Senior Specialist, Donor Relations

University of Ottawa • Ottawa, ON

5d • CA$95,594 - CA$120,750 • Onsite

About The Position

University Advancement plays a pivotal role in fostering meaningful connections between the University and its alumni, donors, and partners. Our team is dedicated to advancing the University's mission by securing philanthropic support, engaging with our vibrant alumni community, and building partnerships that drive innovation and excellence. Through strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts, we help shape the future of the University, ensuring that it continues to thrive as a leading institution of higher education and research. Together, we empower our students, faculty and researchers to make a lasting impact on the world.

The Incumbent is responsible to define high‑level stewardship strategies for major and principal donors by analyzing donor motivations, long‑term potential, and institutional priorities; tailors recognition and engagement approaches to strengthen alignment between donor interests and the University’s strategic objectives; anticipates risks, sensitivities, and reputation considerations in complex donor files; prioritizes actions and adjusts timelines to ensure timely and impactful stewardship; and shapes an integrated stewardship experience that deepens trust, enhances donor satisfaction, and supports sustainable relationship growth.

Requirements

• An undergraduate communications degree or equivalent combination of education and related experience in donor or stakeholder relations preferably in a post-secondary environment.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in a field related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Bilingualism – French and English (spoken and written).
• Project management experience and strong leadership skills.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills and demonstrated ability to think strategically about complex issues, leading to thoughtful recommendations and action plans;
• Exercise foresight, tact and diplomacy when interacting with university administrators and individuals of varying rank, as well as in liaising with high-level external stakeholders;
• Ability to work independently, manage overlapping deadlines and shifting priorities while exercising excellent judgment at all times;
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy;
• Superb writing skills. Proven track record of creating documents for both convincing story-telling and legalistic technical writing such as fund terms-of-reference. Must be able to articulate in writing clearly and concisely when corresponding with colleagues.
• Solid grasp of industry best practices for donor relations operations, including policy development, individualized stewardship plans, proposal and impact documents, fund terms and compliance, acknowledgement and recognition.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of the operation of the university, its governance, its structure and its administrative functioning considered an asset

Responsibilities

• Provides expert-level advice and consulting services to stakeholders across the University, acting as a subject matter expert in donor relations (DR) processes, stewardship practices, and high-level recognition initiatives.
• Advises senior administrators, development officers, and faculty partners on the design, implementation, and continual improvement of stewardship and recognition programs, ensuring alignment with sector best practices.
• Conducts comparative analyses of DR programs at leading national and international institutions to inform strategic decision‑making and support the evolution of institutional stewardship practices.
• Identifies opportunities to enhance stewardship and recognition activities across the University.
• Leads the development, execution of stewardship plans, proposals, donor agreements, impact reporting, and signature recognition initiatives.
• Collects, analyzes, and interprets data to inform continuous improvement efforts and provides actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manages a portfolio of high‑level donors on behalf of the University leadership, ensuring donor expectations, recognized, and aligned with institutional priorities.
• Researches improvements to DR regulations, procedures and the development and implementation of enhancements, recommending solutions to meet strategic objectives.
• Communicates and validates solutions with management and other stakeholders in order to maximize the fit and effectiveness of proposed solutions while minimizing the impact of obstacles.
• Creates and maintains standardized operational documentation for processes within DR’s jurisdiction.
• Develops donor proposals, and customized impact reports to support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Advises on principle gift agreements such as chairs and pan-university initiatives to ensure alignment with the University strategic goals and successful gift implementation.
• Ensures that donor intent and commitments are accurately interpreted across the University.
• Provides expert guidance to internal stakeholders on compliance with institutional, governmental, and sector regulations related to giving.
• Establishes and implements accountability mechanisms that protect the integrity of philanthropic processes and uphold the institution’s obligations to donors.
• Ensures the optimal management of stewardship and high-level recognition activities and other responsibilities proper to DR.
• Develops and oversees procedures and communications to ensure a successful and thriving donor experience.
• Coordinates University-wide DR processes and provides advice to faculties and other stakeholders to ensure the proper interpretation of DR guidelines and regulations, with a focus on best practices.

Benefits

• The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior