Associate Vice President, Campaign

Cancer touches everyone. With cancer stubbornly remaining the number one cause of death for Canadians, and the second leading cause worldwide, and cases expected to double in the next 20 years, our top priority must be to accelerate cancer research and care.

At The Princess Margaret, we have a bold vision to Conquer Cancer In Our Lifetime.  

As one of the world’s top five cancer research centres, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is known for its game-changing scientific discoveries and exceptional patient care. And the Foundation’s role is to support, enable, and accelerate this work.

There are many signs that the future is bright. Our dedicated community, combined with the excellence, determination, and creative thinking of the team at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, is building a movement around cancer. Together, we can all make a profound impact, prolonging lives and giving people more time with their loved ones, both here and around the important advances.

With the generous backing of a passionate community of supporters, we’re transforming the cancer experience, giving real hope to cancer patients in Canada and around the world. This past fiscal year the Foundation raised $284 million, our highest revenue ever, and granted $144.9 million to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to help turn this vision into a future reality. These crucial funds helped to drive world-class cancer research forward and set new standards of care.

With the power of our movement, we will achieve our vision to Conquer Cancer In Our Lifetime. Every donation made today accelerates cancer research, improving and prolonging lives tomorrow.

 THE OPPORTUNITY

Established in 1982, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (The PMCF) has been setting daring and audacious goals with a mindset that is driven by our culture and passion for the cause. We have pioneered many successful fundraising programs, including our world-leading Princess Margaret Home Lottery, and some of the world’s largest peer-to-peer cancer fundraising events, and have a sophisticated Major and Estate Giving program.

We are excited to introduce this new Associate Vice President, Campaign role as we prepare to launch a historic, comprehensive fundraising campaign for The Princess Margaret.

The AVP, Campaign will be a key contributor as we craft our campaign vision, strategy, and priorities and will be a critical member of the campaign team responsible for developing, managing, delivering, and evaluating all tactical plans, policies, systems, and tools in collaboration with subject experts across the Foundation.

Accountable for the successful execution of best practice campaign operations, the AVP will bring experience leading and supporting major institutional campaigns. The incumbent will bring a strong understanding of major gift development process and as an expert project manager, the successful candidate will translate strategy into frameworks, tools, and actions.

The AVP will be a collaborative and resourceful leader with experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, complex, dynamic multi-stakeholder environment. A consummate relationship manager with experience working with internal and external partners, the successful candidate will manage, train, motivate, and coach a broad and diverse network of professionals including Foundation staff, senior volunteers, Cancer Centre leaders, and donors.

The PMCF offers a competitive compensation package including base salary, incentive pay, health benefits, and participation in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP). The hiring range for this role is $170,000 – $220,000 plus incentive compensation of up to 15%.

This position is based at the Foundation offices at 700 University Avenue in Toronto. The Foundation currently offers a hybrid work environment with Tuesday, Thursday, and one other day per week in office, or as required subject to business needs. Please note that the role requires willingness and availability to work flexible hours, including some after-hours work and weekends from time to time.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

In collaboration with the VP, Campaign, the AVP, Campaign will:

Campaign Planning & Leadership

• Create, manage, deliver, and evaluate a campaign strategy in support of The PMCF’s comprehensive, transformational campaign.
• Successfully execute the campaign, including all tactical and operational implementation and strategy consultation.
• Support the creation of architecture for presenting campaign priorities so they are understood by key stakeholders such as campaign volunteers, Cancer Centre leadership and employees, Foundation staff, donors, and the public.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications team to create materials and messaging tailored for specific audiences and revenue channels that will be involved in the campaign.
• Assess the current policy framework in place at the Foundation, make recommendations for required policy updates and shepherd the policy revision process.
• Contribute to the creation of campaign counting guidelines and their implementation across the Foundation.
• Provide insights into the development of campaign reporting systems and dashboards to monitor campaign progress, in collaboration with the business intelligence team.
• Draft annual and multi-year campaign budgets, monitor progress to plans, identify areas of risk, and make recommendations for mitigation.
• Contribute to the identification of key naming opportunities to recognize donor gifts, in collaboration with the Stewardship and Donor Relations team. Provide leadership to the consistent execution and application of these opportunities.
• Plan and execute campaign-related events such as cultivation events; gift announcements and celebrations; Cabinet and committee meetings, etc.
• Develop, maintain, and drive schedules and timelines ensuring alignment with Foundation activities, communications, and programming.
• Liaise and work closely with Campaign Counsel on campaign plans, meeting preparation, progress reports, benchmark reviews and other tasks as needed.
• Project manage mid-campaign review to ensure that progress is aligned with campaign plans and an end of campaign evaluation, identifying key learnings and recommendations for future campaigns and fundraising programming.

Staff & Volunteer Leadership

• Develop a proposed volunteer structure for the campaign and create position profiles for the Campaign Chair(s) and Cabinet.
• Play a key role in strategy development, identification, cultivation, recruitment, training, and ongoing support of campaign volunteers.
• Participate in internal campaign readiness assessment and support activities to prepare the Foundation for launch and implementation.
• Deliver educational programs for volunteers and staff so they understand the campaign vision, key priorities, plans, and their specific roles and responsibilities.
• Provide support to the Campaign Chair(s) and Cabinet members, including the coordination of regular meetings, material development, and others supports for key volunteers.
• Create a framework for regular communication with the Campaign Chair(s), Board, Campaign Cabinet, medical and research leadership, and Foundation staff so that all stakeholders are apprised of the campaign’s progress.
• Assess and develop the required campaign staffing structure including development of job profiles and timing for new hires.
• Hire, manage, train, and coach direct reports, as required through the phases of the Campaign.
• Provide leadership, training, and support to colleagues and volunteers who serve as partners in Campaign activities.

Fundraising & Donor Relations

• Work with the research team, transformational/major giving team, and other business units to build and grow the list of key donor prospects and ensure a robust donor pipeline.
• Develop, track, and support activity for top campaign prospects, in collaboration with the VP, Transformational & Major Giving, and the President & CEO.
• Act as a collaborative resource, advisor, strategist, and mentor to Foundation colleagues building fundraising capacity and to helping to instill best practices in major giving and campaigns.
• Partner with relationship managers for select major and transformational prospects/donors , directly contributing to fundraising results in a team-based approach.

Cancer Centre Relationships

• Work with the Cancer Centre to identify, cost, and develop cases for support for the fundraising priorities identified for inclusion in the campaign.
• Develop and manage effective partnerships with key stakeholders within the Cancer Centre to enable the campaign and major gift opportunities.
• Lead the fundraising efforts among staff of the Cancer Centre and Foundation.
• Work with hospital leadership to develop a comprehensive vendor strategy to advance meaningful, philanthropic partnerships with Cancer Centre suppliers.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Progressive leadership roles working with senior-level stakeholders in complex organizations, ideally healthcare or academic environments.
• Previous successful campaign planning and management experience including, but not limited to:
  • Strategy, design, and architecture
  • Policy frameworks
  • Campaign counting
  • Reporting tools and systems
  • Naming and recognition
  • Events and meetings
  • Volunteer and staff education, training, and coaching
• Demonstrated experience and success managing, motivating, and mentoring volunteers, colleagues, and hospital partners (or equivalent) involved in major gift and campaign fundraising.
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships at all levels internally with colleagues and externally with senior volunteers and donors.
• Ability to translate “big ideas” and concepts into plans, frameworks, tools, and tactics; and drive their implementation.
• Above average administrative, organizational, and project management skills and capacity.
• Proven track record of responsibility for major gift development and processes.
• Experience developing budgets, forecasts, and tracking and reporting against goals.
• Strong capacity for data systems and CRMs, ideally Blackbaud CRM. Experience using reporting applications and dashboards to turn data and insights into actions.
• Sound and independent judgement; ability to maintain absolute confidentiality and discretion where required.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA).
• Interest or experience in healthcare philanthropy with a passion for our vision To Conquer Cancer in Our Lifetime.
• Demonstrated alignment with our values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.
• A bachelor’s degree or higher is preferred for this role, or an equivalent combination of work experience and education. Project management certification/designation is considered an asset.

CARE AT THE PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER FOUNDATION

We believe that how we work together is as important as what we do. When we make choices and take actions that align with our values, we achieve greater success, and our lives at work are happier and more meaningful.

The people of the PMCF choose to create a culture that supports Collaboration, Accountability, Respect & Excellence (CARE). Essential to these values is a commitment to IDEAA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Anti-Racism.

 ABOUT THE PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER CENTRE

Welcome to the Home of Cancer Breakthroughs!  We have a long list of world firsts and we will not stop until we stop cancer. Below we’ve listed just a few of the major breakthroughs driven by science and creativity at The Princess Margaret:

We revolutionized the world’s understanding of cancer. Princess Margaret scientists Till and McCulloch’s discovery of the stem cell in 1963 was a revolutionary moment in cancer research and care. The cell’s ability to renew and repair tissues in the human body laid the foundations for regenerative medicine around the world.

We pioneered immunotherapy, a less toxic alternative to chemotherapy. Dr. Tak Mak cloned the T-cell receptor in 1983, a discovery that paved the way for more effective and less toxic cancer treatments through immunotherapy.

We developed a blood test with the potential to change how cancer is detected. In 2018, Drs. Daniel De Carvalho and Scott Bratman developed a simple blood test to detect different kinds of cancer and their location in the body, potentially diminishing the need for biopsies and allowing doctors to detect cancer earlier, when it’s more curable.

We learned that cancer cells can hide. In 2021, Dr. Catherine O’Brien discovered that cancer cells can hibernate like bears to survive chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs. This important finding is helping researchers discover new treatments that prevent cancer cells from surviving chemo and causing a relapse.

We’re extending the lives of glioblastoma patients. Drs. Farshad Nassiri and Gelareh Zadeh published results of a clinical trial showing a new treatment for recurrent glioblastoma, a challenging cancer, is well tolerated and extends patients’ lives.

We’re improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Dr. Naoto Hirano has pioneered novel approaches to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy and make it available to a wider range of patients. His new (CAR) T-cell approach is currently in clinical trials.

Hodgkin Lymphoma used to be a death sentence. Then we discovered it was curable. In 1950, Dr. Vera Peters discovered Hodgkin lymphoma could be cured with extended field radiation.

We find what can’t be seen. In 2014, Dr. John Dick discovered some patients are pre-disposed to leukemia and cardiovascular diseases, helping to identify patients at risk of cancer and heart disease before patients even show symptoms of these illnesses.

We use new tech to see cancer in a new light. In 2014, Dr. Gang Zheng developed unique nanotechnology to make tumours glow, giving patients the potential to receive information in real-time on how their cancer is responding to treatment.

We are home to one of the world’s largest clinical trials programs. We test more new therapies to benefit cancer patients around the world.

We can predict who will respond to immunotherapy. Which patients will respond to cancer treatment has long perplexed doctors, and with potentially devastating consequences for patients and their loved ones. Drs. Lillian Siu, Scott Bratman, and Trevor Pugh have demonstrated the ability of early “liquid biopsy” DNA blood testing to predict immunotherapy response across many cancer types.

We give more patients more hope. We have performed over 3,000 stem cell transplants through the Hans Messner Allogenic Stem Cell Transplant program — the largest of its kind in Canada.

For More Information

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. For more information about this opportunity, candidates are invited to contact Ellie Rusonik, Vice-President, Search + Talent via email at PMCF-AVP@kcitalent.com.

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by January 19, 2024.

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

The PMCF aims to make our recruitment and selection processes as accessible as possible and will provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact our search firm partners at KCI directly.

Recognizing the strength and value of diverse perspectives and lived experiences in representing the communities served by The Princess Margaret, we encourage applications from Indigenous, Black and racialized people, women, people with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities.

Vaccines (COVID-19 and others) are a job requirement unless you have an exemption on a medical ground pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.