Senior Development Officer - Advancement, University Relations

Competition Number: 26.07.170
Category: Full-Time Non-Recurring Term (35 hours per week) & Full-Time Continuing (35 hours per week)
Salary: MSU Band G (Steps 1-8): $41.674 - $60.619 per hour. $75,846 - $110,326 per annum (Based on 35 hours per week).
Closing Date: A review of applications will begin on August 5, 2026 and will continue until a suitable candidate is found.

MacEwan University is seeking 2 Senior Development Officers for 1 full-time, 12-month non-recurring term and 1 full-time continuing opportunity with our Advancement department.

Reporting to the Director, Development, the Senior Development Officer (SDO) develops and leads strategic fundraising initiatives that inspire philanthropic investment in MacEwan University's priorities. You will manage a portfolio of significant donor relationships and philanthropic opportunities and develop sophisticated donor cultivation and engagement strategies to secure transformational philanthropic support.

In this role, you will serve as a strategic relationship manager by identifying opportunities to engage institutional leaders and partners in support of donor relationships and fundraising initiatives. You will develop and recommend strategies to involve senior University representatives, including the President, Vice-President University Relations, Deans, faculty, volunteers, and other stakeholders, with approaches implemented in collaboration with Advancement leadership. You will also contribute to campaign fundraising priorities and strategic initiatives while fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing Advancement culture.

If you are passionate about philanthropy and committed to helping donors create meaningful impact through charitable giving, this is the opportunity for you.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors involving significant philanthropic opportunities, multiple stakeholders, complex gift arrangements, and strategic institutional priorities using the University's prospect management process;
• Achieving fundraising objectives by leading strategic fundraising initiatives, advancing complex donor relationships, and securing philanthropic support for assigned institutional priorities;
• Developing strategies and recommending appropriate opportunities to engage senior University leaders with engagement approaches approved in collaboration with Advancement leadership;
• Building and maintaining trusted partnerships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and community partners capable of making significant philanthropic investments across the University;
• Developing comprehensive fundraising strategies, coordinating donor engagement activities and leading creative engagement opportunities that connect donor interests with institutional priorities and deepen donor relationships;
• Evaluating donor readiness and determining appropriate cultivation and solicitation approaches based on donor interests, giving capacity, and engagement history;
• Negotiating gift opportunities involving restricted gifts, endowments, naming opportunities, multi-year commitments, and other arrangements requiring collaboration across the University;
• Supporting institutional fundraising priorities as the fundraiser lead, and contributing to executive briefings, donor strategies, special initiatives, campaign planning, and fundraising priorities;
• Serving as the primary relationship manager for donors within the assigned portfolio;
• Collaborating with and facilitating between donors and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between donor interests and University priorities;
• Researching and analyzing prospective donor interests, philanthropic trends, and funding opportunities, capacity, and alignment with university priorities;
• Maintaining accurate records and portfolio strategies within Raiser's Edge; and
• Contributing to building a high-performing fundraising culture characterized by collaboration, accountability, innovation, continuous learning, and shared success.

Skills

You will have:

• Success building, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding long-term relationships with donors, alumni, corporations, foundations, and community partners;
• Exceptional interpersonal, networking, influencing, and relationship management skills with the ability to establish credibility and trust with diverse stakeholders;
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and proposal development skills;
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities;
• The ability to develop and implement sophisticated fundraising strategies that align donor interests with institutional priorities and campaign objectives;
• Political acuity, sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion when working with confidential information and senior institutional representatives;
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across academic and administrative units and recognize that successful fundraising is achieved through coordinated institutional engagement;
• The ability to inspire confidence and build authentic relationships with donors, volunteers, colleagues, and University leadership;
• Initiative, resilience, adaptability, accountability, and sound judgment in a dynamic fundraising environment;
• Positive, optimistic, and solutions-oriented approach to relationship building and fundraising;
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage a complex donor portfolio and multiple priorities in a results-oriented environment;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and donor relationship management systems, including Raiser's Edge; and
• A high degree of integrity and commitment to ethical fundraising practices and exceptional donor experiences.

Qualifications

• A minimum of an undergraduate degree in business, communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience managing major gift fundraising, strategic donor relationships, advancement, business development, or complex external partnerships, including demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic investments.
• Professional affiliation with organizations such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP), or the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) would be considered an asset.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Position Requirements

• This position is on campus only.

Benefits

When you become part of the MacEwan University team, you will enjoy a competitive salary. Our total compensation package includes:

• Competitive base pay
• Generous vacation time
• Flexible benefits package
• Continuous learning culture
• Opportunities for career growth

Additional benefits vary by appointment type. Continuing employees have participation in the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP).

How to Apply

Please indicate in your cover letter if you are interested in applying for the term position or the continuing position.

To apply, please head to our MacEwan University Opportunities Page, select the job opportunity and click Apply Now. If you require assistance, please contact us at careers@macewan.ca.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties when submitting your application, please try submitting through a different browser (i.e., Safari, Firefox, Chrome, etc.). If the issue persists, please send a screenshot of the error message to careers@macewan.ca so we can assist and ensure your application is received.

This position is included under the MacEwan Staff Union Collective Agreement.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.