Associate Director Development, Ontario Agricultural College

Department: OAC Advancement
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

Temporary full-time from 07/14/2025 to 07/16/2027

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
 Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose

This position is an opportunity to join a high-performing team of passionate fundraising professionals in Alumni Affairs and Development at one of Canada’s leading comprehensive research-intensive universities. 

In our work, we advance the mission of the University of Guelph by building lifelong relationships with our community: alumni, donors, and friends. Our vision is for the University of Guelph to be personally relevant in the lives of our community members. Through these relationships, we amplify the impact of philanthropy to create unique solutions for the challenges facing our world. As a member of this campus-wide team, the Associate Director of Development (ADD) epitomizes the department’s shared values of respect, empowerment, integrity, appreciation, and forward focus.

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is committed to The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is committed to developing leaders with a drive to foster innovation within agriculture, environment, food and rural communities for a sustainable future. If you are looking to Join a supportive team at the Ontario Agricultural College that is at the forefront of innovative solutions in food, agriculture, and rural communities to meet the challenges of our changing world. We encourage your application to this exciting opportunity.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, OAC Advancement, the Associate Director of Development is responsible for major and principal gift fundraising (contributions of $100,000+) for OAC and the management of fundraising staff members. The ADD is expected to personally generate a minimum of $2 million in new major gifts and pledges each year, while also providing strategic leadership to the team in achieving an annual revenue target of $4 million for OAC’s top priorities.

More specifically, the responsibilities of the ADD include:

• Identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal-level donors and prospects through the fundraising cycle.
• Maintaining a robust pipeline of 60-80 major and principal-level donors.
• Preparing briefing materials to support Senior Administration (President, VPs, AVPs, Deans, Directors) fundraising activity.
• Collaborating with the Director, Major Gift Advancement and other internal partners to identify university priorities that will resonate with donors e.g., faculty support, and capital projects.
• Creating and presenting materials to advance fundraising solicitations and negotiating the closure of major and principal level gifts, including the creation of gift agreements and other supporting documentation.
• Managing a team of two development staff members which may include recruitment and training.

The ADD will also undertake complex planned giving discussions with donors, friends, and alumni to promote planned giving as a means to achieve OAC’s fundraising priorities and create a legacy for donors on campus. 

The ADD will also participate in the stewardship of alumni, friends and corporations, and work closely with the Stewardship Engagement Manager. This includes taking personal leadership on gift announcements/communications and supporting partners to implement gifts.

In addition to these responsibilities, the ADD will contribute to strategic planning for OAC and other University initiatives along with fellow members of the Major Gift Advancement team. The ADD, in collaboration with the Director, will help to develop and implement a long-term fundraising strategy for OAC aligned with the overall AA&D multi-year and annual strategic plans, and work with other members of the team to implement the various projects and initiatives reflected in the strategic plan. 

We believe that fundraising is a team sport and building strong internal relationships is key to success. The ADD will work collaboratively with both the Alumni Affairs and Development team members as well as the OAC Senior Leadership team members. 

Requirements

What do you need to be successful in this role? 

• 6 years of experience in university or other public sector fundraising experience, with a proven track record of success securing principal and major gifts from a variety of stakeholders.
• Completion of an undergraduate degree.
• CFRE is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience leading and managing team members, volunteers and working with senior staff.
• Advanced knowledge of business community and related issues and challenges.
• Ability to engage senior leadership in a variety of sectors at a strategic level.
• Superior strategic planning, people management and administrative skills to lead an advancement team ensuring fundraisers and other team members have both individual and group success.
• Superior interpersonal communications skills, including effective relationship building and experience working with individuals in senior or high-profile positions.
• Leadership and motivation skills, with proven ability to lead groups towards completion of long-term goals in dynamic environments.
• Experience with all aspects of the advancement environment, from alumni engagement, high-volume annual giving approaches to personal principal and major giving, to planned and legacy giving.
• Ability to think and act quickly and effectively under pressure, exercising tact, diplomacy, discretion, and good judgment.
• Experience with public relations, communications, and alumni relations programs.
• Successful experience managing personnel with diverse job requirements, both unionized and professional.
• Experience managing the personnel and resource requirements of competing projects and transitions between projects.
• Experience implementing complex processes and overlapping cycles of activity.

Please include a cover letter along with your resume in your application. 

NOTE: The University has adopted a policy relative to flexible work arrangements. This appointment is regularly performed on campus but is eligible for a flexible work arrangement under the terms of this policy.

Employee Type: Temporary 
Position Number: 10922007 
Classification: P&M FT- Band 07    
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands 
The target hiring salary for this position is minimum up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.

*Tentative evaluation.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date:  05/23/2025  
Closing Date:  06/13/2025