Director, Development, Faculty of Health Sciences – University Advancement
Development at McMaster formulates strategies, develops programs, and executes campaigns and initiatives as the primary area of the University responsible for raising private revenue for McMaster. The Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences is a key senior development leader within the broader, integrated University Advancement team. It is our shared values that help us to achieve University Advancement’s vision and mission; they are Integrity, Quality, Respect, Service, Strategy and Teamwork.
Reporting into the Senior Director, Development, the Director Development – Faculty of Health Sciences is a primary driver of overall private revenue the faculty, and the University, in support of their objectives and the overall institutional mission. The Director Development – Faculty of Health Sciences is the cornerstone of relationship development with donors and funding partners, and proactively champions partnerships and opportunities for new revenue in support of McMaster’s research and educational goals, primarily within the Health Sciences. This includes managing a team who will secure a minimum of 25% of University Advancement’s overall private revenue support goals.
The Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences achieves these private revenue targets by developing a pipeline of donors, supporters, and other funders to serve as a source of significant revenue for the faculty priorities, as identified through McMaster’s senior academic leadership, and functioning as an integrated part of the University Advancement team. Members of the team are responsible for raising all revenues, including: gifts, pledges and other revenues, as well as future gifts which include bequests, gifts of insurance and RRSPs, etc., for the faculty and the University. The primary means of raising funds for both current and future gifts are through strategies that involve face-to-face and in-person meetings and visits, often involving significant Canadian and international leaders, as well as University leadership, key volunteers and researchers. As primary staff for alumni and friends of McMaster University, it is the role of members of the advancement team to drive the identification, cultivation, and development of a customized ask and recognition/stewardship plan for some of the Faculty and McMaster’s most significant donors.
Reporting into the Senior Director, Development, the Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences is responsible for raising private revenue for the faculty on an annual basis, and a minimum of 25% of University Advancement’s overall private revenue support goals, with a primary focus of gifts in the range of a minimum of $250K and upwards. All gifts of $1M or more (to upwards of $105M), which have a mid-to high degree of complexity and involve many different partners, some of whom may be internal and external to the University, will have strategic support from University Advancement’s senior leaders, consistent with a team approach to development strategy. The Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences leads and is accountable for a wide-ranging portfolio charged with advancing and enhancing the relationships, reputation, and resources of the faculty through relationship building and revenue generation.
The Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences also supports all revenue-generating campaigns undertaken by the University Advancement team and is accountable for aligning and integrating the campaign strategy, case for support and a revenue goal as it related to the faculty. The Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences is a trusted advisor and provides counsel to senior academic leadership on some of the largest gifts to the faculty. The Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences provides leadership efforts to secure and grow its faculty, base of major and principal gift-level supporters, and to steward these supporters in a manner so as to inspire them to establish, grow and sustain meaningful relationships with the University.
The Director, Development – Faculty of Health Sciences creates and maintains positive, productive relationships and builds and supports a vibrant, diverse and high-performance team of professionals within the faculty who deliver on the strategic plans for the academic or administrative office or unit(s) and University Advancement’s strategic plans through a variety of institutional programs. Their development team is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individuals who directly, or through others, have or can make gifts at the major giving-level and supporting the Director at the principal giving-level.
Accountabilities:
- Model a culture of collaboration, integration and service to support the University’s core research and academic missions
- Provide leadership and direction within the faculty to the implementation of fundraising plans, campaigns, strategies and practices to foster growth in revenue-generation across the faculty
- Accountable for the development, monitoring, evaluation and measurement of the faculty strategic plans to ensure they achieve goals and outcomes and that they are aligned with University Advancement’s goals
- Work with senior leadership of the faculty to develop advancement plans aligned with and stemming directly from the academic priorities, fostering a compelling vision and case for support that enables the pursuit of significant major gifts
- Build a high-performance team that is committed to fulfilling the vision, goals and priorities necessary to achieve the short and long-term goals of the faculty
- Work in conjunction with University Advancement’s senior leaders to establish goals and objectives including annual professional development plans for team members to support a culture of continuous improvement and readiness for change
- Engage with and support volunteer leadership within the Faculty Operational Leadership within the Faculty Be the leader in contributing to the Faculty fundraising program by raising from a minimum of 25% of the overall university revenue goal
- Develop and meet aggressive team and individual development goals as determined by University Advancement’s senior leaders
- Support University Advancement’s senor leaders with the engagement of the President, Vice Presidents and senior university leadership, as well as volunteers as required, in the cultivation and solicitation of principal gift supporters, including ensuring they are appropriately briefed and relevant follow-up action is taken
- May be a member of the faculty senior leaders and provides expertise and guidance on achieving their goals and objectives
- Is responsible for the allocation of budget within the faculty, and is accountable to ensure resources are allocated and prioritized to meet university objectives and short and long-term outcomes
- Work in partnership with the AVP, Pan-UA Health Sciences and Senior Director, Development to develop and implement plans and strategies to enhance the University’s major giving program and to generate consistent and significant increases in new revenue to the University and lead the development and implementation of those strategies specific to their faculty, office or unit
- Provide leadership by monitoring fundraising and initiative progress for the faculty, recommending changes to plans as appropriate, reviewing solicitation strategies and regularly reviewing progress of strategies
- Develop and maintain a significant depth of knowledge of faculty activities, needs and priorities in both research and teaching, and apply this knowledge in matching the interests and needs of potential supporters
- Assume responsibility for identifying, cultivating and soliciting support from a portfolio of supporters, both individually and in collaboration with senior academic leaders to the faculty, senior development leadership and key volunteers for the faculty resulting in increased engagement and financial investment in the University
- Manage, provide clear direction, motivate and mentor a team of development professionals; and offer support across-the-board to development colleagues
- Work in collaboration with stewardship to support the creation and delivery of major gift announcements and events and accompanying stewardship in collaboration with the appropriate advancement staff
- Represent the Faculty and University, with the team, at all relevant community and University events, nationally and internationally
- Work closely with other areas of University Advancement to support the success of the operation’s annual financial goals as well as Advancement’s mission and strategic goals
- Annually develop a comprehensive and measurable annual operating plan and budget for the faculty giving program
Qualifications:
Education:
- A University degree
- A McMaster degree is an asset
- A Master’s degree an asset
Experience:
- Proven track record of success in securing $1M and above complex gifts
- Minimum of 8 years demonstrated experience in major giving fundraising, preferably within the post-secondary system
- Experience leading and managing teams of high-performing, donor-centred development professionals
Knowledge/Skills:
Must have the following skills and abilities:
- Vision, and the ability to think strategically with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset
- Superior skills in critical analysis, judgement, decision-making, building effective relationships, and communications (oral, facilitation and written);
- High level of initiative, tact and diplomacy
- Excellent judgement and discretion
- Deep understanding of the mission of a research-intensive university
- Superior skills in human resources, volunteer and budget management, with strong financial acumen and comfort with data analytics
- High level of comfort and credibility working with senior academic leaders, as well as donors and volunteers
- Ability to work at the highest strategic levels of the Faculty or Administrative Office/Unit(s), to gain and maintain the trust of senior academic leadership and supporters and also take strategy and move it through to tactics and action
- Experience staffing senior leaders on fundraising visits
- Ability to navigate and be effective within a complex organization that values collaboration in addition to individuality and creativity
- Superior skills and knowledge in attracting and maintaining relationships with donors and supporters
- Superior communication and interpersonal skills; writing winning proposals and associated development materials and correspondence
- Donor-centred and goal-oriented with a reputation for integrity and transparency
- Competencies to understanding tax legislation and the philanthropic landscape
- Strong skills with computers and relational donor databases (Advance)
Must be knowledgeable about:
- University Advancement policies and procedures
- McMaster University policies and guidelines
- Canadian Revenue Agency regulations regarding Charitable Giving
Leadership Effectiveness:
McMaster’s core leadership capabilities are designed to nurture employee engagement through best people practices. All leaders will demonstrate these Leadership Capabilities by: Taking a Strategic Approach; Communicating and Collaborating; Developing People; Investing in Relationships; Championing Change and Innovation; and Driving Results.
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