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Department

Compensation Range

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

One of the most iconic and highly decorated varsity sports programs in Canada, UBC Athletics and Recreation has 26 teams across various sports. In terms of prowess in competition, it is among the very elite. While their outstanding performance in competition is well-documented, our student athletes are well-rounded individuals who can excel in academics as well as athletics. In 2025, the Thunderbirds had 241 student-athletes honoured as Academic All-Canadians and counts 20 Rhodes Scholars among the ranks of their alumni.

As Senior Director of Development & Alumni Engagement, Athletics and Recreation, you will be responsible for creating and operationalizing fundraising strategies to ensure that the Faculty’s strategic objectives are met. While spearheading a multi-year campaign in support of UBC Athletics and Recreation, you will manage a development and alumni engagement program with an annual goal of ~$5M+ annually. You will be responsible for moving leadership gift account strategies forward where a high degree of senior administration involvement is required. You will work in partnership with senior University administration and UBC Athletics’ leadership team to facilitate maximum private sector support and build upon and expand the strong alumni connections that already exist. You will also provide leadership to a team of management & professional employees.

The incoming Senior Director of Development & Alumni Engagement will be responsible for leading the execution of the long-term strategy for Development within UBC Athletics. The ideal candidate will bring considerable depth of experience in fundraising, strategy development and inclusive behavior practices. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, discretion, and sound judgment are required. 

The Senior Director will serve as a member of both Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) as well as UBC Athletics leadership and be supported by specialized functions and teams in the Development office.  

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Responsible for leading the execution of the long-term strategy for a complex Development & Alumni Engagement (DAE) program responsible for fundraising $5 million to $12 million. To formulate and execute short and intermediate term plans; ensuring alignment with the department as well as UBC’s overall DAE strategy. To ensure continued growth of DAE programs, to maximize operational efficiencies and resource development activity and to cultivate exceptional stakeholder and employee satisfaction.

Organizational Status

Reporting to the Executive Director, Development, this position has primary accountability for Development within a DAE program and as such is responsible for developing strong working relationships with:

• donors, alumni, outside community group leaders and corporate executives;

• key stakeholders, strategic partners and senior University administration such as the University President;

• senior management within DAE as well as other related disciplines (i.e., AVP and VP level);

• the Dean and / or senior management of the faculty or program they are responsible for;

• DAE peers and direct reports; and

• UBC faculty and staff involved in DAE activities.

Work Performed

To develop and operationalize Development strategies for a complex DAE program and to ensure the department as well as UBC meets strategic objectives.

• Formulates and executes short and intermediate term strategies for a complex DAE program responsible for fundraising $5 million to $12 million annually;    

• Ensures strategies are concretely linked to the department and UBC’s long-term strategy;

• Manages program growth leading to the successful fulfillment of strategic objectives;

• Ensures solicitation conversion rates attained at the industry measured norms of 65% and that gift conversion rates will have a low composition of revocable gifts and a high pledge fulfillment rate Provides fundraising advice and strategy to senior University administration and faculty;

• Assesses donor characteristics and creates a donor appropriate plan.

• Manages the human, financial and operational objectives of the program including:

  • developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for identifying, cultivating and stewarding major gift prospects and donors as well as for implementing major gift strategies (e.g., strategies range from a minimum of $100K up to multi-million gifts);

  • coaching and motivating staff and volunteers to achieve program objectives (e.g., fundraising goals);

  • understanding and successfully navigating the philanthropic industry (i.e., locally, regionally and globally);

  • contributing to the DAE’s objective to maximize private and public sector support for the University;

  • developing and implementing a targeted donor communications, recognition and stewardship program; and

  • developing proposals for key fundraising initiatives and priority projects as appropriate.

• Formulates the annual operating budgets for the program consistent with UBC’s established financial guidelines and business planning process;

• Implements DAE and UBC related processes, policies, systems and practices within the program that maximize operational efficiencies and competitive advantage;

• Oversees the delivery of alumni activities / objectives that impact the success of the program; and

• Responsible for personally developing and managing a major gifts portfolio in support of funding priorities and meeting fundraising goals.

To lead and manage a team responsible for executing the Development strategy within the program.

• Identifies strategies and key performance goals and acts as an advisor to direct reports (as well as supporting staff and volunteers); works to overcome challenges and barriers and minimize risk;

• Sets performance targets and measures, monitors and manages overall performance of the program and direct reports;

• Ensures there is a comprehensive and effective succession management strategy in place for the program; identifies succession role requirements and high potential talent and actively develops key talent;

• Builds the capabilities of the team to enhance ability to achieve financial and operating strategy; hires appropriately, leverages the talents of the function and takes corrective action where necessary; and

• Other duties as required, within the classification of this position.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

• Position is considered high profile for the department and is a critical point of contact for donors, alumni, community leaders, staff, volunteers and strategic partners as well as for UBC senior management, executives and key University administration (e.g., University President) as it relates to Development and alumni activities;

• Decisions and recommendations have a direct and significant impact (i.e., fiscally, legally as well as reputational) on the success of the Development activities (average program level of $5 million up to $12 million) as well as the DAE department as a whole and the reputation of the University;

• Work is highly complex and involves a high degree of independent judgment;

• Work involves non-routine situations where established procedures do not always apply and problem resolution requires making modifications to existing processes, approaches or methodologies;

• Incorrect interpretation or communication of University policy and procedures or lack of tact, diplomacy or sensitivity when dealing with donors, alumni, the external community or senior administrators will negatively impact working relationships and may lead to the loss of a donation and / or reputation; and

  • For example, the position is critical in advising and ensuring proper interpretation and implementation of academic and fiscal policies for fundraising, senior administrators, and development staff.  With responsibility for a program raising an average of $5 million dollars, if inappropriate advice, incorrect interpretation or improper financial analysis were conveyed to major donors or senior University administrators, millions of dollars could be incorrectly administered or unavailable for disbursement.  UBC could be in direct violation of CRA guidelines.

• The incumbent participates in decisions concerning the planning, organization and utilization of staff, staff selection and job performance reviews.

Supervision Received

Work is performed within general authority according to broad objectives receiving little to no direction;

Positions at this level work independently with discretion relating to donor negotiations, policy administration and interpretation, and administrative responsibilities; and

Work is reviewed for attainment of objectives and effectiveness of results.

Supervision Given

Positions at this level have direct responsibility for the performance of up to 8 employees including career and senior level employees;

Positions are responsible for determining the plans for the program Development activities based on defined department goals; and

Responsible for providing general direction to staff with an emphasis on the execution of plans and delivery of objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

University degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of ten years of related experience, of which eight years of experience leading and developing career and professional level employees, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own;

Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and successfully executing a major gift fundraising program of moderate complexity, preferably in an academic environment;

• Experience liaising and building relationships with donors, senior managers and strategic partners (internal and external); and

• Ability to assess opportunities and risks for complex and sensitive gift agreements;

• Advanced interpersonal skills to support the building of strong relationships with diverse groups of people (internally as well as externally);

• Advanced negotiations skills with the ability to influence decisions to achieve objectives while maintaining policy and best practice;

• Diplomatic problem solving and negotiations skills to resolve issues within own area and / or across functional areas;

• Strong understanding of industry best practices as well as practices within other large / complex institutions;

• Has achieved a high level of notoriety within industry for fundraising achievements;

• Advanced conceptual abilities and proven ability to implement high standards;

• Excellent knowledge of UBC procedure and policy;

• Experience managing the performance of direct reports through a performance management process;

• Experience managing multiple projects with multiple deadlines;

• Strong understanding of accounting and budgeting principles; and

• Strong understanding of legislation and regulations as they apply to own area.