liaise with senior Advancement team members and senior University officials to achieve Major Gifts team plan objectives. Determines how best to enhance Major Gifts Program s team performance including team-wide performance metrics and what supports individuals may need to inspire maximum performance. Decides how best to target limited Major Gifts Program s financial and human resources. Determines strategic direction to maximize the benefit of Major Gifts to York University. Defines how best to advance major gift prospect relationships including which senior University officials and volunteers to involve and when to take the next step in a given relationship. Works with the AVP, Development to develop and manage budget and staff resource planning for the Major Gifts team. This involves budget planning, development, forecasting and accountability for variances. Authorizes expenditures within the budget allocation and appropriate reporting against the approved budget. Collaborates with members of the Advancement Senior Leadership Team on budgets, budget models and revenue planning for the Division as a whole. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Progressive and successful professional experience in fundraising with a focus on major gifts; proven experience in closing major gifts and meeting gift goals. Strong track record of successful management, including the ability to successfully manage multi-functional or diverse areas; ideally will have experience in a unionized environment. Well-developed human resources management experience, and demonstrated ability to lead a fundraising team; the ideal candidate will care deeply about mentoring Senior Development Officers. Significant experience in developing and managing budgets, managing staff and performance, and leading or contributing to change management implementation. Strategic planning experience including the ability to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and alter strategic advancement plans. Ability to develop and communicate the objectives of the Major Gifts team, and to understand how the objectives of the Senior Leadership Team, the Development Leadership team, the Community and Alumni Relations team and Advancement Services team integrate with those of the Major Gifts team to help maximize the opportunities for success of each of these teams. Ability to understand the needs and interests of major donors in order to develop relationships between them and the University, including the ability to participate in all aspects of the gift cycle

5 Interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting the University s fundraising priorities through developing excellent working relationships with faculty, senior academic leaders, senior volunteers, and the Advancement Division team. Demonstrated ability to work with senior volunteers and senior organizational leadership. Exceptional planning, organization, project management, prioritization, and time-management skills are required to manage multiple on-going projects simultaneously. Strong analytical, research, interpretative, and evaluation skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including a strong ability to make highly effective formal and informal presentations to diverse groups. The ability to write, and coach others in writing, for the University and fundraising environment to advance fundraising cases for support and to develop strategic advancement plans; experience in drafting proposals, gift agreements, and other written documentation as required. Strong interpersonal skills, and a strong commitment to customer service. Ability to work independently while also working as a member of the Advancement team. Knowledge of tax laws that impact charitable giving, personal assets and estates. Computer literacy and competency with word-processing and spreadsheet applications, fundraising and prospect management databases, and internet skills. CFRE professional designation is required, or a commitment to complete the CFRE certification within 3 years of start date. A university education is required for this position. We will also consider candidates who possess an equivalent combination of education and fundraising experience specifically in an educational setting. FOR MORE INFORMATION At York University, we have an exciting vision for our future, and we are determined to reach it. There s never been a better time to join our team! For more information about this opportunity, please contact Tara George at KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.) via York@kciphilanthropy.com or ext We would be happy to send you an information package, and to answer any questions that you might have. Please note that expressions of interest are requested no later than October 28, Candidates are asked to submit resume and covering letter to the above address. All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. York University is committed to employment equity and has implemented a policy of affirmative action. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority