McMaster University is seeking a dynamic and motivated advancement professional to join our team as Director, Research & Prospect Analytics. This pivotal role will be dedicated to supporting our upcoming multi-year comprehensive campaign, working closely with senior leaders, volunteers, and internal teams to achieve key fundraising and engagement goals.

University Advancement (UA) at McMaster University is an integrated department that encompasses the areas of Development, Alumni Engagement, Stewardship, and Advancement Services & Operations, working collaboratively with McMaster’s Faculties and units across campus to build relationships and resources on behalf of the University.

Advancement Services & Operations is a service-oriented and collaborative team that helps enable UA’s mission by providing high-quality, client-focused support and tools to all of our stakeholders in the areas of budgeting/finance; gift processing and biographical records; IT and systems; research and prospect analytics; and administration for the Office of the Vice-President and Advancement team. Within this team, the Research & Prospect Analytics unit plays a key role in designing, implementing, coordinating, and managing prospect management, research, and data analytics in support of advancement operations across all programs.

Position Overview: Reporting to the Managing Director Advancement Operations & Strategy, the Director will be responsible for:

• Lead, define and execute the development prospect research strategy including directing the coordination and production of research information on the prospects and donors for tracking cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship progress, and for prospect identification.
• Lead and execute prospect and pipeline management for the Principal and Major Gifts teams in support of the fundraising goals of the University Advancement team.
• Provide oversight, prospect research training and support, annual evaluation, and professional growth of research staff.

The Director, Research, Prospect Analytics & Strategy will work closely with the Advancement’s senior fundraisers, including the Vice President, Chief Development Officer – “Programs”, AVPs (senior leadership) and their respective teams, faculties and units. The Director will review the existing processes and output to improve proactive prospect identification, as well as reactive responsiveness. They will work in collaboration with the Research Development team and the other Advancement teams to modify systems, processes, outputs, and approaches. In essence, the Director will serve as the bridge between the fundraising teams and the Research & Prospect Analytics team, helping each to identify opportunities to enhance one another’s work for the benefit of Advancement operations and faculties.

The position ensures excellence in service to fundraisers in pipeline development and portfolio management, research, and best practices in prospect analytics. The Director will manage and lead a team that supports preparing detailed analysis to support decision making relating to system refinements and best practices. The incumbent will collaborate closely with University Advancement teams on institution-wide strategic initiatives and to develop and implement departmental and organizational policies and procedures related to prospect research, management, and analytics.

Key Responsibilities:

Research and Prospect Identification

• Lead a team focusing on prospect and volunteer research, identification, and qualification activities as well as prospect clearance and prospect management to support fundraising activities. Build a strong prospect pipeline pool of donors, volunteers, and alumni to galvanize community support for McMaster University.
• Act as a subject matter expert and develop and implement new prospect research strategies for the University Advancement that leverage best practices, innovative research and business plans with Key Performance Indicators, data, and analytics.
• Lead innovative strategies and engage in proactive research to support the Principal and Major Gifts teams in donor renewal and new prospecting efforts and to build a new and more diversified pipeline of major gift prospects.
• Direct prospect strategies and develop portfolios to maintain a strong, healthy major gift pipeline.
• Research and assess major gift prospects by analyzing individuals and corporate entities for connections to McMaster University, giving potential, and propensity to donate to established priorities and strategies for the successful solicitation of donors.
• Direct strategies to meet advancement needs concerning prospect management and prospect identification.
• Directs activities of their team to support data collection and their preparation of research briefings and prospects in support of Development teams across UA.
• Lead the preparation of detailed and up-to-date research briefings on prospects and/or groups of prospects for the VP, senior leaders, Major Gifts staff and volunteers, in advance of donor calls/meetings and events to obtain optimal outcomes.
• Lead the development and implementation of accurate, accountable, and timely reporting for all prospect development and research activities.
• Ensure information capture and management procedures are relevant and in accordance with legal privacy requirements and ethical standards.
• Lead the “Advancement Clearance Committee” in partnership with the Advancement Leadership in the assignment of prospects that are appropriate matches for key priorities of McMaster University and collaborate on prospect strategy and engagement.
• Build & devise strategies for obtaining new prospects to ensure the ongoing development, expansion, and renewal of the prospect base, including new pipeline development.
• Discover and evaluate prospective donors and their interests, relationships, inclination to give and philanthropic capacity to inform and support University Advancement’s fundraising strategies.
• Build an information-driven culture by deriving conclusions and identifying trends through statistical analysis of internal and external data for prospect analytics.

Prospect Analytics

• Lead a team that supports an information-driven culture by deriving conclusions and identifying trends through statistical analysis of internal and external data.
• Lead, build and streamline tools, processes, focusing on high performance and innovation moving towards a major university wide fundraising campaign.
• Leverage data analytics and technology to prepare data reports and analyze various requests from internal or external teams,
• Manage and analyze large datasets to extract meaningful insights related to donor behavior, giving trends, and campaign performance.
• Lead and build models and dashboards with research data such as prospect reports/analysis, metrics for measuring engagement, data modelling, or other requests from stakeholders for insights on prospect and/or donor data.
• Optimize research data storage and reporting, work to ensure research data integrity, an efficient and responsive customer-service approach to prospect requests.
• Develop training, programs and strategies to promote optimal use of research data, tools, and applications across the advancement teams.
• Promote data quality and integrity – ensure coding of requests is managed according to best practice and ensure a high level of data quality and integrity in CRM through timely and accurate data entry, record maintenance and prospect tracking.

Management & Leadership

• Develop “best practice” prospect research by keeping abreast of developments and trends in prospect research through a variety of means including professional associations, social media, printed material, and internal and external meetings and training sessions.
• Establish and maintain guidelines and process documents as required to support and streamline team workload.
• Ensure a commitment to guidelines, methodologies and code of ethics statements as defined by APRA, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and other related associations.
• Support the Managing Director – Operations & Strategy on annual budgeting and strategic planning and manage vendor relationships of prospect information resources, including identifying and selecting sources of information in consultation with the team.
• Lead and develop team members through effective performance management including the development of individual work plans and motivating the achievement of results consistent with agreed objectives.
• Develop and lead strategies for prospect research, management and analytics strategies, activities and related data management for University Advancement. The Associate Director serves as a leader to advancement staff both centrally and within faculties and units, with a key focus on helping maintain a level of portfolio movement that will help fundraising staff to achieve their goals.

Qualifications and Skills:

• A master’s degree level and a relevant 4-year degree or, a relevant 3-year degree/diploma combined with a professional certification or, an equivalent combination of formal education and relevant experience.  Specialization in Data Analytics, Statistics, Library, and Information Science is considered an asset.
• 7-10 years of experience within a charitable/not-for-profit organization, in major gift prospect research and management.
• 5+ years of experience as a people leader.
• Significant experience in prospect research in a philanthropic environment and a strong understanding of traditional and emerging sources of information for identifying and qualifying major giving prospects.
• Proven experience turning data and information into actionable insights that inform donor strategy.
• Excellent knowledge of the prospective fundraising cycle.

Why Join McMaster University? Joining McMaster at this exciting time means becoming part of a vibrant community dedicated to world-class research, an exceptional student experience, and meaningful community engagement. Our advancement team plays a critical role in supporting the university’s ambitious vision, working in partnership with academic and administrative leaders across all campuses. With the support of thousands of alumni and donors who believe in our mission, we are shaping the next generation of leaders and making a significant impact on the world.

How To Apply:
To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement: 
McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey – Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work:
To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience:
At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.