Senior Development Officer

Vancouver Community College • Full-time • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • C$ 74.17k - C$ 108.78k / year • 1w ago

Who We Are

We acknowledge that Vancouver Community College (VCC) is located on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples who have been stewards of this land from time immemorial.

For over 55 years, VCC has been a leader in innovative, experiential post-secondary learning. We’re one of B.C’s top employers and we are proud to inspire students to discover their passions, gain essential skills, and learn what it takes to succeed in a competitive workforce.

At VCC, we respect and celebrate our differences, and are committed to the work of decolonization, accessibility, and inclusivity for all. Be a part of creating an inclusive community that provides equitable opportunities for Indigenous and diverse representation, participation, and success for everyone.

We value lived experience and encourage applications from members of all groups experiencing barriers to equity. Come join the VCC community as we shape the future together.

Position Summary

This position is an essential point of contact between donors, prospective donors, alumni, departments, to realize philanthropic, marketing and business development opportunities, as well as sponsorship and strategic marketing initiatives focused on revenue generation opportunities over $10,000.

The Senior Development Officer moves prospects through the donor cycle and/or planning and executing fundraising appeals, conducting research, engage key stakeholders, hosting events, developing program strategies and preparing business and or philanthropic proposals. The position serves as a member of a small development team and works with Faculty, senior staff, volunteers and donors to build positive relationships and generate support for the College.

Duties & Responsibilities

Works with the Executive Director and Associate Directors to implement, manage and monitor a comprehensive fundraising strategy including campaigns, appeals and major gift solicitation for the College, including the development of fundraising materials and proposals in support of the plan.
Provides meaningful support, direction and leadership through the development and articulation of complete and detailed plans to achieve the College’s annual fundraising goals.
Develops and directs funding plans to ensure the growth of relationships with prospects, donors, board members, volunteers and the community as a whole, including the development of materials required for donor solicitation.
Brings structure and innovation to the design and implementation of special campaigns and funding for targeted programs, by developing a prospect management process to identify, evaluate, cultivate and solicit major gift prospects.
Provides leadership to prospect research. Develops and refines processes and electronic support mechanisms to track cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities directed toward major gift prospects including contacts made, proposals submitted, and gift closure and reporting to donors done by Development staff members, other Foundation personnel and key volunteers.
Provides leadership to the prospect qualification process to ensure donor prospects are properly screened, prioritized and evaluated, measuring the factors of interest and ability. The qualification process includes the use of properly trained volunteers, with attention to provincial and federal regulations pertaining to freedom of information and protection of privacy.
Ensures appropriate record keeping systems are created and maintained to allow for the tracking of prospects and donors. Plans, organizes and executes the Special and Capital Campaigns, Major Gifts and Planned Giving programs. Identifies and develops strategies to pursue donor prospects at a giving range of $10,000 plus.
Oversees the strategy and development of Annual Giving as a progression to major gift fundraising.
Assumes primary responsibility for a significant portfolio of major gift prospects and donors. Develops and implements tailored action plans, solicitation strategies and proposals for each prospect. Makes face-to-face calls both with and without key volunteers. Prepares notes for prospect tracking and clearance system.
Leads the implementation and management of donor recognition events and stewardship programs, including a comprehensive College-wide program and development of materials to recognize donors to the annual fund, and major gift and planned gift-giving based on fiscal giving and lifetime, cumulative giving.
Ensures all development programs and campaigns are in place and kept on a deadline-driven timetable to maintain, grow and evolve good relations with the College’s benefactors.
Liaises with the Executive Office, Alumni Relations, and other involved campus supervisors regarding common objectives and programs.
Provides advice and support to Faculty in identifying and developing contacts with external sources of funding, equipment, expertise and opportunities.
Manages the activities of volunteers who work in support of fundraising activities and increases the number of volunteers who work with the Department and other College units on programs to increase annual and special giving.
Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized educational institution.
Specialized training and/or experience in one or more areas including: fundraising: annual giving, major giving, planned giving; sponsorship; and/or alumni relations
Five (5) years of development experience, ideally in a post-secondary setting, with a proven track record of success in the fundraising of major gifts.
Experience working with a prospect management system (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) or similar CRM.
Experience in writing development proposals and delivering presentations to a wide range of audiences.
Or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities

Strong history of relationship building with donors, volunteers, prospects, staff and faculty.
Excellent project management and organizational skills.
Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills and ability to act with tact and diplomacy.
Excellent communication skills, in particular writing skills.
Excellent problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment.
Demonstrated ability to supervise, motivate and mentor volunteers.
Strong analytical, problem solving, project management and strategy development skills.
Excellent organizational, time management skills and ability to act with independence of judgment with minimal supervision.
Superior use of diplomacy and persuasive negotiating skills in contacts with donors and prospective donors.
Ability to deal with multiple priorities simultaneously.
Ability to interact successfully with diverse clientele, confidently seeking the correct approach.