Director, Development Jobs

Huron invites applications for the position of:

Director, Development

Huron is unique to post-secondary institutions in Canada. With the aim to redefine Liberal Arts education, Huron is creating a university experience unlike any other that prioritizes ethical leadership and community engagement, as much as the pursuit of academic achievement.

As the founding college of Western University, since 1863, Huron has remained strategically small to best serve the needs of its students. We provide an elite, yet accessible, education, because every student with the passion and work ethic to positively change our world deserves to access the knowledge to understand it and the skills to shape it. Huron’s mission is to develop Leaders with Heart from all backgrounds and foster a vibrant and inclusive community and prepare students to be engaged citizens who transform the sectors they work within. Our commitment to providing the best-possible Liberal Arts education means students have many unique opportunities to enrich their learning experiences.

About Huron University Advancement

In partnership with Huron’s diverse community of alumni, friends, and external stakeholders, University Advancement is a comprehensive development and alumni relations team dedicated to advancing Huron’s mission to develop the next generation of Leaders with Heart. By raising awareness, fostering relationships, and cultivating opportunities for engagement and philanthropic support, our team helps empower students, drive innovative learning and research, and facilitate the University’s engagement with our community and the world.

The University Advancement team is undergoing an exciting transformation as we position Huron for an ambitious new fundraising campaign to support Huron's mission and priorities emerging on our refreshed strategic and academic plans.

The Opportunity

If you believe in the power of education to transform lives, communities, and society, and are driven to create meaningful change alongside Huron’s incredible community of students, faculty and staff, we want to hear from you. The Director, Development is a critical member of the Advancement team, responsible for defining and executing strategies to deepen Huron’s relationships with alumni and donors and increase philanthropic support for the University’s mission and priorities. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Advancement, the Director will manage high-profile and high-value external relationships, collaborate with a wide-range of internal partners across the University, and provide leadership for a talented team of advancement professionals.

As a senior leader within the Advancement team, the Director will have the opportunity to create impact in the following areas, all of which contribute to new investments in supporting our students’ in achieving success in their academic, professional and leadership development:

• Provide exemplary leadership, support and coaching to a team of advancement professionals with responsibility for development, stewardship, alumni relations and advancement operations, fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, curiosity and impact.
• Through learning and actions, contribute to advancing Huron’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization, both in areas across the University and as part of the Advancement team’s philanthropy and alumni engagement initiatives.
• Manage a focused portfolio of assigned major gift prospects ($25K+), including individuals and select corporate and foundation partners. Develop thoughtful, personally tailored strategies to cultivate and solicit support, both individually and in collaboration with senior leaders, faculty, program staff and volunteers.
• Work collaboratively with Advancement and University colleagues to formulate and implement operations-related processes and procedures, consistent with industry best practices, in adherence with ethical fundraising standards and supporting legislation, and with a focus on continuous quality improvement.
• Develop and execute an overall strategy for integrated development programs (including annual, leadership and planned giving) to increase philanthropic support for Huron’s priorities, consistent with annual and long-term fundraising goals.

Profile & Qualifications

As the ideal candidate, you value collaboration and are skilled at fostering and supporting constructive, long-term relationships with both internal partners and external stakeholders to achieve shared goals and objectives. You have experience in all stages of the relationship management cycle and have a track record of securing significant investments and maintaining strong partnerships that support key priorities or business objectives. As a leader, you have experience managing a team of direct reports, leveraging strong coaching skills and a commitment to collaborative problem-solving. Experience in higher education philanthropy, or fundraising in other complex, multi-stakeholder environments, is considered an asset. Specific qualifications include:

• Resourceful and independent, but comfortable working within the framework of an integrated development program and team-oriented environment;
• University degree from an accredited institution with a focus on Business, Communications or the Liberal Arts (equivalent, proven experience will also be considered);
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of related professional experience;
• Ability to work with diverse communities with respect, sensitivity, creativity, innovation, and cultural understanding.
• A strong understanding, and appreciation of the mission of a liberal arts university such as Huron;

Compensation, Benefits & Working Environment

Salary range: $99,000-$120,000 (starting salary commensurate with experience)

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits include a generous vacation policy, extended health and dental coverage, and a pension plan with generous employer matching.

Working Environment

The Advancement team is located in "Lucas Alumni House", a bright, comfortable and collaborative workspace shared with colleagues from Huron's Marketing & Communications team. Huron aims to be a community that cares for each other and the world, and we are committed to carrying out our work with integrity, empathy, open inquiry, and mutual respect. We strive to create a culture of excellence and share a commitment to learning and leadership/professional development.

Application Information

Please note the role is based in London, Ontario at Huron’s Campus.

Occasional travel (typically locally and nationally) as well as evening and weekend hours required.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their application by Friday July 7, 2023 at 11:59pm. Your cover letter and a current resume may be submitted in one document (Word or PDF) in confidence to Huron via email to [email protected]

Huron values its place in an interconnected world and desires to reflect this value, acknowledging our responsibility to strive towards a diverse and equitable employment and educational environment that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We welcome those who have a demonstrated commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and who may contribute to the diversification of ideas. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, especially those from members who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.

We thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected to proceed in the recruitment process will be contacted. Should you require accommodation in making an application please contact Huron Human Resources by phone at 519-438-7224 or at the email address above.