Senior Development Officer

Are you interested in helping to create a Brighter World?

McMaster University fuels curiosity, inquiry, and discovery. Every day, we push the boundaries of knowledge through our world-class, interdisciplinary research and our ground-breaking approaches to teaching and learning. Our students, faculty, researchers and staff are among the best and brightest.

Joining McMaster at an exciting time, Senior Development Officer will work collaboratively with University Advancement and the Faculty of Health Sciences to support the generation of private revenue for a multi-year comprehensive campaign.

NexusHealth is a McMaster-based health innovation accelerator, designed to transform how the modern university catalyzes the translation of health-related discoveries to tangible new health solutions. It brings together stakeholders from across sectors and working together in new ways to more efficiently move novel health solutions from university labs to society, where they can benefit the patients who need them. Our ethos of co-design ensures stakeholders from different sectors have input at all stages of research, helping to shorten the pathway from ideation to implementation.

McMaster’s vibrant student experience, world-class research, and community engagement are empowered by the support of thousands of alumni and donors who believe strongly in the university’s mission. Together, our broader community helps make McMaster what it is today and helps nurture the next generation of leaders in our world. The University Advancement team plays a critically important role in advancing the university’s strategy in support of its ambitious vision, in partnership with academic and administrative leaders across all campuses.

University Advancement at McMaster is an integrated department that encompasses the areas of Development, Alumni Advancement, Stewardship, Volunteer Engagement and Advancement Services & Operations; areas that coordinate their activities and work as a team to build relationships, reputation, and resources. 

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director, Development, NexusHealth, the Senior Development Officer is responsible for engaging prospects and donors in the meaningful work of the University and the Faculty of Health Sciences, developing meaningful relationships and moving them through the pipeline to be solicited for donations that will advance the Faculty’s priorities.

This position is responsible for making a positive commitment to University Advancement’s mission, vision and values, and principles: Integrity, Quality, Respect, Service, Strategy and Teamwork.

The Faculty of Health Sciences, trains Canada’s next generation of healthcare practitioners, researchers and entrepreneurs – including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and biomedical scientists. The Faculty ranks among the top 50 in the world, and top 2 in Canada, for health and clinical medicine. Internationally renowned for its medical education and research excellence, the Faculty of Health Sciences is comprised of four schools alongside a multitude of high-impact research institutes and centres. Areas of research excellence include allergy, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, childhood disability, diabetes, gastroenterology, health equity, pain, infectious diseases and virology.

University Advancement at McMaster University is a flexible, dynamic and ambitious team. We strengthen McMaster’s relationships, secure new revenue and develop a pipeline of funders and supporters for the University. The primary means of raising funds involves face-to-face meetings and virtual visits, often involving University leadership and top researchers from our Faculty. As Associate Director, Advancement, you will drive the identification, cultivation, and development of a customized fundraising and recognition/stewardship plans for some of McMaster’s most significant funders.

Accountabilities

• Assess needs and contribute to the development and implementation of plans for prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation and recognition.
• Determine the appropriate involvement of members of the university community and volunteers in the cultivation, solicitation and recognition process.
• Meet face-to-face with current and potential donors to discuss giving interests and opportunities.
• Identify, evaluate and recommend the necessary steps to bring the prospect closer to making a major financial commitment to the University.
• Develop tailored fundraising initiatives that support strategic initiatives.
• Develop and implement plans to support donor management and stewardship strategies and/or activities.
• Write briefing notes, solicitation plans and call reports to track donor interaction.
• Contribute to campaign strategy and execution of all major campaign milestones, including launches, donor cultivation events, and gift and goal celebrations.
• Contribute to Faculty and/or Unit planning and goal setting, and track and evaluate progress against key performance indicators.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study. A McMaster degree is an asset

Experience:

• Requires a minimum of 5 years of prior experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of donor relationships at all levels, including one-on-one donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Experience working with a CRM (Advance, Raiser’s Edge, etc…) is required.
• Demonstrated experience meeting individual and team financial and activity goals.
• Demonstrated experience soliciting and closing gifts at the major gift level.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and negotiation skills.
• Extreme professionalism, excellent judgement and decision-making abilities, as well as display tact and sensitivity.
• Ability to work productively and effectively with individuals of affluence and influence.
• Proven ability to motivate others (volunteers, team members, donors, etc.).
• Strong team player who values collaboration. Demonstrated proposal and presentation skills.
• Evidence of leadership, initiative, tact, diplomacy, attention to detail and creativity.
• Ability to handle multiple competing priorities and excel in a results-oriented environment by meeting established personal and team goals.
• Excellent customer-service skills and strong service orientation.
• Time-management and multi-tasking abilities.