Job Description

Position Overview

Title : Director of Development – Faculty of Science

Reports to : Ashley Downey, Associate Vice President, Pan-University Advancement (Faculties & Units)

Team : Seven

Location : Three campus locations (Hamilton, Burlington and downtown Toronto – 180 Bloor) offer flexibility in work location, and remote and hybrid work empower staff to engage effectively with donors, alumni, and stakeholders in advancing institutional goals in a fast-paced campaign environment. This role is hybrid in nature with 3 days in person per week, inclusive of donor activity. It is understood that the Director of Development will routinely travel to meet donors and engage with alumni and key partners.

Is This You?

You are a passionate connector who enjoys working with exceptional academic leaders to achieve fundraising success. Your peers would describe you as the ultimate collaborator. You firmly believe more heads are better than one and your engaging inquisitive nature allows you to bring likeminded people together with ease. You are creative and like trying out ideas and encourage your team to do the same. You enjoy working within an academic environment because of the exposure you have to some of the brightest minds. You are inquisitive and ask great questions of your academic partners – which gives them confidence in your commitment to enabling their success through philanthropy. You relish in data driven pipeline development and enjoy engaging folks from all backgrounds. You mobilize support through your infectious and focused enthusiasm and your responsiveness to others. This creates a followership around you. People want to work with and for you because you follow through on your commitments, you operate with a high degree of integrity, and ultimately you reach goals. You enjoy all facets of fundraising and enjoy building networks of friends and supporters. You see the full picture and know what it takes to provide a best-in-class donor experience, regardless of the gift amount, though you thrive in the strategy and planning that goes into major gifts at the $1M+ level.

Ideally, you bring campaign experience and have worked collaboratively to bring a campaign to life. You would provide value and input to executive leadership around campaign planning, priority setting and in execution of plans You are an excellent communicator both written and verbal.

You are known for an ability to guide and lead with high emotional intelligence, and you would be motivated to work for a world class organization with a respected brand, exceptional leadership team and diverse donor pool.

If this sounds like you, read on…

The Opportunity

McMaster University seeks a highly strategic Director of Development to support the Faculty of Science's advancement priorities. The new Director will build relationships, leverage innovative approaches, and drive revenue development in the Faculty.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Pan-University Advancement (Faculties & Units), and working closely with day-to-day oversight by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, the Director will collaborate with leaders in the Faculty of Science and University Advancement to formulate strategies and, develop and execute initiatives to raise private revenue for the Faculty’s priorities. As a key senior advancement leader within the integrated University Advancement team, the Director will uphold their shared values of Quality, Respect, Service, Strategy, and Teamwork to achieve University Advancement’s vision and mission.

The Director of Development will lead, advance, and enhance relationships and resources for McMaster and the Faculty through relationship-building and revenue generation. This includes managing a comprehensive Advancement portfolio, supporting the development of comprehensive alumni engagement program for the Faculty and proactively championing partnerships and revenue opportunities to support McMaster’s research and educational goals. The Director will focus on securing gifts of $250K+ and work with University Advancement senior leadership on complex gifts of $1M+ involving multiple internal and external partners.

Joining McMaster at an exciting time, the Director will work collaboratively with advancement and academic leadership to support the development of a multi-year comprehensive campaign. These strategies will highlight the Faculty’s unique strengths, align with University-wide campaign structures, integrate alumni and development efforts, maximize support, and rally the Faculty community around a compelling vision for the Faculty of Science’s long-term aspirations and goals.

About McMaster University

Founded in 1887, McMaster University is a research-intensive public university. McMaster is dedicated to advancing human and societal health and well-being. McMaster is ranked in the world's Top 80 publicly funded universities by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

With a total student population of more than 33,000, McMaster welcomes students from 120 countries as well as Canada. Home to more than 70 research centres and institutes, McMaster University is comprised of the six faculties of Business (DeGroote School of Business), Engineering, Health Science, Humanities, Science, and Social Science.

McMaster's 30-acre main campus, located in the Westdale neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario, is comprised of 300 acres of scenic property at the western end of Lake Ontario, between Toronto and Niagara Falls. McMaster University also has three other regional campuses : Burlington, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Niagara.

Faculty of Science

With 8 departments, and 4 research Institutes and Centres, the pioneering education advances and excellence in world-class research have consistently placed McMaster among the top 50 universities in the world for health and medicine.

The Faculty of Science is one of the largest among Canadian universities, with more than 9,200 undergraduate and graduate students. More than 1,820 undergraduate and graduate degrees are granted each year, with graduates joining more than 47,500 Science alumni who live and work around the world.

Science has the largest undergraduate enrolment of McMaster’s six Faculties and Schools and faculty deliver foundational courses to thousands of other students from across the university. More than 200 full-time faculty provide educational and research opportunities to students and conduct pioneering research in the life Sciences, physical Sciences and mathematical and computational sciences. At 99 per cent, Science has the highest percentage of faculty with PhDs among McMaster’s six Faculties and Schools.

Established as a stand-alone Faculty in 1967, Science has grown to eight departments and schools including : Biology, Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Geography & Earth Science, Interdisciplinary Science, Kinesiology, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, Neuroscience & Behavior.

The Faculty of Science is an active partner with McMaster’s Faculties of Health Science and Engineering in four interdisciplinary graduate programs.

Diversity leads to better science. Women represent more than 60 per cent of undergraduate students and the Faculty of Science welcomes more than 1,400 international students annually

Leading employers throughout North America are key partners with the Faculty of Science, providing more than 560 co-operative education work terms to students. All undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in research, both in the lab and out in the field. Every year, more than 500 students choose to work on a senior thesis research project under the supervision of faculty and graduate students.

The Faculty of Science is a research powerhouse at McMaster, with 19 Canada Research Chairs, and five endowed research chairs. Researchers in the Faculty of Science secure over $25 million in funding annually and collaborate with researchers from more than 30 countries on six continents. The Faculty of Science has four research-intensive institutes and centres that advance scientific discovery and knowledge in biointerfaces, climate change, physical activity and, the origins of life and music and the mind.

Students, faculty and staff promote scientific literacy and understanding through dozens of outreach initiatives that bring science into the community and welcome the public onto campus.

Advancement in the Faculty of Science

Under the leadership of the Director, Development, the Advancement team for the Faculty Science consists of a Manager of Development, focused on fundraising, a Manager, Communications and Stewardship to support proposal writing, donor communication and stewardship strategies, an Alumni Engagemnt Officer to strategically increase alumni engagement within the Faculty, and an Advancement Coordinator.

The Advancement team within the Faculty of Science, collaborates closely with colleagues from University Advancement and, University and Faculty leadership, to engage alumni, donors, and faculty members to build relationships and resources for the Faculty. The Director, Development will also support the multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign, to be undertaken by University Advancement, and is accountable for aligning and integrating the campaign strategy, case for support and a revenue goal as related to the Faculty of Science.

The Faculty of Science achieves private revenue targets by developing a pipeline of donors, alumni, and other funders to serve as a source of significant revenue for the Faculty’s priorities, as identified through McMaster’s senior academic leadership. 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 faculity members.

As a trusted advisor who provides counsel to senior academic leadership on the largest gifts to the Faculty, the Director is directly involved in efforts to secure and grow its Faculty’s 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. Consequently, the Director and the entire Advancement team work hard to create and maintain positive, productive relationships with colleagues in the Faculty and across the University.

Advancement at McMaster

McMaster’s vibrant student experience, world-class research, and community engagement are empowered by the support of thousands of alumni and donors who also believe strongly in McMaster. Together, McMaster’s donors and alumni help make the university what it is today and help nurture the next generation of leaders in our world.

The Advancement leadership team provides overall strategic leadership and direction in the areas of fundraising; developing and building partnerships; and engaging with donors, alumni and stakeholders. The Advancement team also plays a critically important role in advancing the McMaster’s strategy, in support of McMaster’s ambitious vision, in partnership with the academic and administrative leaders across the University. The Advancement team has a centralized / decentralized structure, with strategies established and coordinated centrally, along with some programs and services (e.g. Annual Giving, Leadership Giving, Principal Giving, Corporate Giving, Estate Giving & Legacy Planning, Stewardship, overarching Alumni programs, Research & Prospect Analytics, and Gift Processing services), whereas other programs and services are delivered ‘locally’ through decentralized, dedicated Development and Alumni staff embedded within the Faculties and units.

Leadership

Lili Litwin, Vice President, University Advancement

Lili Litwin joined McMaster on June 1, 2023, as McMaster’s new Vice-President, University Advancement.

As a leading Canadian advancement expert, Litwin has worked across the research, hospital, charitable and university sectors. In addition to serving as executive director of Advancement at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, she spent five years as president of the St. Michael’s Foundation at St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare, Unity Health Toronto. In both roles, she led fundraising campaigns that surpassed their goals, developed strong and diverse advancement teams, and liaised with academic partners on governance and donor stewardship.

Lili graduated from York University with a B.Ed. Her earlier work experience includes time as Vice-President of Development at the Canadian Centre for Diversity and with ONEXONE, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in health and education.

Ashley Downey , Associate Vice-President, Pan-University Advancement (Faculties and Units)

Ashley joined McMaster in May 2024. As an experienced fundraising leader with 15+ years delivering impact within the philanthropic sector, Ashley brings a wealth of experience and strategic leadership to McMaster University Advancement team. Joining from her previous role as Associate Vice-President at St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, where she worked for 10 years, she has consistently delivered exceptional results, leading critical portfolios including principal and major gifts and planned giving at St. Michael’s.

Her career is marked by a series of successes in driving major fundraising campaigns and fostering collaborative relationships with donors, volunteers, and organizational leaders. Ashley's expertise extends beyond healthcare, having made significant contributions to fundraising efforts at the Royal Ontario Museum and with Peacock Philanthropic Council Inc.

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science and Women's Studies from the University of Ottawa and a Graduate Certificate from Humber College in Fundraising and Volunteer Management.

Maureen MacDonald, Dean of Science (Sabbatical until July 2025)

is the first woman to serve as Dean of Science at McMaster University.

Maureen joined McMaster as a faculty member in 2000 after earning an undergraduate honours chemistry degree at Acadia University, her Masters and PhD in kinesiology at the University of Waterloo and holding post-doctoral positions at Western University and the University of British Columbia. Maureen served as Director of McMaster’s School of Interdisciplinary Science prior to her appointment as Dean in May 2017.

Maureen is a professor with the Department of Kinesiology and a visiting professor with the School of Sport Science Exercise and Health at Loughborough University and a Global Chair at Manchester Metropolitan University. Maureen is also a member of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging, the Exercise Metabolism Research Group, and the McMaster Physical Activity Centre of Excellence.

A highly respected researcher and regarded expert in cardiovascular health, exercise physiology, spinal cord injury and aging, Maureen leads important research into the effectiveness of exercise as a way of preventing illness, improving health status and lifestyle. Her research is widely published and often cited, including in the journals Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise; Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism; and the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Maureen’s commitment to students was recognized in 2018 with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Mentorship Award. She has received multiple nominations for the McMaster Students Union teaching award and has undertaken significant administrative leadership roles on a variety of committees and groups on campus and in the community, including the university’s Committee for Recommending a President.

Gianni Parise, Acting Dean, Faculty of Science

Gianni Parise is the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and the Lab Lead at the Exercise Metabolism Research Group. A focus of Gianni’s laboratory involves revealing the mechanism(s) underlying the progressive loss of muscle mass associated with aging. Gianni’s research shows that a loss of muscle mass with aging, and a blunted hypertrophic response to chronic exercise in older adults, is likely a result of age-related muscle stem cell dysfunction and / or age-related loss of muscle stem cell number. His research program aims to examine potential age-related impairment of muscle stem cells, as well as the molecular and cellular events that lead to dysregulation of muscle stem cells in advanced age.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Foster a culture of collaboration, integration, and service to support the University’s core research and academic missions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and indigeneity through leadership, encouraging inclusive behavior and practices.
• Lead the Faculty of Science, Advancement team in implementing fundraising plans, pipeline development, stewardship plans and initiatives, and strategies to increase revenue.
• Develop, monitor, evaluate, and measure the Faculty of Science's strategic plans to ensure clear priorities and adequate resources align with University Advancement’s goals.
• Collaborate with senior faculty leadership and the Associate Vice President, Pan-University Advancement (Faculties & Units) to create advancement plans that align with academic priorities, building a compelling vision and case for support for major and principal gifts.
• Build and lead a high-performance team dedicated to achieving the Faculty’s short and long-term goals.
• Partner with University Advancement’s senior leaders to set goals and objectives, including annual professional development plans for continuous improvement and change readiness.
• Engage with and support volunteer leadership within the Faculty of Science.

Advancement Leadership

Team Leadership

Relationship Development

Administrative

Qualifications & Competencies

Working at McMaster

At McMaster, you will find a community of talented individuals who are inspired by the University’s Mission and the sense of purpose this mission brings. It is through these talented individuals, their creativity and drive for results that McMaster University has earned its reputation as being Canada’s “most innovative” university.

Leaders in The Management Group (TMG) are vital contributors to McMaster’s renowned culture of creativity, innovation and excellence. They demonstrate the value they place on their leaders with a highly competitive total rewards package featuring compensation, well-being, growth and inclusion provisions.

McMaster University strives to embody the values of integrity, quality, inclusiveness and teamwork, and has a strong commitment to employment equity. Building an inclusive community with a shared purpose is something that McMaster University prioritizes. They believe it is important for their workforce to reflect the diversity of their students and community. The diversity of their workforce is at the core of their innovation and creativity and is a key area that strengthens their research capabilities and teaching excellence.

Compensation & Benefits

To learn more about the total rewards available to the successful candidate, please access McMaster’s interactive guide with a summary of the compensation, benefits, retirement income, work life, development and career opportunities, and performance and recognition provisions offered at McMaster. To further explore the extensive total rewards program, detailed information can be accessed through the links throughout the guide.

The hiring range for this position is $120,000 - $145,000 plus a performance pay bonus eligibility of up to 10% of base salary, along with an excellent benefits package.

Application Instructions

If you would like to apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Lindsay Preston ( [email protected] ) by September 13, 2024 at 5pm ET. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require any accommodations, please notify Lindsay Preston.

We thank you in advance for your interest. Please note only qualified candidates will be contacted.

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.