Senior Director, Principal Gifts

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President Advancement (AVPA), the Senior Director of Principal Gifts (SDPG) provides leadership and oversight to all aspects of principal gift fundraising and supporting programs.  This includes directing the strategy, proposal, and case development functions for the university’s most significant donors and largest, most complex fundraising initiatives.  

Working directly with the Office of the President, Vice-President (Advancement), AVPA, and senior university administration, the SDPG manages complex relationships with numerous stakeholders with a focus on donors at the multi-million dollar level.  This position plays an integral role in university-wide fundraising efforts by leading and managing the development of transformational project proposals for the university’s most significant donors.  The DPG is also responsible for ensuring implementation of those initiatives through others as agreed with donors.

The SDPG is primarily responsible for setting and executing principal gift strategies through senior executives such as the President and Vice-President (Advancement).  However, the SDPG will also carry their own portfolio of Principal Gift accounts and will involve the President, senior volunteers and others in cultivation and solicitation as appropriate.

The SDPG is an integral member of the portfolio’s senior leadership team and works collaboratively with external stakeholders and senior leadership across the University, overseeing the cultivation and stewarding of relationships between significant and high-profile donors and alumni with the University.   In addition, the SDPG will develop and execute strategies to engage and cultivate international relationships with donors in priority countries.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the strategic advancement of relationships with the university’s principal gift donors, and acting as the executive development lead on all principal gifts
• Overseeing the development of complex concept papers, donor proposals, and communication plans in support of the university’s principal gift fundraising objectives; ensuring implementation of these initiatives through others, as agreed upon with donors, these often involve multiple faculties within the U of A as well as multiple external partners and other universities, agencies and non-governmental organizations in Alberta and across the country
• Directing and overseeing the President’s time allocated for advancement 
• Supporting the President, Vice-President (Advancement), Associate Vice-Presidents in Advancement, and others with a focused number of principal accounts
• Putting systems and business processes in place to ensure all principal gift strategies, activities, and follow up actions are tracked and executed in a timely and sensitive manner
• Responsible for key decision making in ensuring that principal gift priorities and strategies are met and ensuring initiatives are advanced appropriately  
• Maintaining expert knowledge of, and successfully navigating, global philanthropic industry trends and the high net worth sector
• Overseeing and directing the stewardship phases for principal gift donors 
• Directing special projects and providing fundraising counsel as required, as well as strategic leadership in the area of philanthropic proposal development and relationship building with donors
• Overseeing the development and execution of strategies to engage and cultivate international relationships and financial support from prospective donors in priority countries 
• Leading and managing a team responsible for executing advancement strategies for principal gift donors
• Setting performance targets and measures, monitoring and managing the overall performance of the program and direct reports
• Making face-to-face calls in support of projects and building relationships with donors, key stakeholders, and others 

Knowledge, skills and abilities: 

• Undergraduate university degree; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
• 10 or more years of senior fundraising experience
• Minimum of 5 years experience leading teams in a fundraising environment
• Proven experience in developing and successfully executing major gift fundraising programs
• Proven ability to close gifts of $1M plus as well as experience as a team member of $5M - $10M plus gifts
• Demonstrated ability to relate well with senior business and community leaders
• Demonstrated ability and proven success in setting and executing fundraising and relationship building strategy through others, particularly senior executives
• Demonstrated experience in developing strategic documents focused on targeted audiences
• A fluent understanding of the research enterprise within a large academic institution 
• Highly organized and experienced at managing over 100 relationships at various stages of activity
• Advanced interpersonal skills to support the building of strong relationships with diverse groups
• Highly developed skill and ability to balance multiple interests from diverse stakeholders
• Excellent proven negotiation skills and ability to influence decisions to achieve objectives while maintaining policy and best practice
• Demonstrated excellence managing multiple projects with varying deadlines and competing priorities
• Ability to develop and implement strategic business plans

In accordance with the Administrative Professional Officer agreement, this full-time continuing position offers a comprehensive benefits package, which can be viewed at www.hrs.ualberta.ca, and an annual salary range commensurate with experience and qualifications.