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Posting Reason:

Replacement of a regular position

Job Type:

Employee

Job Family:

Business Development

Faculty/Service - Department:

Telfer School of Management

Campus:

Desmarais Hall

Date Posted (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/02/04

Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/03/05

Salary Range:

$179,597.00 - $224,496.00About the Telfer School of Management

The Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa is located in the heart of Ottawa and is the proud academic home of some 4,300 students,200 faculty members, over 100 staff members, and over 30,000 alumni.

At Telfer, everything we do from teaching to research, to policy advice is firmly aligned with helping Canada reach its potential. We believe that better business practice means a better Canada and that a better Canada means a better world.

Position Purpose

The Executive Director, Philanthropy, Community Engagement and Partnerships leads and manages the advancement function of the Telfer School of Management. The primary purpose of this position and team are 1) to create stronger engagement linkages between the School and the community (donors, alumni, corporate partners and other individuals, organizations and employers of our students), which will lead to higher levels of affinity with the School; 2) through this engagement strategy, generate external funding and other resources to support the School’s core education and research mission and strategic initiatives; and 3) ensures the proper management of stewardship prospects and donors in adherence to University guidelines.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

Team Leadership

Provides leadership, direction and mentoring to the School external relations team to ensure each member meets their individual and collective advancement targets within designated timeframes. In collaboration with the University’s Office of Advancement, the incumbent is responsible for all aspects of team management including recruitment, performance management, resource planning, goal-setting, and training and development of the team members and ensures accurate and timely feedback, resources and advice on advancement strategy formulation to optimize advancement results for each School’s and University’s funding priorities. Inspires fundraisers to work together in a donor-centered fashion toward maximizing the development outcomes and minimizing a competitive mindset.

Development & Fundraising:

With the objective of attracting significant philanthropic investments to the University of Ottawa, the Executive Director is accountable for the strategic planning and development of principal and major gifts for the Telfer School of Management, including the personal cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of gifts from individuals ranging from $250,000 to multi-million-dollar transformational donations. Works closely with the Dean and Vice-Deans, as well as the University’s Vice-President, Advancement and the President, as well as other senior stakeholders and volunteers to plan and execute development related activities that align with specific donor strategies.

Strategic planning: Establishes the infrastructure to integrate the School’s academic units into the overall advancement strategy and annual plan for the School. Creates long-range individual and integrated advancement plans, which fully realize the potential from individual prospective donors to the University as well as to the School. Identifies high net worth potential through enhanced knowledge of wealth management principles including planned giving modalities.
Account development:Personally manages a portfolio of up to 120 prospects at the principal ($1M+) and major gift level ($250K to $1M) through the cultivation, proposal, solicitation and stewardship phases with individual donors. Meets expected revenue and activity targets annually. Identifies potential major gift and planned giving donors for the School, to strengthen its financial capability. Leads Telfer School of Management development staff in developing and executing on prospective donor strategies.
Priority-setting and gift implementation: In collaboration with members of the School’s executive team, develops advancement strategies that determine sources and uses of funds. Collaborates with the Dean and Vice-Deans on the creation and development of programmatic funding for capital infrastructure, scholarships, research, programs as well as for endowment funds. Ensures the appropriate use of donor funds in consultation with the University’s Office of Advancement, Stewardship Department.
Issues management: Evaluates and assesses potential issues of engaged stakeholders, troubleshoots and provides solutions to strengthen relationships with high-profile individuals, and donor prospects. Ensures that stewardship and reporting requirements are met to sustain higher levels of affinity with the School.
Prospect management coordination: Working with the University’s Advancement Office, ensures the efficient coordination of the prospect clearance and management process. Ensures that each member of the development team performs sufficient activities with assigned prospects and that records are accurately reflected and maintained in the development database. Coaches faculty-based team toward meeting their targets and helps troubleshoot barriers.

Alumni & stakeholder engagement:

As a senior University and School representative, acts as an ambassador of uOttawa and the Telfer School of Management, representing the University to external audiences on a local, national and international level. Builds, cultivates and maintains relationships with prominent alumni, donors, volunteers, friends, community and professional organizations to inspire philanthropic and other support for the School and the University of Ottawa.

Shaping strategy: Gathers feedback from internal and external leaders to help guide the direction of the School and to improve programs and services.
Alumni and stakeholder engagement: Creates and manages an engagement framework that enables the School to track and manage the progression of alumni, donors and other stakeholders to higher levels of engagement and affinity with the School. Hosts and attends events, receptions and other outreach activities to cultivate meaningful ties to alumni and other stakeholders locally and around the globe.
Institutional partnerships: Builds and manages relationships within the University, and with other institutions such as our partner hospitals and research institutes.
Volunteer management: Manages the uOttawa Telfer School of Management Campaign Cabinet and other high-level volunteers.

Performance evaluation and reporting:

Benchmarking and metrics: Based on the business intelligence data, industry-wide best practice benchmarking and evidence-based metrics provided by the Office of Advancement Services, collaborates to recognize opportunities and possible solutions, recommends and prepares appropriate business plans to support their implementation.
Reporting: In collaboration with the University’s Advancement Office as well as the Telfer School of Management, provides regular progress reports to senior administration to ensure that targets are met within designated time frames. Plans, prepares and provides evidence in support of budget recommendations, work goals and training requirements necessary to deliver an effective and efficient program.

What you will bring

A graduate degree in a relevant field of study.
Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and best practices.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising and stakeholder relations experience, including at the management level, with a proven track record of achievement and success with developing prospective donors and closing major and planned gifts.
Extensive experience in developing and implementing strategic fundraising plans
Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques related to estate and tax planning; applicable laws, codes and regulations.
Proven abilities in building partnerships and/or collaborative working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, including senior executives and officials
Experience within an academic environment considered an asset, with deep knowledge of the University of Ottawa considered desirable.
Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage, coach and motivate a group of professional employees
Very strong listening skills
Ability to write high-quality fundraising material (i.e. case for support documentation)
Passion for fundraising, enthusiastic and high energy level
Proven negotiation and networking skills
Demonstrated Project Management skills
Superior interpersonal and communication skills as well as diplomacy and judgement
Strong organizational and priority-setting skills,
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and be able to travel for University business
Valid driver’s license and passport required
Bilingualism – French and English (spoken and written)

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at vra.affairesprofessorales@uottawa.ca. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.

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Executive Director, Philanthropy, Community Engagement and Partnerships