Associate Vice President, Alumni and Development

Brock University acknowledges the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement. Today this gathering place is home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit and acknowledging reminds us that our great standard of living is directly related to the resources and friendship of Indigenous people.

Brock University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including but not limited to women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation.

Brock University is one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities, a Top Employer in Hamilton-Niagara, ranked #3 as Canada’s Best Employers and ranked top 10 as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity compiled by Forbes and Statista. With more than 19,000 students in seven diverse Faculties, Brock’s undergraduate, graduate and professional education programs are focused on co-op and service learning options that provide maximum exposure to the chosen field of study, with a mission to nurture and support its students and faculty in the discovery of knowledge through exemplary scholarship, teaching and service. Located in the historic and stunning Niagara region, Brock is at the heart of a diverse collection of communities connected by rural landscapes, vineyards, unspoiled nature, and bordered by two Great Lakes, the mighty Niagara River, as well as New York State.

Reporting to the Vice President, External, the Associate Vice President, Alumni and Development (AVP) will provide visionary leadership to elevate the University’s fundraising performance through the development and implementation of comprehensive, high-impact fundraising and stewardship strategies that reflect Brock’s exciting and visionary institutional strategic priorities. This will include setting and achieving ambitious annual and multi-year philanthropic revenue targets while building institutional capacity within the Alumni Relations and Development team and across the University. Additionally, the AVP will be responsible for developing and leading strategies to enhance and maintain relationships with over 120,000 alumni and deepening their connection and support for Brock. As the principal gifts officer for transformational and principal gifts prospects, the AVP will play a critical role in fostering exceptional relationships with key donors and stakeholders and in shaping internal and external relations strategies to elevate the University’s image, reputation, and standing through strategic campaigns and philanthropic activities.

The ideal candidate is a skilled advancement professional and outstanding relationship-builder with a track record of securing principal philanthropic gifts from prospect identification, discovery, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. Highly developed verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, enabling effective articulation of the University’s vision and strategic goals to diverse partnerships and the ability to lead, inspire and mobilize support for the University’s initiatives will be critical to success, as will the capacity to motivate, coach, mentor, and encourage staff and volunteers, fostering a high-performance culture of alignment and trust towards the realization of Brock University’s strategic goals. A degree in a related field is required; a Master’s degree, Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, and completion of the CAGP-ACPDP’s Advanced Canadian Gift Planning course are considered assets.

Applications are encouraged immediately online at https://careers.odgersberndtson.com/en-ca/job/30008 and will close January 17, 2025. Nominations and inquiries should be directed to Andrea Patrick and Nick Ketley of Odgers Berndtson at BrockAVP@odgersberndtson.com.

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

Accessibility

Brock University is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, 2019 and all applicable provincial accessibility standards, upon request, accommodation will be provided by both Odgers Berndtson and Brock University throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. To arrange accessibility measures for this recruitment, please reach out to BrockAVP@odgersberndtson.com.

Odgers Berndtson is deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all the work that we do. As part of our efforts to better understand our ability to reach as broad a pool of candidates as possible for our searches, and to measure our own EDI goals, our EDI team would like to encourage you to take a moment and access our Self-Declaration Form.