Executive Director, Advancement

Job Description

Executive Summary

In this newly created position, McMaster University is seeking a highly strategic and experienced Executive Director, Advancement to support the DeGroote School of Business (DSB) in their advancement priorities. The Executive Director, Advancement for the DeGroote School of Business (EDA – DSB) will lead a high-performing integrated team to increase revenue.

This is an exciting time to join McMaster as they move towards an ambitious campaign to support the University’s bold ideas. Working collaboratively and as a key leader within University Advancement and academic leadership, the Executive Director will support the development of multi-year campaign strategies that frame DeGroote School of Business’s unique strengths and opportunities, while aligning with University-wide campaign structures and practices, integrating alumni and development strategies to maximize support and rally the DSB and donor community around a compelling vision for longer-term aspirations and goals.

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President, Pan-University Advancement, who oversees all Faculties and Units, and working within the DeGroote School of Business, the Executive Director will work alongside academic leaders, external volunteers/stakeholders, the DeGroote School of Business Advancement team and University Advancement, to formulate and execute strategies and initiatives to raise private revenue in support of DSB’s highest priorities.

 A key member of the senior leadership team of McMaster Advancement, our successful candidate will espouse the shared values that help to achieve the vision and mission, Quality, Respect, Service, Strategy and Teamwork.

The EDA – DSB is responsible and accountable for the overall DeGroote School of Business strategy development, design, implementation and achievement of annual goals and objectives the University Advancement leadership and the Dean of the DeGroote School of Business. They will lead a team of fundraising, alumni relations, stewardship & donor relations personnel and provide leadership and professional advice with respect to advancement strategies and approaches. Specifically, they will develop strategies in collaboration with University leadership and volunteers as they work to engage alumni, prospects and donors. The Executive Director will also maintain an active portfolio of prospective and existing donors and key external stakeholders, primarily with the capacity to make an investment of $1M+ and by so doing set the example.

The Executive Director, Advancement, DeGroote School of Business is a trusted advisor who provides counsel to senior academic leaders on the largest gifts to DSB, is directly involved in efforts to secure and grow its base of major and principal gift-level supporters, stewards these supporters in a manner so as to inspire them to establish, grow, and sustain meaningful relationships with the University and lead and mentor a team as they develop strategies that include University and the School’s leadership and key volunteers as they work to engage alumni, donors and prospects.

Position Overview

Organization:

Title: Executive Director, Advancement, DeGroote School of Business

Reports to: Ashley Downey, Associate Vice President, Pan-University Advancement (Faculties and Units)

Team: 6

Location: Three campus locations (Hamilton, Burlington and downtown Toronto – 180 Bloor) offer flexibility in work location, and remote and hybrid work empower staff to engage effectively with donors, alumni, and stakeholders in advancing institutional goals in a fast-paced campaign environment. This role is hybrid in nature with 3 days in person per week, inclusive of donor activity. It is understood that the Executive Director, Advancement will routinely travel to meet donors and engage with alumni and key partners.

Is This You?

You are a hands-on experienced and accomplished fundraiser who enjoys ‘making the ask’. Your ability to lead, develop and coach teams has enabled you to thrive within a matrixed philanthropic environment. You have a quality about you that brings teams together, and you are very good at identifying opportunities and mobilizing those around you to achieve goals. You don’t like sitting idle. You value momentum, teamwork and setting and achieving objectives. You enjoy all facets of fundraising, from major gifts to annual programs and prefer to have oversight of the entire fundraising lifecycle. You see the full picture and know what it takes to provide a best-in-class donor experience, regardless of the gift amount, though you thrive in the strategy and planning that goes into major gifts at the $1M+ level.

You lead with tact and diplomacy and are good at mobilizing ‘non-fundraisers’ to be your partner in solicitation and donor strategy. The opportunity to build and lead is what excites you most about the next chapter of your career. You are ready for a ‘career defining’ role where you can make your mark. You are looking for a role that will allow you to settle in and create something. You aren’t a ‘jumper’, rather you are at a place in your career where you are looking for a home – a place you can be challenged and provide leadership and value byway of using your gifts and talents to their fullest extent.

Ideally, you bring campaign experience and have worked collaboratively to bring a campaign to life. You would provide value and input to executive leadership around campaign planning. You enjoy digging into data and understanding the history of an organizations donor pool to chart forward the plan for what’s to come. You possess a growth mindset and are always looking for ways to improve. You are an excellent communicator both written and verbal. You are trusted by your colleagues because you follow through on your commitments, and your integrity and commitment to your word has attracted a followership around you – people want to work with you because you are respectful, you hear others out, but above all, you get it done and have fun along the way.

You are known for an ability to guide and lead with high emotional intelligence, and you would be motivated to work for a world class organization with a respected brand, exceptional leadership team and diverse donor pool.

If this sounds like you, read on…

About McMaster University

Founded in 1887, McMaster University is a research-intensive public university. McMaster is dedicated to advancing human and societal health and well-being. McMaster is ranked in the world's Top 80 publicly funded universities by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

With a total student population of more than 33,000, McMaster welcomes students from 120 countries as well as Canada. Home to more than 70 research centres and institutes, McMaster University is comprised of the six faculties of Business (DeGroote School of Business), Engineering, Health Science, Humanities, Science, and Social Science.

McMaster's 30-acre main campus, located in the Westdale neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario, is comprised of 300 acres of scenic property at the western end of Lake Ontario, between Toronto and Niagara Falls. McMaster University also has three other regional campuses: Burlington, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Niagara.

DeGroote School of Business

DeGroote’s vision, mission and values can be summarized in one simple word: impact. From students and their community to business and society, DeGroote’s impact is felt everywhere.

Mission : Make a meaningful impact through knowledge creation, student-centered learning, and community engagement.

Vision : Open minds, transform lives, build sustainable communities, and contribute to positive change in business and society.

Values : Collaboration. Community. Inclusivity. Innovation. Integrity.

The DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University is an innovative business school that focuses on interdisciplinary thinking and evidence-based management. DeGroote produces curriculum, programs, and research that enable our graduates to excel in a fast-paced world. The DeGroote School of Business (DSB) is a comprehensive, research intensive, business school offering undergraduate, graduate and executive development programs across two campuses in Hamilton and Burlington. DSB’s mission is to foster interdisciplinary thinking and evidence-based management to transform business and society.

The School provides outstanding educational programs to over 4,000 students across Bachelor of Commerce, MBA, executive MBA, Masters and PhD programs. Annually, over 1,300 students enroll in DeGroote’s Executive Education development programs and the Directors College. Over 1,200 participants register annually for external outreach events.

Consistent with its mission, The DeGroote School of Business has joint programs and partnerships with the Faculties of Engineering, Health Sciences, and Humanities and intends to continue to expand interdisciplinary programs as part of the University’s Strategic Mandate Agreement and the School’s strategic plan.

DSB is also the administrative home of several of the interdisciplinary programs and enterprises including the Health Leadership Academy, MSc in eHealth, Bachelor of Commerce in Integrated Business and Humanities.

DSB is the most intensive research business school (2018 – current), and they have a large and comprehensive PhD program with further details available here. DeGroote are in the process of expanding their faculty complement by 30% over the next three years and continuing to co-champion major initiatives with Faculties of Engineering and Science. Click here to view DeGroote’s Strategic Plan.

Advancement at McMaster

McMaster’s vibrant student experience, world-class research, and community engagement are empowered by the support of thousands of alumni and donors who also believe strongly in McMaster. Together, McMaster’s donors and alumni help make the university what it is today and help nurture the next generation of leaders in our world.

The Advancement leadership team provides overall strategic leadership and direction in the areas of fundraising; developing and building partnerships; and engaging with donors, alumni and stakeholders. The Advancement team also plays a critically important role in advancing the McMaster’s strategy, in support of McMaster’s ambitious vision, in partnership with the academic and administrative leaders across the University. The Advancement team has a centralized/decentralized structure, with strategies established and coordinated centrally, along with some programs and services (e.g. Annual Giving, Leadership Giving, Principal Giving, Corporate Giving, Estate Giving & Legacy Planning, Stewardship, overarching Alumni programs, Research & Prospect Analytics, and Gift Processing services), whereas other programs and services are delivered ‘locally’ through decentralized, dedicated Development and Alumni staff embedded within the Faculties and units.
 

Advancement in DeGroote School of Business

The Advancement team for the DeGroote school of business is poised for growth, and the new Executive Director will have the ability to shape and recruit the growing team.

The Advancement team will build relationships and grow the revenue generation goals of DSB and will collaborate closely with colleagues from University Advancement, the University’s leadership team and DSB leadership, to engage DeGroote School of Business’ community of DSB members, alumni and donors.

Additional Information

McMaster University McMaster University's Mission and Vision Institutional Priorities & Strategic Framework 2021 - 2024 DeGroote Strategic Goals DeGroote School of Business 2020-2025 Strategic Mandate Agreement Board of Governors McMaster Alumni Association

Leadership

Lili Litwin, Vice President, University Advancement

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