Senior Development Officer - Full Time

Please note, this is a 3-year temporary full-time contract opportunity with benefits. Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" — an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

The Western Advancement division plays a leading role in strengthening awareness of and support for the University’s mission and goals by leading alumni relations and fundraising efforts across campus and beyond. All departments within the Division build enduring alumni and public trust through understanding and support for Western University in a coordinated campus-wide effort that results in the engagement and funding needed to make an impact. There are 3 departments within the Division – Departments of Development, Alumni Relations and Advancement Operations.

We are in a period of growth, currently searching for new Senior Development Officers to join our team.
You can learn more about these positions by downloading our candidate pack for the Senior Development Officer role from our website. The Senior Development Officer, Research Institutes will support fundraising for a range of interdisciplinary institutes at Western, where research and innovation are coming together to tackle complex global challenges.
Working in partnership with institute directors, faculty members and Advancement colleagues, the Senior Development Officer will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift prospects in support of research initiatives that span multiple faculties. These projects include areas such as health, neuroscience, data science, and environmental sustainability, and focus on nationally recognized Institutes and Centres, such as the Bone and Joint Institute or the Centre for Brain and Mind.
The ideal candidate will be adept at navigating complex academic environments, building trust across units and translating research priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
The Senior Development Officer, Advancement is a strategic role designed to support key institutional priorities and time-sensitive fundraising needs across Western. Rather than being tied to a single faculty, the Senior Development Officer will be assigned to focused portfolios - such as a significant capital project, high-priority faculty, or a new transformational initiative - where philanthropic momentum and strategic opportunity are aligned.
Each assignment is expected to be immersive, allowing the Senior Development Officer to build meaningful relationships, lead major gift activity and contribute deeply to the success of the area they are supporting. Over time, the specific focus may shift based on institutional needs, providing opportunities for the individual to bring their skills to new challenges and continue growing within the organization.
This role is well-suited to a fundraiser who values impact, adaptability and the chance to contribute to high-profile initiatives that help shape the future of Western.
The Senior Development Officer, University-Wide supports high-impact fundraising initiatives that extend across and impact the entire campus, supporting some of Western’s most ambitious, cross-cutting priorities and projects.
As part of a centrally positioned team, the Senior Development Officer will lead major gift strategies in collaboration with academic and administrative leaders, as well as Advancement colleagues across campus. The work will focus on initiatives that require coordination and alignment across disciplines - driving support for efforts that reflect Western’s overall institutional vision, values and long-term impact.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, relationship-focused fundraiser who is energized by institution-wide influence, thrives in complex environments and brings a collaborative mindset to building strong partnerships in support of Western’s evolving goals.

5 years’ experience securing six and seven-figure financial agreements within the private sector or similar levels of major gifts in the charitable sector

• Demonstrated record of donor strategy development, implementation and evaluation
• Experience successfully managing multiple projects from conception to completion within tight prescribed deadlines
• Demonstrated success in confirming major and principal gifts preferably in an academic setting

Demonstrated oral and written communication skills with an emphasis on proposal development and presentations to internal and external contacts
A well-defined sense of diplomacy, including solid negotiation, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
Flexible, resourceful, creative and proactive work style with a can-do, enthusiastic attitude
Western Values Diversity
Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.
Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone View phone number on knighthunter.com.

Interested applicants are asked to visit: for further information and to apply online referencing job #41830 by 11:59PM on March 6, 2026.