Director, Principal Giving

Department: Office of the AVP Advancement
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose

In our work, we advance the mission of the University of Guelph by building lifelong relationships with our community: alumni, donors, and friends. Our vision is for the University of Guelph to be personally relevant in the lives of our community members. Through these relationships, we amplify the impact of philanthropy to create unique solutions for the challenges facing our world. As a member of this campus-wide team, the Director, Principal Giving epitomizes the department’s shared values of respect, empowerment, integrity, appreciation, and forward focus.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President (Advancement), The Director Principal Giving will play a central role in the university’s efforts to secure principal gifts with a focus on gifts of $5M+ from individuals, corporations, and foundations and work closely with the President, Provost, Vice- President External and Associate Vice-President Advancement in developing and implementing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward high-level donors at this level.

The Director is a member of AA&D’s senior management team responsible for setting policies, establishing priorities and providing strategic direction for the department. The incumbent builds strong connections amongst alumni donors (in particular, the university’s top donors) and the University of Guelph. The Director advances the University’s reputation and mission with alumni and donors.

The Director will play a key role in cultivating the university’s long-term relationships with $ 5M+ capacity donors, while leveraging the connections and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic and transformative university priorities and initiatives that will lay the groundwork for a University-wide minimum $ 600 Million campaign. The Director’s portfolio will also include leadership and oversight of the planned giving program deploying team resources as needed to meet the needs of this portfolio. In support of the principal giving opportunity, the Director oversees collaborations among AA&Ds units, the Offices of President and VPs, other University departments and academic units.

Requirements

The university recognizes that no one individual will have the following skills/experience in equal measure but the qualifications below will be used to assess the suitability of candidates throughout the process:

• • A university degree and 6-8+ years of senior leadership experience in a university or comparable institution;
  • 5+ years experience public sector fundraising, with preference for principal gift fundraising and a proven track record of success securing principal ($1M+) gifts;
  • 3-5+ years staff and business management experience;
  • 3-5+ years senior volunteer management experience;
  • Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is considered an asset
  • Proven track record of being strategic, creative and innovative in a high-pressure work environment;
• • Superior strategic planning, people management and administrative skills to lead a team with disparate functions, skill sets and requirements;
  • Ability to coach and develop team members as well as influencing colleagues and peers;
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills to work in a complex environment demonstrating tact, good judgement, diplomacy, self-awareness and adaptability;
  • Ability to deal effectively with diverse groups of people, including senior administration, colleagues, donors and alumni; ability to anticipate, identify and respond to needs and interests of varied audiences;
  • Demonstrated experience building consensus and influencing direction and priorities;
  • Dynamic self-starter with entrepreneurial spirit who can think and lead strategically with imagination, and possesses a good sense of humor with the ability to challenge and inspire;
  • A background developing creative communications, presentations that allow success both within the campus environment and externally;
  • Ability to make difficult and complex decisions with good judgment and with acute sensitivity to the political environment and to the reputation of the university;
  • Inspiring leadership and motivation skills, with proven ability to lead groups towards completion of long-term goals in dynamic environments; and,
  • Significant experience in business management and development, including budget planning and analysis.

Please include a cover letter along with your resume in your application.

Why choose the University of Guelph

• Comprehensive Extended Health Care Benefits: Immediate enrollment in extended health to cover yourself and your family
• Time off: Strong vacation allocation, floater days, and paid time off during the December closure to ensure that you are at your best
• Wellness: In addition to extensive wellness programming, the University offers a yearly flexible spending credit that can be allocated to any of the following: Health Spending, Wellness or Professional Development
• Learning & Development: Learning and development curriculum and other professional growth opportunities
• On-campus Activities: Discounts on food and apparel, fitness programming, access to networking events and team building opportunities
• Improve Life: Work that directly impacts a brighter future by turning knowledge into action

The university provides a flexible work arrangement. This position is required to be fulfilled both remotely and on-campus (Guelph Campus)

Further information about this position can be found here: https://bbis.alumni.uoguelph.ca/BBIS_Cannon/file/pdf/Opportunity-Brief-Director-Principal-Giving.pdf

Employee Type: Regular
Position Number: 10920808
Classification: P&M FT- Band 10
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands

*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 03/11/2025
Closing Date: 04/08/2025