<Director of Advancement, Faculty of Science >

Department:

Faculty of Science

Effective Date:

December, 2011

Grade:

USG 14/15

35 hr/wk

Reports to:

Dean, Faculty of Science

General Accountability

Accountable directly to the Dean of Science (or designate), and indirectly reporting to ODAA, the Director is responsible for Development and Alumni Affairs activities within the Faculty of Science. The Director works within the framework of Waterloo’s Central Office of Development and Alumni Affairs and the office of the Vice President, External Relations, to ensure that Waterloo has a co-ordinated overall strategic advancement plan.

Using professional expertise in fundraising, alumni relations, marketing and communications, proactive leadership skills and outstanding communications and interpersonal skills, the Director has accountability for all development activities in the Faculty. S/he advises and consults with the Dean, Associate Deans, Chairs and Directors within the Faculty of Science, inclusive of two professional schools, Optometry and Pharmacy. The Director of Advancement for Science works with the Vice-President External Relations and the Associate Vice Presidents (Principal Gifts and Campaigns), on matters related to University development procedures, guidelines and strategy.

The Director is accountable for the annual fundraising plan, for overseeing major gifts fundraising activity, managing a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors, and for Sciences’ overall donor and alumni relations strategy development. The Director is also responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with faculty, staff and students relevant to Advancement objectives.

The Director oversees and provides team leadership to a professional staff of Development and Alumni Officers and additional team members. S/he provides oversight to affiliated programs in the Schools of Optometry and Pharmacy. S/he liaises and consults on University-wide development and alumni procedures and guidelines as appropriate with the University’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (ODAA).Other management responsibilities include overseeing the planning and development of communications materials in support of the Faculty’s advancement objectives, directing alumni relations, stewarding endowment funds, and managing special events to support the cultivation of major prospects and donors.

The Director participates in strategic planning and administration of ODAA as a member of the Directors/Associate Directors Group. Working in a collaborative team environment, s/he works closely with other staff in the ODAA, with Development/Alumni Officers from the Faculties, and with the campus community (Senior Administrators, Deans, College Heads, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers).The Director interacts with the President, Provost, Sr. Director, Government Relations to advise and support government relations as required. The Director has accountability for ensuring Advancement statistics, reports, plans, agreements, approvals and other development obligations are in keeping with University policies and provided to ODAA and other University departments as required.

Political acumen is critical; the incumbent must be sensitive to the needs and interests of schools, departments, and units in the Faculty and elsewhere in the University and have the ability to successfully manage competing development objectives.

Nature and Scope

Organizational relationships:

The Director reports to the Dean of Science, or designate. S/he will oversee a team of 4-8 individuals.

The following positions have an indirect reporting relationship to the incumbent:

Assoc. Director for Advancement, School of Optometry
Assoc. Director for Advancement, School of Pharmacy

The following positions report directly to the incumbent:

Senior Development Officer
Alumni & Development Officer(s)
Administrative Assistant
Co-op student(s)

The Director has a direct relationship to the Associate Vice-President, Development and Campaigns (AVP, D&C) in Waterloo’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. The AVP, D& C serves as fundraising counsel, liaison and communications coordinator to the incumbent and his/her team and works directly with the Dean and Director to establish and manage successful of Advancement operations.

General environment:

The Faculty of Science strives to be a magnet for talent and creating an environment that nurtures such talent. The Faculty of Science is composed of two professional schools (Optometry and Pharmacy) and the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, and Physics & Astronomy. The Faculty is also home to a number of research centres and administrative units. With a variety of teaching, research and service objectives, Sciences employs more than 200 regular faculty members, an estimated 150 regular and research staff members as well as numerous adjunct and research faculty, research associates and post-doctoral fellows.

Strong undergraduate students are attracted to honours science and programs in life sciences (Biology), physical sciences (Chemistry, Physics and Earth & Environmental Sciences), and other affiliated science programs (business and aviation). The Faculty of Science also offers professional programs in Optometry and Pharmacy. In addition to regular programs, many of the programs provide a co-op education option.

The Faculty of Science is proud of its commitment to research-based graduate studies. Members of the Faculty generate over $50 million in research funding annually, supporting research by professors and graduate students in wide-ranging subject areas and disciplines such as aquatic ecology, molecular biology, toxicology, analytical and physical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics, as well as geosciences, physics and astronomy, and pharmaceutical and vision sciences.

To attract and retain the best students from across Canada and beyond, Science endeavours to provide several hundred thousand dollars in undergraduate awards and relies heavily on contributions from private donors, alumni and corporate donors to fund these scholarship programs. Support for graduate student awards often requires matching donations from the private sector to fully leverage government contributions.

Science faculty are an integral part of critical mass of researchers and students pursuing a wide variety of theoretical and experimental approaches to quantum information at IQC, a scientific research institute at the University of Waterloo. Science also as a strong relationship with the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, a world-class institute based in Waterloo, devoted to theoretical physics and hosts hundreds of international researchers each year for collaborations and workshops.

The world-class research strength of UW Science has been recognised with the awarding of two (of 19 Canada-wide) Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERCs). Internationally recognized researchers, one in Quantum Information Processing and the other in Ecohydrology, have been attracted to the Faculty of Science through this program. The Faculty of Science also has a strong history of highly competitive faculty members being awarded NSERC/Industrial Research Chairs and as a result, UW Science currently has 15 faculty supported by Canada Research Chairs (NSERC and CIHR).

Faculty members hold grants from a variety of funding agencies including NSERC, CIHR, Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund, National Networks of Centres of Excellence, and Ontario Centres of Excellence.

Collaborative research relationships are in place with various Ontario Ministries (Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs; Environment; Tourism and Culture; Natural Resources Research and Innovation). There are also many research contracts with government departments (i.e., Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) and industrial sponsors (i.e, photonics, mining and resource, and optical sectors).

Faculty of Science researchers are active participants in a wide range of external research networks and institutes such as the Canadian Water Network, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Ontario Health Human Resources Research Network, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario Genomics Institute, Foothills Research Institute and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

Significant internal relationships:

Dean of Science
Executive Officer, Faculty of Science
Chairs, Directors of Schools, Associate Deans, Faculty of Science
Faculty members, staff members, students in the Faculty of Science
President, Provost, Vice President External Relations
Senior staff, Office of the Vice President, External Relations
Senior staff, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs
Senior staff, Communications and Public Affairs
Development and alumni staff across campus
Communications professionals across campus
Office of Research
Co-operative Education and Career Services
Graduate and Undergraduate Student Awards Offices

Significant external relationships:

Prospects and donors for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship purposes
Alumni
Executives in corporations, associations, community and government organizations
Volunteers associated with UW boards and committees
Research partners
Co-operative Education partners
Other members of the external community

Organizational relationships:

The Director reports to the Dean of Science, or designate. S/he will oversee a team of 4-8 individuals.

The following positions have an indirect reporting relationship to the incumbent:

Assoc. Director for Advancement, School of Optometry
Assoc. Director for Advancement, School of Pharmacy

The following positions report directly to the incumbent:

Senior Development Officer
Alumni & Development Officer(s)
Administrative Assistant
Co-op student(s)

General environment:

Significant internal relationships:

Dean of Science
Executive Officer, Faculty of Science
Chairs, Directors of Schools, Associate Deans, Faculty of Science
Faculty members, staff members, students in the Faculty of Science
President, Provost, Vice President External Relations
Senior staff, Office of the Vice President, External Relations
Senior staff, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs
Senior staff, Communications and Public Affairs
Development and alumni staff across campus
Communications professionals across campus
Office of Research
Co-operative Education and Career Services
Graduate and Undergraduate Student Awards Offices

Significant external relationships:

Prospects and donors for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship purposes
Alumni
Executives in corporations, associations, community and government organizations
Volunteers associated with UW boards and committees
Research partners
Co-operative Education partners
Other members of the external community

Statistical Data

Faculty members: 200
Staff members: 150
Alumni: 22,000
Faculty annual fundraising goal: $10 M +
Qualified prospects: 375

Specific Accountabilities

General:

Creates and implements an effective, ongoing Advancement program for the Faculty of Science, aligned with the strategic goals of the Faculty;
Establishes and implements short- and long-range organizational goals, objectives and policies and operating procedures;
Monitors and evaluates Advancement program effectiveness; effects changes required for improvement;
Provides leadership, priority setting and management direction to staff in the Science Advancement Office;
Serves as a front-line fundraiser and manages their own portfolio of principal and major gift prospects and donors;
Liaises with the Vice-President External Relations, Associate Vice Presidents (Principal Gifts and Campaigns), Associate Vice President (Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs), Sr. Director Government Relations and Development, Director of Communications and Public Affairs and Director of Alumni Affairs to determine common objectives and programs in areas including Capital Campaign, Development, Alumni Affairs, Government Relations and Communications; ensures Science Advancement programs are in line with overall university goals and objectives;
Ensures that all development programs and campaigns are kept on a deadline-driven timetable and that donor recognition and acknowledgement programs are in place to maintain, grow and evolve good relations with the Faculty’s supporters;
Develops a national and international network of senior volunteers and spokespersons as appropriate, identifying, motivating and advising on their activities;
Organizes and trains influential and affluent volunteers to assist and promote the Faculty in all aspects of the Advancement program including major gifts, alumni relations, co-op placements, government relations and communications;
Manages fundraising and other special events intended to facilitate the advancement program for the Faculty.
Promotes the needs of the Faculty at through public speaking engagements and personal contact.

Major Gifts: The Director of Advancement has particular responsibility for identifying cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major donors at the highest possible level ($250,000 to $1M+).

With the direction of the Associate Vice Presidents (Principal Gifts & Campaigns),

Plans, creates, organizes and executes the Faculty’s Major Gift Program; establishes a prospect review program to evaluate giving potential of individual, corporate and foundation prospects across Canada and internationally;
Develops immediate and long-range plans for comprehensive programs to realize the potential from individuals for various levels of gifts;
Works collaboratively with the Office of Development and other university units to match donors’ interest with university priorities;
Consults with and obtains support and endorsement of senior University officials in the definition of program plans, projects, and goals;
Provides strategic service support and assistance as required to members of the Faculty of Science involved in program implementation;
Leads a process for collaboration with the Science Advancement team and Advancement staff embedded in other units within the Faculty of Science (School of Optometry and School of Pharmacy; IQC);
Initiates relationships with potentially generous donors, develops and cultivates commitment and works toward its translation into financial and volunteer support;
Initiates, leads, directs and manages programs designed to obtain maximum financial support from a wide range of potential individual donors;
Directs proactive research on individuals identified as having significant donor potential;
Collaborates with the Vice-President External Relations, the Faculty’s Executive Officer and Faculty Financial Officer, central donation management and other related staff to establish financial structures appropriate for the purposes set out by donors;
Assumes primary responsibility for a significant portfolio of major gift prospects and donors; develops and implements tailored action plans, solicitation strategies and proposals for each prospect; makes face-to-face calls both with and without key volunteers and University faculty;
Prepares notes for prospect tracking and clearance system;
Plans and hosts campus visits for major donors and potential major donors.

Annual Fund:

Liaises with the Associate Vice President (Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs) to create Science strategies and programs aimed at achieving the highest possible rate of participation by Alumni, Parents, Faculty, Staff, Retirees and Friends while paying special attention to those alumni who have the potential to make larger annual gifts.

Alumni Affairs:

In coordination with the Vice President External Relations and Director of Alumni Affairs, leads the development of an overall strategic direction for all Science alumni activities;
Engages students before they leave the University of Waterloo; works closely with the Student Success Office and the Science Undergraduate Office to maximize opportunities for relationship building.

Communications:

Develops and implements a communications strategy for Advancement activities in the Faculty of Science, working in consultation and co-operation with Science and other Waterloo communications staff.

Government and Business Relations

Works with the Vice-President External Relations, Sr. Director, Government Relations & Development, and other members of the senior administration to ensure that strong and meaningful relationships are developed and maintained with all levels of government and business;
Assists the Dean and Associate Deans, Chairs, Directors in maximizing government support by identifying and securing appropriate government funding opportunities.

Departmental/School:

Develops appropriate infrastructure and links for strategic fundraising and other advancement initiatives across all Science Departments including the School of Optometry and the School of Pharmacy;
Advises Chairs and Directors on advancement plans and policies; provides consultation and ensures the development of effective advancement programs at the Department/School level;
recommends new advancement programming as appropriate.

Complexity, Judgement and Planning:

Works with the Vice-President External Relations, Associate Vice President (Principle Gifts & Campaigns), and Faculty Directors to ensure that prospect clearance policies are established and implemented;
Meets particular challenges in the development and execution of multi-faculty donor strategies, requiring a high degree of coordination and consultation;
Provides advice to senior university staff within the Faculty on the feasibility of fundraising goals;
Develops strategic plans for all major gift activities of the Faculty of Science to meet specific financial objectives;
In consultation with the Dean of Science and the Vice President External Relations, determines the feasibility and implementation of new programs and fundraising techniques;
Defines and develops the role of volunteers in the Science advancement program;
Directs, sets work priorities and objectives for professional advancement staff assigned to programs;
Provides input to campaign and project themes;
Selects consultants as needed in consultation with the Dean and the Vice President External Relations;
Assumes responsibility for contact with alumni, volunteers and individual/corporate/foundation donors;
Integrates effective fundraising in the Faculty into University-wide campaign/priorities as these are established;
Manages the Science Advancement operating budget;
Addresses and manages challenges in obtaining the best volunteer leadership.

Contacts:

Develops and maintains contact with influential prospects and volunteers to develop and cultivate financial commitments, monitor campaign progress and communicate the needs of the Faculty; prospects and volunteers will include senior members of the corporate sectors, faculty, alumni, students and staff;
Maintains frequent contact with the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs in the development of cooperative fundraising strategies, to provide information on campaign progress and fundraising procedures, guidelines and strategies;
Maintains frequent contact with the Dean, Associate Deans, Department Chairs and School Directors, Executive Officer, Vice President External Relations, and advancement staff in the other Faculties, University Vice-Presidents, President, and other senior faculty members;
Communicates regularly with alumni, development, marketing and communications staff, student engagement staff and with individuals who have made or might make major gifts to the Faculty.