Lead, Engagement Programs

Date Posted: 06/05/2025
Req ID: 43279
Faculty/Division: University College
Department: Alumni Office
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00048048

Description:

About us:

The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and is one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from ourcombined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs. For more information, visit www.artsci.utoronto.ca.

We canonly realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.

University College is the founding college of the University of Toronto. Our welcoming community is built on traditions of openness, inclusivity and diversity. Our student programs address issues of social justice from a variety of perspectives and help students develop the skills to apply what they learn in the classroom to the world around them. We are also home to professors committed to undergraduate education from a range of disciplines, who are leading researchers in their fields. Students, faculty, staff and alumni at University College work together to ensure that all thrive in our vibrant community.

Your opportunity:

Reporting to the Director, Advancement, the Lead, Engagement Programs will support the development and delivery of an ambitious strategy that attracts and retains university alumni and friends, and deepens donor relationships through data insight, exceptional stewardship and demonstrated impact of giving. This position provides leadership on the Advancement team, with the goals of strengthening affinity towards the College, enabling a robust pipeline of prospective donors, and designing a program that promotes the interaction with and recognition of donors at all levels, with a specific focus on major gift donors ($50,000 or more).

The Lead, Engagement Programs role is highly collaborative—supervising the alumni and donor engagement work of two team members, and interacting with faculty and staff throughout UC, the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science as well as the Divisionof University Advancement (DUA).

Key duties include: Developing and implementing a multi-audience external engagement plan; developing and maintaining a robust stewardship portfolio, including the customized and meaningful recognition of major gift donors ($50K+); contributing to advancement communication strategies; contributing to the implementation of an alumni volunteer program; conceptualizing donor and alumni engagement events and programs and establishing KPIs for those initiatives; directing the work of two team members in support of this portfolio; and producing the annual donor reporting cycle for UC donors at all levels. 

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop programs and initiatives that advance strategic external engagement objectives
• Cultivate on-going high-profile partnerships that advance strategic agendas
• Assess needs and contribute to the development and implementation of plans for donor solicitation, stewardship and recognition
• Create donor acknowledgment and recognition plan for UC donors at all levels
• Produce high-profile and complex donor-specific stewardship reports
• Implement established annual stewardship program activities.
• Analyze the impact of stewardship programming on fundraising initiatives
• Develop marketing/communication strategies that support fundraising campaigns and programs
• Conceptualize, organize and execute events and/or functions that support the engagement strategy

Essential Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experienc.
• Minimum three (3) years of relevant experience working as an advancement professional in a post-secondary or nonprofit fundraising environment
• Demonstrated experience in alumni and/or donor relations
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and implementing tailored donor engagement programs
• Experience directing the activities within a team performing a similar function
• Experience with information, data management and donor financial reporting
• Experience working with fundraising/constituent databases like Arbor (Blackbaud CRM) or related databases is an asset
• Experience preparing and disseminating fundraising reports and correspondence
• Experience planning and organizing events to engage donors, prospects and alumni
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills
• Strong organizational, time management, project management and analytical skills
• Demonstrated initiative, tact, diplomacy, attention to detail, judgement and creativity
• Knowledge of non-profit fundraising, including stewardship, preferably in a highly complex environment within a large non-profit or higher education organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and professional presence necessary to successfully interact with donors, alumni, volunteers and stakeholders

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Achievement oriented
• Diplomatic
• Multi-tasker
• Tactful
• Team player

Note:

This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, includingbut not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternati ve Work Arrangements Guideline.

Closing Date: 06/13/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 14 -- $90,056. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $115,169. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.