Development Officer, Faculty of Engineering

Job Summary

Dalhousie University’s Office of Advancement is responsible for all fundraising and alumni engagement activities at Dalhousie University, including the University’s $750 million Bringing Worlds Together comprehensive fundraising campaign.

A team of over 100 advancement professionals cultivates relationships with alumni and friends of the university and works with donors to help them achieve personal fulfilment through philanthropic investment which is used to support student success, scientific research, and community impact.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Development Officer will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors with a primary focus at the major gift level and a secondary focus at the mid-gift level range.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic and comprehensive fundraising program that will seek to maximize giving from donors and that includes an annual fundraising goal, business plan objectives for the faculty, donor stewardship and legacy giving.
• Using a highly personalized approach, manage, and advance relationships with over 100 mid and major level donors to deepen their engagement with Dalhousie University and identify the ideal time to solicit their philanthropic support.
• Work closely with senior Faculty leadership to understand their body of work and fundraising priorities, as well as working closely with the Advancement team in the development of strategies and programs.
• Develop and write both summary and comprehensive funding proposals, including positioning projects and budgets, to highlight the strongest possible alignment between a project’s social impact and an individual donor’s philanthropic interests.
• Provide internal leadership for the fundraising process within their assigned portfolio. This will include engaging, coaching, and briefing appropriate faculty leaders and members and key external stakeholders regarding fundraising strategies to support fundraising activities and priorities.
• Based on careful research and analysis, make strategic, data-driven recommendations for how to maximize a prospect’s giving.

Continually manage the flow of information, expectations, and results.

Note

This role will require some travel and evening events.

The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field plus five years’ experience in fundraising, business development, professional sales, marketing, communications, and / or other relationship-intensive work (or equivalent combination of training and experience).
• Demonstrated experience leading small- and mid-scale projects.
• Ability to develop people leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience developing and writing both summary and comprehensive funding proposals, including positioning projects and budgets, or similar experience developing and writing summary and comprehensive project management documents.
• Demonstrated cultural competence with the proven ability to develop effective and respectful relationships with stakeholders from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

Assets

Experience working in a post-secondary environment, specifically within engineering faculties.

Job Competencies

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s core and leadership competencies in particular :

• Respect & Inclusion
• Adaptability
• Relationship Building
• Accountability for Performance & Results
• Development

Additional Information

Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental plans, a health spending account, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.

Application Consideration

Applications from current university employees and external candidates are assessed concurrently. Current university employees will be given special consideration.

We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or Human Resources.

Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black / African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.