Discover
The Opportunity
NSCAD University is a global leader in contemporary art, craft and design education. We are a destination that attracts the top students, faculty and visiting artists from around the world. We seek to raise money to reunify our students, faculty, and programs and the Historic Halifax Seaport, creating a new arts district. This is a bold vision and an ambitious goal. President Peggy Shannon is creating an elite team of interdisciplinary specialists to realize this vision.
NSCAD Campaign Ambassador's responsibilities are twofold:
- Developing and implementing a strategy for all aspects of communication related to NSCAD's comprehensive campaign focused on campus renewal and reunification. (65%)
- Identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-level donor and volunteer prospects who can make or influence transformative gifts of $2.5 million or more and major gifts of $500,000 or more to the university's comprehensive campaign. (35%)
The ideal candidate is a senior communicator with experience in marketing, communications, government relations, publicity, and sales. To thrive in a small shop, the candidate will be both strategic and enjoy implementing programs. The candidate will be professional and confident interacting with different kinds of people, and possess a network of contacts. In addition, you are passionate about art and design, and knowledgeable about NSCAD.
The NSCAD Campaign Ambassador will work with the President, Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO), Director of Strategic Communication, Campaign Director, Campaign Team, and volunteer leadership to develop a unique, ownable and emotionally engaging campaign name and narrative.
The Campaign Ambassador will create and implement a strategy to disseminate this narrative to prospects, donors, alumni, government, and the public.
In addition to working on Campaign Communications, the Campaign Ambassador is expected to identify, rate, cultivate, solicit and steward individuals, corporations and foundations (corporate and family) with the capacity to make philanthropic donations at the $500,000 level and above. Partnering with the Campaign Team, the Campaign Ambassador will manage a portfolio of up to 25 prospective donors and have an annual target to confirm at least $2.5 million in pledges from that prospect pool in each of the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic years.
The Ambassador must champion the strategic vision of the university as expressed through the campaign priorities, be creative, and must possess the knowledge required to inspire and connect the aspirations of prospective donors relative to the importance of art and design education with the university's established needs.
What you'll do
Responsibilities
- Contribute to the development of the campaign name and narrative.
- Create a strategy for the campaign communication that is aligned with NSCAD University's mission, vision, and strategic direction through the lens of the university's continuing influence on contemporary art and design.
- Implement the communication strategy, including the development of dynamic promotional campaign assets (digital and physical, video and still), proposal templates, recognition materials etc.
- Create content to support campaign objectives.
- Promote events that support the campaign on campus and around the world.
- Build awareness of the campaign through gift announcements and relevant releases about the building project.
- Support government relations initiatives, particularly as they relate to sourcing government funding for the campaign, through the President's Office/Chief of Staff, collaboratively with the Campaign.
- Provide the Campaign Team with introductions to new NSCAD University prospects. Organize and attend in-person meetings with prospects alone, or with the CPO, Campaign Director, President, or with volunteers.
- Work to understand prospect motivations to align their interests with the university's needs and attend prospect clearance meetings.
- Cultivate relationships with prospects through the sharing of relevant and timely information, and engagement opportunities.
- Maintain detailed records of all donor and prospect contacts in Raiser's Edge software.
What you'll need
Qualifications
The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor's degreen in a related field plus a minimum of 7 years experience in marketing and communication strategy combined with a minimum of 5 years in fundraising or business development. An equivalent combination of education and expereince may be considered.
Additional requirements include:
- Exceptional organizational, communication and presentation skills
- Exceptional writing, editing, and proof-reading skills
- Demonstrated experience in content creation, media relations, government relations, and publicity
- Excellent relationship-building skills with a track record of establishing and maintaining meaningful connections with clients
- Knowledge of NSCAD University is an asset
- Advertising or marketing agency experience would be an asset
- Valid passport is required
- Valid driver's license is required
Additional Information:
Position status: Full Time, 2 year contract with option for renewal (based on performance outcomes)
Salary: Compensation is commensurate with education and experience + annual bonus structure is available
Location: Halifax Campaign Office with occasional travel for donor meetings and events is required
We're looking for
Core Skills
A little bit about us
NSCAD University
NSCAD University and Halifax are in Mi'kma'ki, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq Nation. NSCAD University is committed to reconciliation and to building respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and with the African Nova Scotian communities that have been enriching this region for 400 years. As a small school with three urban campuses, and programs across a range of fine arts, craft, design, and media arts, NSCAD University is an incubator for talent and an active contributor to the arts scene in Canada's fastest-growing city. Since 1887, NSCAD has been a leader in visual arts education in Canada, with distinguished alumni building careers all over the world. This is an exciting time to join us, as we have recently welcomed a cohort of 10 BIPOC faculty members who bring valuable perspectives, ways of thinking, and lived experience to all of our work, and as we look forward to a consolidated waterfront campus in 2030.
Are you interested?
Work With Us
Applications should be sent via the CareerBeacon website. Applications should include a cover letter and detailed CV.
Deadline for applications: The University will begin considering applicants on July 30, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. We appreciate all applicants, however only those selected to move forward in the competition will be contacted.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority in this search. NSCAD university encourages applications from Indigenous persons, racially visible persons, persons with a disability, women, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.