Senior Director, Development and Alumni Engagement
University of British Columbia
Salary: $103,110 - $162,139
ABOUT THE FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
UBC’s is one of the leading schools of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences in the world; our expert researchers work at the leading edge of their fields, whether it be in foundational science, health systems and policy, or pharmacy practice.
Vision:
• To be a catalyst for change in pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical sciences.
Purpose:
• We are innovators in pharmacy education, research, and practice, with the goal of supporting the optimization of drug therapy in the pursuit of improved patient outcomes.
Commitments:
• We support our people, creating a community that enables excellence through collective action.
• We seek novel ideas, putting into practice those with the greatest scope for sustained impact.
• We search for relevant connections, fostering meaningful collaborations that provide mutual benefit.
The Faculty’s academic programs span the full continuum of learning from undergraduate studies, professional clinical programs, and specialized graduate-level training through to continuing education. We are committed to best practices in teaching, combining state-of-the-art learning technology in an award-winning learning and research facility and, an innovative, forward-thinking approach to delivering curriculum.
Whether just starting out, planning a career in research, or have been practising for decades, UBC Pharm Sci offers the environment, training, and expertise to keep learners out in front of this rewarding, evolving discipline.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity:
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences supports an environment that promotes and values respect, reciprocity, opportunity, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are committed to ensuring people’s rights are respected by listening to and learning from different perspectives and ensuring that the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion are at the core of who we are in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
To further advance UBC’s Inclusion Action Plan, Indigenous Strategic Plan and Anti- Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force Final Report, our Faculty’s Strategic Plan takes an integrated approach to support expanded access to both education and healthcare within underserved communities.
For more information about the Faculty, please see https://pharmsci.ubc.ca
DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT (DAE) AT UBC
UBC’s DAE office upholds the university’s vision and values by fostering engagement with alumni and friends and by connecting donors to projects and causes that allow them to translate their passions into meaningful action.
DAE is one of the leading advancement teams in Canada and the development team in DAE is considered one of the leading fundraising teams in the country. With over 300 employees, DAE currently raises over $200 million and engages over 86,000 alumni annually.
UBC just launched the most ambitious campaign in UBC history. FORWARD, the campaign for UBC, will raise $3 billion and activate the power of our global alumni by doubling alumni engagement. The campaign will benefit research, teaching and learning across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses in three key areas—advancing healthy lives, creating solutions for the planet, and shaping thriving societies. To learn more about FORWARD, see https://give.ubc.ca/forward/
DAE Purpose: Inspiring engagement and philanthropy to advance UBC’s pursuit of excellence.
DAE Vision: To be a bold, world leading and highly accomplished development and alumni engagement program.
DAE Values
• Excellence: The quality of striving to be, and being, outstanding,
• Integrity: The quality of being honest, ethical, and truthful,
• Respect: Regard, felt or shown towards different people, ideas, and actions,
• Accountability: Being responsible for our conduct and actions and delivering upon our respective and reciprocal commitments,
• Communication: Act of sharing information to promote common understanding,
• Collaboration: When we work together, we amplify our success.
• Inclusion: Embedding equity, diversity and inclusion across systems and structures.
DAE Guiding Principles
• We are guided and inspired by UBC’s purpose and vision,
• We strive to provide an exceptional stakeholder experience,
• We align alumni engagement and development to achieve sustainable success,
• We encourage creative ideas and innovative approaches,
• We recognize and celebrate the successes of our portfolio and team members,
• We value the diversity of our staff,
• We collaborate purposefully and pursue strategic partnerships,
• We invest in the development and professional growth of staff,
• We foster an inclusive, healthy, dynamic, and warm environment based on trust, respect, and care for each other.
The new Senior Director will ideally possess:
• Significant fundraising experience with a record of progressive accomplishment and demonstrated ability in developing, implementing, and managing successful fundraising initiatives and managing high performing teams.
• A proven track record of executing large fundraising initiatives and major gift success in a sophisticated and complex environment, ideally in post secondary education.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging trends in philanthropy, with a particular sense of Canada’s academic landscape.
• A passion for science and health care, therefore a background in the sciences is helpful. The ability to translate complex scientific concepts to various audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of the principles of EDI and commitment to engaging with these initiatives; a track record of success in moving forward these agendas in meaningful and impactful ways.
• Demonstrated high level of political acumen, perception, integrity, discretion and tact.
• A highly collaborative nature, and the ability to lead, direct, and manage up and across.
• Ability to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances, audiences, and needs.
• Skilled decision-making, including the ability to make decisions with the appropriate level of consultation and transparency expected in an academic institution.
• Demonstrated ability to fluidly lead, mentor, coach and manage staff to meet organizational goals; expertise in change management to encourage teamwork and collaboration.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including strong storytelling abilities and comfort communicating persuasively.
• Curiosity, initiative and, enthusiasm for the Faculty’s work and the ability to find solutions where they may not be immediately apparent.
• Persistence and assertiveness to keep forward momentum and progress; proactive, and a strong inclination towards action.
• A post-secondary degree is strongly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Ability to travel both for local donor and alumnae meetings, as well as nationally and internationally as needed.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Senior Director, Development & Alumni Engagement is responsible for leading the execution of the long-term strategy for Development & Alumni Engagement in the Faculty of Education. The Senior Director, is accountable for formulating and executing short and intermediate plans, ensuring alignment with the Faculty as well as with UBC’s overall DAE strategy. The Senior Director is also expected to ensure continued growth of the DAE program and to maximize operational efficiencies and resource development activity to cultivate exceptional stakeholder and employee satisfaction.
ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS
Reporting jointly to the Executive Director, DAE and the Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the SD has primary accountability for Faculty Development 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 senior management of the faculty,
• DAE peers and direct reports, and,
• UBC faculty and staff involved with DAE activities.
WORK PERFORMED
1. To develop and operationalize Development strategies for the Faculty DAE program and to ensure the Faculty as well as UBC meets strategic objectives.
• Formulates and executes short and intermediate term strategies for the Faculty DAE program, fundraising $2.5 million,
• Ensures strategies are concretely linked to the Faculty and UBC’s long-term strategy,
• Manages program growth leading to the successful fulfillment of strategic objectives,
• Ensures solicitation conversion rates attainted at the industry measured norms 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 interests and creates a donor appropriate plan,
• Manages the human, financial and operational objectives of the Faculty DAE program including:
o 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 $50,000 up to multi-million gifts),
o Coaching and motivating staff and volunteers to achieve Faculty objectives (e.g., fundraising goals),
o Understanding and successfully navigating the philanthropic industry (i.e., locally, regionally, and globally),
o Contributing to the DAE’s objective to maximize private support for the University,
o Developing and implementing a targeted donor communications, recognition, and stewardship program, and,
o Developing proposals for key fundraising initiatives and priority projects as appropriate.
• Formulates the annual operating budgets for the Faculty consistent with UBC’s established financial guidelines and business planning process,
• Implements DAE and UBC related processes, policies, systems, and practices within the Faculty 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.
2. To lead and manage a team responsible for executing the Faculty’s Development strategy.
• 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 Faculty,
• 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
• Commits to building a culture of belonging and respect,
• Other duties as required, within the classification of this position.
CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR/JUDGMENT
• Position is considered high profile for the Faculty 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 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 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,
• The incumbent participates in decisions concerning the planning, organization and utilization of staff, staff selection and job performance reviews.
For more information & to apply
To apply or learn more, please contact the University’s search partner, Christoph Clodius at The Discovery Group, at christoph@thediscoverygroup.ca.
Deadline: Submissions will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, so please reach out as soon as possible.
Compensation, Perquisites and Flexible Hours: UBC’s benefits plans are designed with the continuing health and wellbeing of our staff, faculty, and their families in mind. Examples of UBC staff benefits include a generous vacation package, extended health and dental coverage, a health spending account, enrolment in UBC’s pension plan, tuition waivers on UBC courses, counselling, family support services, and much more.
The Senior Director’s compensation range is between $103,110 and $162,139, with a hiring target of $129,710. (note that with a new AAPS agreement being finalized, compensation will be adjusted upwards for the new pay scale once the agreement is ratified). The incumbent is expected to be on campus three days a week, with some flexibility based on the needs of the role and the Faculty’s culture.
Equity: Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.