Reporting to the Associate Vice-Principal (Development), with joint accountability to the Dean, the Executive Director, Development, will provide leadership to Advancement activities for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. This will include providing strategic, tactical, and high-level expertise, direction, and facilitation in the development, implementation, and oversight of fundraising strategies designed to maximize long-term financial support for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science’s fundraising objectives and priorities, alongside the strategic and tactical execution of an alumni-relations program that supports increased alumni engagement.

In partnership with the university-wide Advancement team, senior university administrators, senior volunteers, and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science staff, the Executive Director will lead advancement activities by facilitating strategies, monitoring, and coordinating initiatives, and ensuring that next steps are completed in a timely manner with the goal of maximizing lifetime engagement and philanthropic support for the university. Salary Range: $113,5200 to $155,440

Posted On: May 17, 2023

Closing On: June 18, 2023

Location: Kingston, Ontario

Employment Type: Full Time

Level: Senior

Salary Range: $113,5200 to $155,440

Website: https://engineering.queensu.ca/

File: Download

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Executive Director will manage a diverse and sophisticated portfolio of major and principal-gift level donors, estates, corporations, and foundations. The incumbent will be a recognized leader in the field of fundraising and will serve as a key adviser to the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, the Associate Vice- Principal (AVP) (Development), Vice-Principal (Advancement), senior university administrators, the Development Leadership Team, volunteers, and the university more broadly.

Location: This role is primarily based in Kingston, Ontario, with the option for flexible remote work when feasible within Canada. As well, to meet with donors, alumni, and volunteers, this position requires travel within and outside of Canada. Work on evenings and weekends is occasionally required.

Compensation: This is a full-time, permanent position. Queen’s offers a progressive compensation and benefits package including extended health, pension, and paid vacation. Queen’s and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science both strive to provide career enrichment, as well as staff learning and development opportunities. Contingent on demonstrated experience, qualifications, and competencies, the salary range for this role is $113,520 to a maximum of $155,440.

ABOUT QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY

Widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading universities, Queen’s University has an international reputation for scholarship, research, social purpose, and spirit. Founded in 1841 and located in Kingston, Ontario, Queen’s is committed to using its talents and resources to rise to the challenges facing our local, national, and global communities.

Queen’s student body consists of approximately 24,000 undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional students, drawn from more than 100 countries and every Canadian province and territory. International students make up 10 per cent of the full-time student population, and 95 per cent of the student population comes from outside of Kingston. Our alumni body of 150,000+ stretches around the globe.

Queen’s attracts extraordinary students. The average entrance grade of incoming undergraduate students was 89.5 per cent in 2019, ranking first in the annual Maclean’s University Rankings. When compared with 500 other institutions as part of the Collegiate Learning Assessment, first-year Queen’s students rank in the 90th percentile for critical thinking, problem solving, written communication, and lifelong learning skills. By fourth-year, our students are in the 98th percentile, underscoring Queen’s transformative learning experience. Queen’s ranked fifth among medical- doctoral universities according to Maclean’s, and third for student satisfaction.

Queen’s offers a full spectrum of undergraduate and graduate research-based programs, with a concentration of expertise in physics, chemistry, cancer research, geosciences, environment and biodiversity, social determinants of health, surveillance studies, and art history and art conservation.

Queen’s is a member of the U15, Canadian research-intensive universities. Research plays a critical role in the University’s ability to contribute knowledge and ideas to Canada and to the world.

In 2017, Queen’s launched a five-year faculty renewal plan to further research and academic excellence. The university is currently in the process of hiring 200 new faculty members to bolster the vibrancy of our teaching and learning. Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre is actively building a global hub for innovation and an innovation eco-system for Eastern Ontario.

The campus also has a fully integrated network of six libraries and is home to several outstanding museums and arts facilities, including the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, which recently received a $54-million donation to help fund a major expansion, and the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.

Queen’s is home to a STEM-field Nobel Prize winner, 46 Canada Research Chair holders, a Canada Excellence Research Chair, a Canada 150 Research Chair, a Canada First Research Excellence Fund award, and is second in Canada in faculty awards. Queen’s is also the recent recipient of three Canada Foundation for Innovation grants under the Major Science Initiatives fund and two Networks of Centres of Excellence grants, all of which recognize the awarded research centres and scholars as national and international leaders in their respective research fields.

ABOUT QUEEN’S ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE

Queen’s Engineering is transforming engineering education, preparing students to take on the world’s greatest challenges. Queen’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science offers top-quality, technically rigorous engineering programs to a diverse and vibrant community of 5000 high-calibre undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. It leads Canada in graduation rates, producing engineers who become part of an outstanding alumni network.

Queen’s Engineering students are globally minded problem-solvers: curious; entrepreneurial, ambitious, and dedicated to their community and the promise of change. They are supported by world-leading researchers; faculty who are as brilliant and committed in the classroom as they are in the laboratory.

The Faculty is comprised of five departments – Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining – and with partner departments in the Faculty of Arts & Science offering 10 programs, as well as specialized joint programs and graduate diplomas.

It is unique in offering undergraduate students a guaranteed choice of program after successfully completing their first year – the only Canadian engineering faculty to do so.

It is guided by the Engineering Strategic Plan and its three pillars:

Excellence in research, with a commitment to increasing scholarship and collaboration, as well as increasing growing numbers of talented graduate students to pursue their research interests at Queen’s.
Innovation in education both in the classroom, with hands-on experiences including community-based design courses and a wide range of design teams, and beyond the classroom through a nationally leading internship program that embeds students in paid positions, taking on responsibility as part of actual engineering teams.
A commitment to inclusive, equitable, and expansive thinking; a bedrock of its vision of a better future, with recent initiatives including the creation of its alumni-funded Chair for Women in Engineering, and an ambitious roadmap to equity, Engineering for Everyone.

Its Indigenous Futures in Engineering (InEng) program is recognized as a nationally leading approach to support STEM education in Indigenous communities and welcome and support Indigenous students at Queen’s. This model has instigated two other important initiatives at Queen’s: STEMInA, a campus-wide program to support Indigenous students in all areas of STEM education, and Black Youth in STEM, an outreach and support program for Black youth.

It is also at the forefront of education innovation with the recent introduction of its Mechatronics & Robotics Program; a novel college-to-university bridging pathway; and the creation of research centres including the Beaty Water Research Centre and Ingenuity Labs, a globally recognized AI and robotics research hub.

From a storied past as one of Canada’s original engineering schools, the Faculty has its eyes set firmly on the future.

ADVANCEMENT @ QUEEN’S

Philanthropy, in the form of volunteerism and donations, has been an essential ingredient in Queen’s success over its 182-year history.

Led by the Vice-Principal (Advancement) and in partnership with the university’s senior leadership, the Office of Advancement leads and coordinates the alumni brand, including alumni relations, marketing and communications, fundraising, and stewardship to build life-long relationships with alumni, volunteers, and friends of Queen’s to advance the strategic vision and academic mission of the university.

The Office of Advancement’s mission is to foster relationships that advance Queen’s and contribute to a better world. Our core organizational values, chosen by Advancement staff in 2020, are: Accountability, Collaboration, Customer Service Orientation, Inclusion, and Integrity.

Advancement uses a centralized/decentralized model comprised of approximately 140 positions across The Office of Advancement and within faculties. The Office of Advancement provides systems and supports for all advancement activities, strategies, and fundraising for university-wide priorities and assistance for faculty/school/department priorities.

ADVANCEMENT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

With Advancement’s assistance, the university has made significant progress in the priority areas of its Strategic Framework: Student Learning Experience; Research Prominence; Financial Sustainability; Internationalization.

In May 2020, the Office of Advancement launched a new strategic plan, Forward, Together, that will direct our path for the next five years. Building on strengths that have been honed during the 10-year Initiative Campaign (2006-2016), we will focus on six strategic directions:

Shape the future of the university
Develop a high-performing Advancement culture
Grow key programs: Alumni programming and annual giving
Grow key programs: Major, principal and planned gift fundraising
Grow key programs: Communications
Develop leadership capacities for Advancement

Queen’s last capital campaign concluded in April 2016. The Initiative Campaign raised more than $640 million, surpassing the $500-million goal set at the beginning of the campaign. This resulted from the support of more than 60,000 donors – 35,000 of whom were alumni – for the advancement of the university’s top priorities.

Queen’s students, researchers and community continue to benefit from the generous support of donors. On average, over the last five years Queen’s has raised approximately $67 million per year in philanthropic support, of which nearly $7.5 million per year has been raised in support of initiatives and programs at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences (FEAS). With a fundraising priority setting process now underway, FEAS and Queen’s aspire to continue to sustainably grow fundraising revenue long term.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND & RESOURCES

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Executive Director, Development role focuses on the following key activities:

Strategic Leadership

Leads a comprehensive fundraising and alumni-relations program for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science designed to obtain maximum long-term financial support for the Faculty from a wide range of potential donors.
Works closely with the Dean of the Faculty to establish strategic plans for increasing philanthropic revenue within the Faculty. Provides expert guidance to all levels of university administrators involved in the various activities associated with the Office of Advancement, including providing high level commentary on priorities and call briefings.
Serves as a trusted adviser, and university-wide resource and liaison to donors, the Dean and senior administrators in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, the Office of Advancement, senior university officials, volunteers, allied professionals, executors, and others, to coordinate strategies and help secure major, principal, and planned gift commitments, as well as alumni engagement.
Works with the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the AVP to plan and execute annual and long- term strategic and integrated fundraising and alumni relations plans based on reliable internal and external data analysis.
Serves as a member of the Development Leadership Team and as a member of the senior leadership team at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

Develops and maintains an in-depth knowledge of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the university’s activities, funding priorities and needs. Applies this knowledge in matching the interests and needs of prospective donors with the strategic needs of the university.
Fosters and reinforces a non-territorial, sophisticated approach to donor-centric philanthropy that encourages collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness. Stays abreast of philanthropic developments, giving vehicles, and/or relevant legislation that may assist in maximizing revenue.
Formulates comprehensive and mini fundraising campaigns, fundraising projects and programs for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science including the development of campaign strategies, targets, metrics, and analysis. Translates broad goals into achievable steps.
Oversees the planning and execution of campaign launches relevant to the portfolio.
Manages prospect lists of Major and Principal Gift donors with particular focus on those at the $1M+.
Develops strategies, identifies, evaluates, cultivates, solicits, and stewards net-worth prospects and major gift donors.
Personally manages a portfolio of prospective and major-gift donors.
Motivates and organizes a broad range of influential volunteers and university senior administrators who will assist in securing philanthropic commitments.
Oversees the production of tailored major-gift proposals and case statements relevant to the portfolio.

Team Leadership

Promotes a culture of inclusion that embodies Queen’s, the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and Advancement values, with a commitment to the university’s equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives designed to foster an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming work environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.
Manages the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science advancement staff, meeting with them on a regular basis to review progress against annual goals and engagement/pipeline strategy development. In consideration of progress to date, takes a lead role in identifying and implementing further opportunities and strategies that may have arisen to ensure goals will be met.
Plans, prioritizes, and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance, and coaching. Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing, and evaluating performance on an ongoing basis, and conducting annual talent reviews and formal performance reviews.
Assesses staff training and development needs and ensures that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
Investigates, addresses, and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including making decisions regarding disciplinary and discharge matters.
Works closely with human resources and leadership in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science to ensure alignment with internal Faculty HR practices, policies, and initiatives.

Program and Operational Leadership

Works closely across all administrative portfolios within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science to ensure alignment, co-ordination, and collaboration within the Faculty.
Works with Advancement colleagues on internal and external communications, briefing notes, research profiles, funding proposals, gift agreements, stewardship reports, and accountability reports. Ensures all necessary constituents are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
Collaborates with Donor Relations to establish timely and appropriate stewardship plans, ensuring gifts are handled and recognized according to sound Advancement practices.
Works closely with the Marketing and Communications team within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and within Advancement to ensure fundraising and alumni initiatives align with the institution’s and the Faculty’s general planning and communication strategies and internal brand standards.
Represents the university and the Office of Advancement to internal and external audiences, ensuring understanding and adoption of University Advancement policies and procedures.
Develops measurements for timely evaluation of program performance and forecasting.
Analyzes data, tracks activity, and prepares reports required to formulate, execute, evaluate and benchmark strategic and priority driven implementation plans.
Reports findings to the Faculty’s committees as well as the AVP (Development) and implements changes in strategy as required.
Ensures all contact reports are recorded in a timely fashion on the Advance database.
Develops measurements for timely evaluation of program performance and forecasting.
Manages the operating budget for the advancement portfolio in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Strategic Leadership

Proven success developing and implementing strategic plans and meeting objectives.
Strategic planning, budgeting, and financial management skills to oversee and forecast assigned budget portfolio and assess budget implications of strategic initiatives.
Ability to think and act strategically, creatively, and dynamically in a high-pressure work environment.
Comprehensive understanding of the administrative, academic, and governance structures of the university environment and the challenges faced by post-secondary institutions.
Ability to make difficult and complex decisions with good judgment and with acute sensitivity to the political environment and reputation of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Office of Advancement, and the university.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

Minimum 10 years of progressive experience engaging with donors and managing fundraising programs with a focus on principal, major, and planned giving, preferably in a university setting.
Demonstrated ability to inspire and raise donor sights, articulate aspirational goals, and institutional priorities, and effectively present philanthropic opportunities to prospects and donors.
Outstanding prospect management and tracking skills including proven success identifying, evaluating, cultivating, solicitating, and stewarding donors at the major- and principal-gift levels. Strong record of involvement in soliciting seven-figure gifts.
Experience working on institutional fundraising campaigns preferred, including directing and/or managing a portfolio of campaign prospects with a view toward satisfying the priorities identified by the university.
Adept at interpreting the interests of donors and matching them to the strategic needs of the university.
Highly motivated and results-driven individual able to set high standards and goals.
Motivated by the opportunity to communicate the impact of a transformational gift.
Proven success in working with volunteers to achieve shared goals.
Holding or working towards the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation or equivalent would be considered an asset.

Team Leadership

Stand behind/live Advancement’s core values of integrity, inclusivity, accountability, collaboration, and service.
Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where there is mutual respect and collaboration across all teams.
Proven leadership and human-resources management skills including recruiting, organizing, directing, motivating, and retaining staff and volunteers.

Program and Operational Leadership

Ability to conceptualize creative plans and technical solutions for dealing with an array of administrative and financial matters facing the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University-Wide Advancement, and fundraising activities.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to compile and interpret data from a variety of sources, select appropriate methods of analysis, monitor emerging trends and issues in the sector, and disseminate information.
Comprehensive understanding of how charitable and tax legislation affects complex principle, planned, and major gifts.
Ability to adapt to changing new technology and trends, assess innovation for institutional benefit and impact.

Collaboration with Colleagues

Strong customer-service orientation with a demonstrated passion for the university and its people.
Recognized leader at building and managing long-term and productive relationships with donors, volunteers, colleagues, and senior university administrators.
Ability to identify optimal approaches to secure co-operation from campus partners – senior administrators, faculties, schools, departments – in support of stakeholder engagement and fundraising strategies.

Communication

Persuasive and creative communication, presentation, diplomacy, and negotiations skills that allow success both within the campus environment and in the field.
Ability to convey technical, tax, and legal material related to charitable giving in both oral and written form effectively, concisely, and in a broadly accessible manner.

Education & Other

Four-year bachelor’s degree,
- Consideration will be given to the equivalent combination of education and experience.
The ability to travel for business purposes both locally and internationally without restriction.
Satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters checks are required.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Queen’s University and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. For more information, please contact Tara George, Partner – KCI Search + Talent, at QueensFEAS@kcitalent.com. All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence.

Please note the deadline for submission is Sunday, June 18, 2023. Please note: Candidates should send a résumé and letter of interest to QueensFEAS@kcitalent.com AND candidates must also submit their materials via the Queen’s University CareerQ employment portal.

The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the Office of Advancement at Queen’s are committed to embodying the principles of Indigenization – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Accessibility (I-EDIAA). As an employer, we value equitable opportunities and are working to nurture a culture of inclusion and belonging for all. Additionally, we encourage candidates from equity-deserving groups and those with lived experience of marginalization and oppression (including Indigenous, Black and People of Colour, Women, 2SLGBTQIA+ and Persons with disabilities) to apply. For more information, visit our Human Rights and Equity Office Website: http://www.queensu.ca/hreo.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the Office of Advancement at Queen’s seek to provide an inclusive and barrier- free work environment, beginning with the recruitment process, and provide accommodation as needed for applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodation throughout any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Tara George with any inquiries or for assistance.

To view the full Executive Brief, please visit: www.kcitalent.com

For more information regarding process, please review the Candidate Process section

CANDIDATE PROCESS

For more information:

Expectation of Confidentiality:

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. The Search Committee and KCI team members all respect the right of candidates to inquire and explore the opportunity in privacy.

Submissions of Interest:

Please note the deadline for submission is Sunday, June 18, 2023. Candidates should submit their application, including a résumé and letter of interest to QueensFEAS@kcitalent.com AND candidates must also submit their materials via the Queen’s University CareerQ employment portal. Please note, interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible as applicants will be considered and interviewed on an ongoing basis.

Candidate Review & Assessment

The Search Committee will review the submissions of all candidates.
Candidates of interest will be invited to a virtual preliminary interview with KCI.
- KCI will utilize traditional and behavioural interview questions to explore candidate experience in each of the areas of requirement and competency.
Semi-finalist candidates will be invited by the Search Committee to meet virtually for a first interview on June 22 (PM) or June 23 (AM). A copy of the interview questions will be provided to the candidate 24 hours in advance of their scheduled interview time.
Finalist candidates will be invited to meet on-campus, in Kingston, on June 27 – June 28. This will include a combination of virtual and in-person meetings with the search committee, and any other representatives from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
- KCI will support candidates with travel logistics. Eligible travel expenses will be covered by Queen’s University, and in accordance with the Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy.
There will also be an on-site 1:1 meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science on June 27 or 28, as well as the opportunity to participate in a campus tour.
Given the seniority of the role, due diligence for the final candidate will be conducted. This will include education verification and a satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. By applying, the final candidate agrees to this.
References will also be sought at the appropriate time. This is always done in collaboration with the candidate, and never anonymously without the candidate’s permission.