Vice-President, Advancement, Dalhousie University

Fundraising and Development

Develop and implement plans which link the university in a proactive and focused way with relevant stakeholders — both internal and external.
Strengthen Dalhousie’s ties nationally and internationally by reinforcing existing relationships and building new ones with alumni, donors, business leaders, governments, media, and institutions.
Support academic and administrative units, as well as related entities, in their advancement efforts.
Drive forward and lead Dalhousie’s comprehensive fundraising campaign while working collaboratively with staff to incorporate established plans and integrate prior efforts to continue momentum in reaching campaign goals.
Provide leadership to advancing the vision of Dalhousie University by increasing funding from all sources, developing new partnerships, and identifying revenue generation opportunities with businesses, industry, foundations, and individual donors
Implement a sustained fundraising program for the university that is driven by Dalhousie’s priorities as identified in its strategic plan, and ensure these efforts are integrated effectively within Faculties and units.
Communicate and promote awareness of Dalhousie’s core equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) values, principles, and Human Rights & Equity policies (HRES Sexual Violence, Personal Harassment & Discrimination policies) to alumni and external donors/stakeholders.

Alumni Engagement

Strengthen and expand Dal’s capacity to engage with and deepen affinity with its global alumni audience.
Strengthen and expand Dal’s capacity to engage with and deepen affinity with its priority communities – Indigenous/Mi’kmaq & Black/African Nova Scotian alumni audience and allies.
Support the continued development of alumni and external engagement programs and initiatives to bring the priorities of Dalhousie to life in a compelling manner and to demonstrate lifelong support of its alumni.
Ensure that Dal has strong volunteer opportunities at all levels of the university to deepen ties with alumni volunteers.
Work with faculties and units across the university to build a strong student to alumni lifecycle.
Focus on the engagement development model to ensure alumni move though their relationship with Dalhousie towards being a meaningful volunteer and donor.

Strategic Planning

Function as a key member of the university’s senior leadership team, spearheading a cohesive and focused approach to Dalhousie’s advancement strategy in order to further the university’s vision, mission, goals, and priorities.
As a member of the President’s Executive team, the Vice-President Advancement will help to ensure coordination among the offices of executive members and prioritize and accelerate key initiatives (often transformational, multi-disciplinary and / or cross-functional) that carry significant impact for the university, while modeling the values and behaviour expected at every level of Dalhousie University.
Ensure that Dalhousie’s advancement priorities, strategies, plans, and programs are aligned with the university’s academic planning and priorities.
Ensure that the funding model for the operations of the Office of Advancement is sustainable through campaign growth and beyond.
Ensure that Dalhousie’s advancement priorities, strategies, plans, and programs are aligned with the university’s core EDIA priorities and Human Rights and Equity Services (HRES) policies and practices.

External Relations

Serve as the primary ambassador for the advancement of the university.
Define and support key external partnerships and relationship with alumni, other universities, government, businesses, and NGOs.
Work with members of the leadership team to identify key policy and funding issues of strategic importance to the university. Develop a comprehensive approach to address these issues to Dalhousie’s benefit.
Create and foster ways for the Advancement team to become key community members supporting organizations in meaningful ways in order to build the reputation of Dal as a civic university, where Inclusive Excellence & Ethics are key, and model this behaviour themselves.
Collaborate with Government & Global Relations colleagues on interactions and opportunities with local, provincial and national government officials and organizations, including elected officials and selected affinity groups and organizations.
Work with Communications, Marketing & Creative Services to build capacity around public relations opportunities, storytelling, media attention, and recognition of Dalhousie’s impact.

Operations and Administration

Provide strategic direction for all key operations within Advancement Operations, such as financial management, human resources, gift compliance, and systems.
Provide leadership and direction to senior staff within the advancement team, promoting a collegial and collaborative work environment.
Provide support and leadership with a holistic view that values and integrates the different departments and nurtures collaboration.
Ensure a safe workplace for all staff, where HRES policies are upheld and championing and leading change in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility across the Office.
Support ongoing work in anti-Black racism, anti-oppression, gift acceptance policy and sexual violence prevention in fundraising.
Promote best practices in advancement.

Executive Brief