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The Opportunity
Mount Saint Vincent University is strongly committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within our community and encourages applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons of any sexual orientations and gender identities and/or expressions, Indigenous persons, African Canadians, other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, and other groups that would contribute to the diversification of our campus. Candidates who identify as being from any of these groups are encouraged to voluntarily self-identify in their application materials. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply; however, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
The Department of University Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University invites applications for the position of Executive Director, Advancement.
What you'll do
Responsibilities
As the Executive Director, you will lead a multi-disciplinary team of managers and staff who support the University's priorities in the areas of fundraising, donor and supporter stewardship and relationship building with alumni.
Reporting to the Associate Vice-President, University Relations, and working closely with the President and the MSVU leadership team, you will provide strategic leadership to create initiatives that advance the university's goals and mission. In tandem with your leadership of the Advancement portfolio, you will work with the Mount Saint Vincent Alumni Association, to strengthen the University's world-wide network of over 39,000 alumni through the development of programs that recognize and enhance an individual's lifelong relationship with the Mount.
Leveraging your considerable expertise, the Executive Director should be an experienced team builder who can inspire, grow, and mentor staff, while building engagement both within and external to the University. This position works with senior management to facilitate financial support for MSVU, and establishes fundraising best practices and strategies for the Advancement team. The University will draw upon your fundraising expertise in support of established and future funding priorities, including an upcoming multimillion dollar campaign.
The ideal Executive Director of Advancement is a strategic, dynamic, solutions-focused leader who is deeply familiar with the fundraising landscape and well-experienced in all areas of an Advancement operation, including relationship management, data management, team leadership, and communications. Possessing an inclusive leadership style, this person will provide leadership to all areas of the Advancement function, and will advance strategic fundraising and donor initiatives from inception through to completion in a dynamic environment.
What you'll need
Qualifications
- You are a team builder and leader with a proven ability to bring out the best in people, to develop and strengthen talent and to adhere to industry leading practices.
- You have effectively managed capital campaigns and other giving programs with a proven track record of success, including securing gifts of $1M+.
- You have extensive knowledge of and experience with the donor/philanthropic community.
- You have strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects at once from conception to completion with tightly prescribed timelines.
- You possess and demonstrate superior communication, presentation and interpersonal skills; writing effective proposals and associated development materials and correspondence.
- You are a strategic thinker, have an entrepreneurial mindset, and are skilled in creating and maintaining trusted relationships and engaging key stakeholders including staff, faculty, students, alum, volunteers, members of the MSVU leadership team and the Board of Governors.
- You are committed to good stewardship and value accountability, respect, collaboration, professionalism, recognition, and creativity.
- You have experience developing and leading the execution of annual and long-range fundraising strategies and operational plans, including associated budgets.
- You understand and appreciate the Mount's 150 years of history, have a strong commitment to social justice, and a commitment to advancing EDIA (equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility) and truth and reconciliation in keeping with MSVU's mission and strategic plan.
- You are a professional with 10+ years of progressive experience in a senior fundraising development role, experience in a university setting is a definite asset.
- A university degree is required and a CFRE designation would be considered a benefit.
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A little bit about us
Mount Saint Vincent University
A leader in online and experiential learning, Mount Saint Vincent University takes a personalized approach to education to nurture socially responsible global citizens. With equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility at the fore, MSVU has been challenging the status quo since its founding 150 years ago (1873) and today prioritizes access and impact for all underserved groups. MSVU has been nationally recognized for having one of the lowest student-to-professor ratios across its programs in Arts, Science, Education and Professional Studies; for providing students early access to valuable research opportunities; for its legacy in the advancement of women; and for facilitating critical advancements in food security, healthy aging, literacy, nutrition, childhood development and more. MSVU is located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq People. www.msvu.ca
Are you interested?
Work With Us
Starting Range: $120,899 to $147,092 per annum (commensurate with experience)
Start date: September 2024
If you require accommodations throughout this process, please let us know. Applications must include a cover letter and resume. To apply for this position, go to www.msvu.ca/careers and follow the online application system.