Vice-President, Advancement
Dalhousie University

Required:

• A university degree.
• A seasoned and accomplished fundraising expert, who has held progressive senior leadership roles within complex organizations.
• Deep experience working with comprehensive campaigns, annual campaigns, major gifts, principal giving, and legacy giving.
• A demonstrated record of success in raising capital, with particular success in principal and major gift fundraising.
• Conversant with best practices and on top of emerging trends in fundraising. Clarity of purpose, imagination, persistence, and a commitment to ambitious goals.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate a compelling vision.
• Demonstrated capacity to engage and communicate in highly complex issues, adept in current and emerging communications technologies and social media platforms, exceptional public speaking and social media skills.
• A leadership style and facility with strategic and visionary thinking that will inspire a team of professionals to reach new heights.
• Innovative and confident, capable of bold and visionary thinking and a track record of leading change and innovation.
• A collaborative spirit and a broad worldview.
• Ability to establish meaningful relationships with a diverse array of alumni and potential donors.
• A reputation as a champion for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) with a strong track record of success in developing, implementing, measuring, communicating, and reporting on EDIA programs, policies, and activities and in developing and supporting a safe and healthy workplace.
• Strong connections at the national level.
• Ability to work productively with staff, faculty, and senior administrators to establish a culture of philanthropy across the institution.
• A passionate belief in Dalhousie’s mission, vision, and goals.
• A reputation for integrity, honesty, and adherence to the obligation to safeguard the public trust and the organizations you serve.
   

Assets:

• Advanced degree and CFRE designation.
• Leadership experience in the post-secondary sector.
• An understanding and appreciation for Nova Scotia and the East coast community and culture.
   

Characteristics and Attributes:

The ideal candidate will be expected to demonstrate the following competencies as Vice-President and as a leader at Dalhousie University. For more on Dalhousie’s leadership competencies click here.

Thinking and Acting Strategically: Thinking conceptually about the “big picture” and in which direction the organization is/should be headed, developing long-term plans to achieve the desired outcomes and linking daily work to long-term vision.

• Ability to formulate and articulate a future vision and translate it into strategies and action plans.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the senior leadership team to shape the future of the institution and pursue excellence on an organizational level.
• Expert ability to translate a fundraising goal into a clearly articulated and artful vision that will inspire those around you.
• A leader who can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal, eliminate roadblocks, and create a pathway for success.
• Ability to manage change and navigate transformation with emotional intelligence.
• A strong communicator with a vision who will create a collaborative culture that stimulates creative thinking and a will to achieve inclusive excellence.
• A strong presenter, capable of inspiring and motivating groups and individuals.

Relationship Building: Identifying, building, and maintaining formal and informal relationships and networks that add value to others, support the achievement of role-related objectives, and further the interests of the university.

• A diplomatic, dynamic, and professional communicator, capable of building effective relationships and partnerships of benefit to the university.
• Strong understanding of the university environment and the importance of internal stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to work productively with academic leaders, as well as faculty and staff at the university to promote a culture of philanthropy across the institution.
• Confident, culturally aware, and politically astute.
• Ready to serve as an ambassador for the university both nationally and internationally.
• A bridge builder, excellent at encouraging and facilitating collaboration and communication across institutional barriers.
• Superb communication, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to draw diverse groups together, enable effective knowledge sharing, and inspire them to work towards common goals.

Respect and Inclusion:  Advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as both a process and a value, creating environments that foster equitable participation of all groups. Addressing issues of accessibility, equity and inclusion, oppression, privilege, and power and engaging in continuous learning as it relates to best practices in these areas.

• Experience creating and maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace and ensuring team members develop EDIA related knowledge, skills, and training.
• A champion for inclusive and accessible processes and policies, who will ensure adherence to policies and practices that support and advance a respectful, equitable, safe and inclusive workplace culture and climate.
• Strong ability to develop relationships with Dalhousie’s caucuses and with external equity-deserving communities.
• High ethical standards and integrity.

Resource & Process Management: Efficiently managing resources (people, funding, materials, and space) and processes to achieve organizational objectives.

• Adept at motivating a high-achieving team.
• A listener first, who solicits feedback regularly, respects individual expertise, encourages both autonomy and accountability, and provides clear direction and expectations to staff.
• Excellent business acumen and financial management skills.
• Current knowledge and a strategic vision for leveraging and harnessing technology.
• Focused on achieving results while thinking proactively to capture new opportunities.
• Knowledgeable in current policies, practices, trends, and information affecting the business of fundraising.
• Comfortable working in a complex organization and able to navigate bureaucracy with ease.
• Understand the importance of consistent leadership in the context of a long-term project or campaign.