Please note this role will work in a hybrid environment. The successful candidate must be located near a Canadian Blood Services site and will be working a mixture of on-site and off-site work based on the parameters for our operations to meet the needs of our donors, our staff and our communities. Currently, employees are expected to have an in-person presence for at least 40% of their work time. This requirement may vary depending upon circumstances.

​Job category: Donor recruitment, fundraising and sales
Job posting ID: 5601

​Employment status: Temporary full-time
Position’s anticipated start date: 2024-04-15
Position’s anticipated end date: 2025-03-14 

Classification: PTS/MGT/IT B
Salary/Rate of pay: $125,000 – $141,000

Application deadline: 2024-03-12

Application requirements:

• Your up-to-date resume.
• Job specific cover letter.
• We recommend you save a copy of the job posting for reference throughout the recruitment process.

Do you currently work for Canadian Blood Services? All employees must apply via the internal career page.

Together, we can make all the difference in the lives of others.

Be part of a dynamic, collaborative and caring organization committed to saving and improving lives. Thousands of patients depend on us every day for reliable access to safe blood, plasma, stem cells and organs and tissues.

If you are looking for a rewarding experience with a values and mission-driven team, join Canada’s Lifeline and make a meaningful difference.

We acknowledge that the work of Canadian Blood Services spans many Territories and Treaty areas across the country, and we are grateful for the Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who have guided us in this important work. We recognize the land and waters that have inspired our work and offer gratitude to those Indigenous peoples on whose territory we work, live and play.

About the role
Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Temporary Full-time Associate Director, Partnerships and Sponsorships, to join our dynamic National Development team.

The National Development team is responsible for establishing and delivering a comprehensive fundraising and partner engagement program to support the strategic priorities of Canadian Blood Services. The team works collaboratively and diligently to engage donors and partners in supporting patients through the many ways to give to Canada’s Lifeline.

Reporting to the Director, National Development, the Associate Director, Partnerships and Sponsorships is a key member of the National Development Management Team. You will lead a dynamic, high performing team that is responsible for delivering an enterprise-wide partnership program to meet targets in revenue generation, in-kind contributions, and biological recruitment, aligned to, and as determined by, the corporate strategy. You will lead all components, initiatives and programs that make up the national partnership and sponsorship function at Canadian Blood Services, overseeing the development, implementation, and progressive growth of six national partnership programs, including: the Partners for Life program, corporate partnerships/ giving (mid- and major level), sponsorships, community giving/ partnerships, workplace giving, and cause-partnerships. Also responsible for overseeing a personal portfolio of key national corporate and community partners, your strategic vision and ability to foster meaningful relationships will be essential in establishing alliances to drive growth across a diverse range of business objectives.

You will be an ambassador of the organization’s multi-product ambition, striving to position Canadian Blood Services as a “partner of choice” amongst corporate and community groups and elevate partnership activities based on business needs and partner interests. An exceptional communicator, you will be adept in leveraging capacity across the organization by building strong relationships and fostering growth. You will possess a proven track record in building productive relationships with C-suite executives and business leaders, both within their organization and with partnering organizations, demonstrating the judgement, demeanor and interpersonal skills required to build confidence and foster engagement. As the Associate Director, you will serve as a thought leader and centre of expertise in partnerships and sponsorships, using a wide variety of industry-specific methodologies.

Formula for success

• Leveraging your skills in strategic planning and program implementation, you will create and execute annual and long-term strategic growth plans for national partnership programming and partnership development based on reliable internal and external data analysis. This will aim to increase support to Canadian Blood Services through six national programs: Partners for Life, corporate partnerships/giving (mid- and major level), sponsorships, community giving/partnerships, workplace giving, and cause-partnerships.
• Utilizing your leadership capabilities, you will oversee a high-performing team to achieve incremental growth across diverse Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), encompassing the acquisition of financial donations, biological product donations, in-kind contributions, value-exchange partnerships, cause marketing partnerships, and gifted promotional or marketing activities. Drawing on these leadership skills, you will also collaborate with direct reports to set individual goals, providing clear direction and regular feedback to support their growth and skill development.
• Capitalizing on your skills in budgeting and performance tracking, you will establish and monitor program budgets, performance targets, and evaluation measures to track the success of all national partnership programs.
• Drawing on your partnership development expertise and experience, you will oversee a portfolio of key corporate and community partners, creating strategies to deepen engagement and elevate support to the organization. You will proactively identify prospects for high-level engagement, designing custom strategies to cultivate, solicit, and secure increased support.
• Leveraging a data-driven approach and analytical thinking skills, you will foster a culture of data-driven decision-making to inform partnership strategies for increased acquisition, engagement, and support.
• Capitalizing on your ability to track and monitor program performance, you will establish a comprehensive set of key performance indicators for the partnership and sponsorship programs, monitoring portfolio health, coaching the team for improvement, and reporting results to the Director, National Development, EMT, and internal stakeholders as required.
• Utilizing your knowledge of trends, methodologies, and tactics in charitable giving, corporate giving, sponsorship, and corporate and community partnerships, you will direct the organization’s national strategy and elevate performance managed across all partnership and sponsorship team members within the national development department. You will ensure compliance with all Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements and Canadian Blood Services regulatory requirements, policies, procedures, and practices to meet corporate objectives.

Desired education and skills 

• Post-secondary degree in a relevant subject area is required; advanced or specialized degree is an asset.
• Minimum six to ten years of progressive management experience in senior fundraising or sponsorship management experience, with increasing responsibility, working within not-for-profit organization(s).
• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is an asset.
• Must have proven record of success in corporate partnerships or sponsorship, with experience managing and growing complex relationships with corporate partners in the charitable sector or corporate philanthropy.
• A demonstrated understanding of the complete sales cycle from rapport building, needs analysis through to negotiating, closing, stewardship and effective pipeline management. Must have a credible reputation with individuals, corporations and foundations from whom they have requested donations in the past.
• A proven track record in building productive relationships with C-suite executives and business leaders, both within his/ her organization and with partnering organizations, demonstrating the judgement, demeanor and interpersonal skills required to build confidence and foster engagement.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential. Fluency in French is an asset.
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and writing skills, skills specifically related to proposals, financial reports and inspiring donor stewardship.
• A proven ability to work independently with the flexibility to take on a wide variety of assigned duties and projects, setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and working under the pressure of time constraints.

What we offer you

• Payments in lieu of vacation.
• Payments in lieu of benefits.
• Annual performance award up to 10%.
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources.

What you can expect 

• This role will work in a hybrid environment with requirements to be onsite at a Canadian Blood Services location 40% of the time/2 days of the week.
• You will work Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week, 7.5 hours per day.
• If you are located outside of Ottawa, you may be expected to travel to our head office location in Ottawa – 1800 Alta Vista Dr, for in-person team meetings as required.

Diversity and inclusion play a vital role in ensuring health equity for patients across Canada. We are committed to reflecting Canada’s population in our organization and fostering an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves, with equal opportunities to succeed and contribute.

Canadian Blood Services requires that all employees be fully vaccinated (COVID 19 vaccine doses as approved by Health Canada), subject to any medical or other human rights considerations. Persons who have been vaccinated outside of Canada must contact their local Public Health Unit in order to obtain a vaccine equivalency certificate.

If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply by providing your up-to-date resume. This could be your first step towards a meaningful and inspiring career. Come to work each day knowing that you save lives.

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those considered for an interview or those invited to participate in an assessment will be contacted. Applicants who require accommodation should discuss their needs with us.