Associate Vice-Principal (Development)

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice-Principal (Advancement) (VPA), the Associate Vice-Principal (Development) (AVP) provides institutional leadership for the University’s major and leadership giving programs including the faculty-based development teams, with a focus on growing revenue year over year. The AVP also directly manages a select portfolio of both major and principal gift prospects, cultivating and securing significant support for priority initiatives and advancing opportunities aligned with the University’s highest priorities and campaign objectives.

As a senior member of the advancement leadership team, the AVP shapes the long-term planning and strategic direction of the Office of Advancement and is accountable for the strategic direction and performance of major and leadership giving across the University, operating within a matrixed model that ensures enterprise-wide oversight, coordination, and alignment across faculties and university-wide services. In doing so, the AVP advances an integrated, relationship-centred approach to philanthropy in support of the University’s mission and strategic priorities. At a pivotal moment for the institution, the AVP contributes to a coordinated campaign approach, working with leadership to further professionalize and accelerate advancement operations for long-term impact, while helping drive the next phase of growth by strengthening execution, introducing new ideas, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across leadership and major gift development programs within a highly engaged alumni community.
Working in close partnership with faculty-based advancement leads, centrally based fundraising teams, and the AVP (Principal Gifts), the AVP fosters collaboration, shared accountability, and a seamless donor journey from engagement through stewardship, ensuring coherence across the donor pipeline and clarity between major, leadership, and principal gift strategies. A key priority within this work is strengthening senior fundraising leadership across the institution, building depth of talent and capability while driving an uplift in philanthropic performance through coaching, mentorship, and strategic alignment.
An exceptional people leader, strategist, and fundraiser, the AVP leads by example, consistently modeling the University’s values and reinforcing a culture of collaboration, performance, and continuous improvement. As a skilled change leader, the AVP supports teams in navigating complexity, strengthening resilience and adaptability, and adopting effective metrics, processes, and behaviours that drive sustained success.

This position requires travel within and outside of Canada to meet with donors, alumni and volunteers, representing the university and the Office of Advancement to internal and external audiences.

This role may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates must be able to maintain a regular, weekly onsite presence as required by the position.

Job Description

Overall Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership
• Collaborates with the VPA and the advancement leadership team to develop and implement short and long-term strategic plans to maximize fundraising results across the leadership and major gift program(s).
• Acts as a key strategic partner to the Vice-Principal (Advancement), contributing to the advancement and execution of campaign strategy, priorities, and performance goals across the development enterprise.
• Develops, implements, coordinates and monitors approved objectives, goals, and plans relevant to Development, ensuring a strong focus on moves management across the leadership and major gift pipelines.
• Leads efforts to further professionalize and accelerate development operations, strengthening consistency in portfolio management, forecasting, and moves management practices across teams.
• Acts as a lead strategist and advisor to Deans, Departmental Heads and senior university volunteers, providing expertise and leadership to strengthen performance, capacity, and results in major and leadership giving.
• Represents Queen’s priorities in the context of an overall vision for Queen’s and its’ place in the world.
• Leads efforts to secure financial support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies through major and leadership gift strategies, with direct involvement in selected principal gift files.
• Advances an integrated campaign approach across major, leadership, and principal giving, ensuring alignment of donor strategies with institutional priorities and opportunities.
• Oversees Major & Leadership Giving faculty advancement, gift planning, corporate and foundation relations, prospect development, and donor experience programs to ensure strong program results.
• Works closely with Development Leaders and Deans/Departmental Heads to establish strategic plans for increasing philanthropic revenues advising on staffing models, priorities, and performance expectations.
• Ensures strong alignment and integration between faculty priorities, development initiatives, and institutional campaign strategies, working in close collaboration with the AVP (Campaign) to support coordinated execution across comprehensive and targeted campaigns.
• Provides strategic oversight on the fundraising pipeline for major and leadership giving, ensuring regular reviews and accountability for pipeline movement, trends, and barriers, including regular pipeline meetings.
• Works in close partnership with the Associate Vice-Principal (Principal Gifts) to actively manage the full donor pipeline, ensuring seamless progression from major and leadership giving into principal gift opportunities.
• Continuously measures and analyzes data to identify issues around metrics, pipeline, portfolio, and performance, recommending innovative solutions and benchmarking strategies to enhance fundraising effectiveness in the major and leadership giving programs.
• Identifies fundraising barriers and works with managers to effect change that will enhance operations.
• Exercises influence across a complex, matrixed environment without direct authority, driving alignment, accountability, and consistency across faculty and central teams.
• Leads faculty development in change management for enhanced fundraising processes, systems, and tools.
• Serves as a trusted advisor, strategist, and faculty resource and liaison to donors, senior university officials, volunteers, and others to coordinate strategies and secure major, principal, and planned gift commitments.
• Identifies and advances opportunities to innovate and elevate development programs, building on a strong institutional foundation to drive the next phase of growth and philanthropic impact.
• Fosters a non-territorial, relationship-centric approach to philanthropy that encourages collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness.
• Stays abreast of philanthropic developments, giving vehicles, and relevant legislation to maximize revenue.
• Ensures gifts are handled and recognized according to sound Advancement practices.
• Develops and maintains an in-depth knowledge of faculty/university activities, priorities and needs in both teaching and research.

Donor Engagement
• Serves as a highly visible, front-facing fundraising leader, engaging top donors, volunteers, and institutional leaders to advance priority initiatives and campaign opportunities.
• Manages a blended portfolio of major and selective principal gift prospects (rated $1M+)
• Builds effective relationships with a diverse and broad range of influential and deeply engaged donors and volunteers who assist the university’s mission and priorities with a goal of securing support.
• Leverages Queen’s exceptional and highly engaged alumni community to identify, cultivate, and advance transformative gift opportunities.
• Acts as an ambassador for Queen’s University and the Office of Advancement to internal and external audiences.

Team Leadership & People Management
• Develops an outstanding high-performing team with commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Cultivates and strengthens senior fundraising leadership across the institution, building depth of talent and capability while driving an uplift in philanthropic performance.
• Coaches, encourages and supports team members in achieving their goals and full potential.
• Establishes a culture of accountability, performance, and continuous improvement, aligned with campaign priorities and institutional goals.
• Holds faculty Development Leaders accountable for targets and metrics, updating Deans regularly on progress.
• Champions the adoption of consistent tools, metrics, and best practices across teams to enhance effectiveness and scalability of development operations.
• Models expected values and behaviours, demonstrating professional excellence and stewardship.
• Provides budget and staffing leadership for the Development Unit, including overseeing the unit’s budget, and development and implementation of strategic and annual budget submissions.
• Regularly reviews effectiveness to identify the need for staff resources, participates in staffing committees, and makes decisions regarding employee selection.
• Manages individual and team performance by establishing performance standards; reviewing, monitoring and evaluating performance; and conducting formal talent and performance reviews.
• Supports the planning, prioritization, and management of work performed by direct reports, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching.
• Assesses staff training and development needs, ensuring employees receive the necessary training to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Analyzes trends across teams and portfolios, tracking performance over time, and advancing recommendations around coaching and training opportunities.
• Investigates, addresses, and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including making decisions regarding disciplinary and discharge matters.
• Ensures adequate levels of central support are in place to implement the strategies of Development.

Required Experience and Qualifications:
• Proven people leadership and human resources management experience including organizing, motivating and directing a large team of staff and volunteers to achieve objectives, carrying out diverse activities, and promoting inclusion and belonging in the workplace.
• Established track-record in strategy development and implementation; project planning; budget, forecasting and financial management; program analysis; and meeting objectives.
• Extensive leadership experience in successfully developing and overseeing institution-wide, multi-channel fundraising and engagement programs, with accountability for program performance, growth, and continuous innovation.
• Demonstrated success in managing a portfolio of principal gifts prospects with a view towards satisfying the priorities identified by the institution.
• Knowledge of wealth transfer strategies, gift planning vehicles including bequests, trusts, annuities, insurance and registered retirement funds as well as integrated and non-traditional gift plans, is essential.
• Significant experience working as part of a large and complex campaign leadership team.
• Clear understanding of and strict adherence to ethical fundraising standards.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively build and manage volunteer relationships that enhance and advance the interests of the university.
• Comprehensive understanding of the administrative and governance structures of complex organizations with multiple constituents.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher required; consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Recognized or working towards the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) or equivalent accreditation preferred.
• A satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check required. Candidates residing outside Canada must provide an official police clearance or background check from their country of residence or any relevant jurisdiction, where reasonably available.
• A valid G-Class driver’s license (or equivalent) and passport with no travel restrictions is required.

Critical Skills and Behaviours:
• Inclusive, collaborative and inspiring leadership style.
• Adaptable change agent capable of translating strategic priorities into tactical activities.
• Caring mentor who leads by example, demonstrating a calm and measured approach.
• Deep understanding of and respect for the value and contributions of staff and volunteers.
• Strategic and collaborative integrator who seeks synergies and partnerships.
• Ability to identify optimal approaches to secure cooperation from campus partners.
• Highly motivated and results-driven individual able to set high standards and goals.
• Strong analytical, interpretative and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional relationship builder, capable of cultivating long-term relationships with alumni, donors, and volunteers.
• Ability to align prospective donor interests with the University’s strategic priorities.
• Poised, professional, and diplomatic, brings exceptional judgement, tact, maturity and discretion.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong listening ability and influence.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities.