Director, Advancement

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Competition #SA017-2026

Director, Advancement

Permanent Full-Time Excluded Position

8:30am to 4:30pm / Monday to Friday

Grade 13 ($103,701 to $138,268 per annum)

ABOUT EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY OF ART + DESIGN

Situated on unceded, traditional and ancestral xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories in Vancouver, Canada, Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) is where creativity meets practice. Ranked among the world’s top 30 universities for art and design (QS 2024), ECU is recognized globally for its hands‑on, practice‑based teaching and learning environment that equips students to experiment, take risks and drive innovation.

Since 1925, ECU has championed bold ideas and emerging talent through a close‑knit, studio‑intensive setting that connects students with award‑winning faculty, cutting‑edge facilities, and real‑world opportunities. Today, ECU serves more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students, along with thousands more through continuing studies, contributing to Canada’s cultural and creative sectors and shaping the future of art, media, design and research.

Having marked our centennial in 2025, ECU continues to ask what art and design can make possible. 100 years in the making, we are shaping what comes next.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Director of Advancement is responsible for leading the creation and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy to advance the university's mission and strategic priorities. The Director oversees major gift programs, donor cultivation and stewardship, and campaign planning while managing a portfolio of principal and major gift ($10,000+) prospects. The Director partners closely with senior leadership, faculty, and the Foundation Board to build a culture of philanthropy and secure philanthropic resources in support of the university's academic and institutional goals. As a collaborative leader of a small team, the Director is committed to coaching, mentoring, and developing staff to build fundraising capacity and foster professional growth.

BENEFITS OF JOINING THE EMILY CARR COMMUNITY

• Enrollment in a comprehensive benefits package, including Dental Coverage, Extended Health, Disability Coverage and Life Insurance.
• Membership in the College Pension Plan.
• Competitive vacation and Professional Development benefits.

AS THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT, YOU SHOULD POSSESS

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field. Master’s degree and/or CFRE designation is an asset.
• Minimum five (5) years of recent, related, and progressively responsible fundraising experience including major gifts, planned giving, and donor relations.
• Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible management experience, including accountability for staff supervision.
• Experience in the public post-secondary sector or the art and design sector is an asset.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing a successful major gifts plan and annual giving campaign.
• Experience with face‑to‑face major gift fundraising solicitations.
• Knowledge of and experience working with endowments and community foundations.
• Knowledge of CRA regulations and basic accounting principles related to charitable giving.
• Working knowledge of digital tools, including but not limited to, Raiser’s Edge, iwave and M365.
• Excellent stewardship knowledge and practice, including major gift proposals, cases for support, and gift agreements.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish strong relationships with donors and secure major gift commitments.
• Ability to work collaboratively with demonstrated consensus‑building skills and the ability to build effective relationships with individuals and groups representing diverse interests.
• Effective leadership skills with the ability to manage, develop, and inspire a small team.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy and discretion when addressing sensitive or confidential matters.
• Ability to work flexible hours including occasional evenings or weekends.

TYPICAL DUTIES

1. Lead the creation and implementation of a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy that encompasses short‑ and long‑term philanthropic goals, in alignment with the university's mission and strategic priorities. Establish KPIs, analyze, refine, and report on strategy success to the President and Executive Director.
2. Lead fundraising campaigns and initiatives including priority setting, annual appeals, prospect identification and research, donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
3. Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift prospects, initiating, cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts of $10,000+, with a target of 10–15 meaningful donor interactions per month.
4. Direct the research, identification, cultivation, and tracking of individual major gift prospects as well as planned giving activities. Engages with major gift contributors to secure long‑term bequests and estate gifts and seeks to expand the prospects database.
5. Collaborate with the President, Executive Director, and Foundation Board to provide strategic direction and oversight of the ECU Foundation's operational and implementation plans.
6. Work with and involve Foundation volunteers to engage and leverage relationships with prospects and donors, and initiate volunteer‑led solicitations.
7. Leads the annual donor recognition event, including solicitation for art donations, sponsorships, and ticket sales.
8. Direct, manage, and supervise members of the Advancement team. Responsible for recruitment, hiring, training, development, evaluation, and performance management of these roles; cultivate a culture of inclusivity, trust, support, and care.
9. In collaboration with Academic Affairs, leads and supervises donor‑funded awards and related activities including ceremonies, award allocation processes, and yearly program inventory. Ensures the Graduation Awards program is fully funded and that new academic programs are endowed with appropriate donor‑funded graduation awards; identifies underfunded areas and works with the Development Officer to secure additional contributions for award, bursary, and scholarship programs.
10. In collaboration with the Communications + Marketing, develop integrated communication plans that support the Annual Fund and major gifts initiatives, including oversight of Foundation digital channels.
11. Manage and maximize the utilization of Raiser's Edge to ensure fundraising records are accurate and support planned activities. Review analytical reports to measure and respond to activity success and ensure efficient policies and tracking mechanisms are in place.
12. Ensures efficient policies, procedures, and tracking mechanisms are in place to accurately track the status of requests and related activities arising from fundraising initiatives. In collaboration with Privacy Officer and the Executive Director, responds to Freedom of Information requests, including leading privacy impact assessments as required.
13. Advise senior leaders regarding policies, processes, guidelines, and best practices related to fundraising. Work with the Executive Director to develop and recommend policies, procedures, and guidelines related to Advancement activities.
14. Build and maintain effective relationships with key individuals in the corporate community, government, foundations, and other educational institutions to enhance the university's profile and create partnerships that maximize the reach and impact of the Advancement office.
15. Participate in relevant professional organizations and remain current on leading practices in major gifts, planned giving, and endowments, as well as the political, economic, social, and educational trends that influence the effective implementation of the university's fundraising plans. Represent the University in external activities that support widespread partnerships.
16. Foster a culture of inclusivity, diversity and equity in support of the ECU community, and the related strategic goals of the University.
17. Performs other related duties as required.

Emily Carr University especially invites those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized. These include women, persons with diverse gender expressions and identities, persons of all sexual orientations, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and First Nations, Metis, Inuit and Indigenous persons. All qualified people are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short‑listed will be contacted.