Careers

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title: ASSOC. DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Status: 0.8 – 1.0 FTE
Term: Permanent
Submit Application by: September 25, 2023
Reports to: Director of Advancement

Preamble:
Vancouver College’s legacy is a testament to the generous support from generations of families, alumni, staff, and friends since the day it opened in 1922. Everything we have is a reflection of the generosity of those who came before us.

Vancouver College’s first Capital Campaign in the early 1920’s (led by Brother Lannon and Father O’Boyle) was for the construction of a new school on the present site in Shaughnessy. Since that time, several more Capital Campaigns have followed, along with annual fundraising campaigns in between, all serving to illustrate the Vancouver College community’s rich heritage of giving.

Most recently, Vancouver College focused on a campus renewal project prompted by seismic challenges and ageing buildings. The $43 million project was funded by the Our Next Century Campaign that raised $40 Million from July 2014 to June 2021. The campaign’s success led to the construction of Manrell Hall in 2018, followed by the new Lannon Hall and Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel in 2020.

Since the Our Next Century Campaign, Vancouver College continues to raise funds through an Annual Giving Program that supports the Financial Assistance Program, educational resources, and the school’s emergent needs as determined by the Senior Leadership Team. It is anticipated that another campaign will soon be launched to fund improvements for the school music program. The endeavour may involve a complete renovation of the current site or construction of a new structure on a site within the campus. A decision in this regard will be made by the Board of Directors by January 2024.

On behalf of the Vancouver College and the VC Millennium Foundation, the Advancement Office leads and coordinates all fundraising initiatives in conjunction with the Vancouver College Alumni Association and Vancouver College Parents Association in furtherance of our shared goals.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
VC’s Advancement Office is seeking a relationship-centred and dynamic self-starter to serve as our Associate Director of Advancement and Community Relations in anticipation of a future capital campaign to fund the needs of VC’s Music Program.

Reporting to the Director of Advancement and working in close partnership with the President and other members of the Senior Leadership Team, the Associate Director will contribute to the development and implementation of the strategic objectives of the school’s financial giving program in support of its Vision, Mission and Values.

The Associate Director works closely with the Director of Advancement as well as the President as lead fundraisers for major gifts. He/She is responsible for all aspects of the giving program including increasing donor participation, retention, acquisition, and engagement. He/She will work with a portfolio of major donors in the $10,000+ range while also overseeing the annual giving program.

The Associate Director is also responsible for external/community relations, specifically with parents and alumni, including coordinating with their volunteer organizations (VC Parents Association and VC Alumni Association) and providing volunteer management as needed.

In this role, the Associate Director will have the following responsibilities:

Giving Programs:
• Continue to build and refine Vancouver College’s established annual fund program and recommend changes and adjustments, as necessary.
• Work with the Director of Advancement to integrate annual fund activities into the overall advancement program.
• Oversee and implement direct response solicitation program(s).
• Work closely with the Advancement Team on matters specific to the annual fund, including identifying appropriate areas for integrating annual fund messaging and solicitation.
• Contribute to the development of solicitation materials and packages of various media for solicitation, awareness-building and community-building purposes, including creative development, copywriting, collateral materials, integration of College’s website, and electronic fundraising elements integration.
• Identify opportunities to cull prospects for personal solicitation.
• Identify opportunities to identify major and leadership gifts prospects and facilitate meetings with the Director of Advancement/President for solicitation.
• Implement a monthly donor conversion program with appropriate donor segments.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement on recognition opportunities and assist with the implementation.
• When prompted by the Board of Directors, collaborate with the Director of Advancement for the planning and implementation of the capital campaign for the Music Program.

Community Relations:
Parents:
• Work closely with the Parents Association on annual events including activities related to sponsorships.

Alumni:
• Support Vancouver College Alumni Association (VCAA) with events including, but not limited to the annual golf tournament, football game, hockey tournament, Homecoming, etc.
• Assist alumni to build networks with each other; including, but not limited to, usage of social media and online presence.
• Establish alumni chapters or clubs in other key alumni focused areas.
• Assist Vancouver College alumni planning reunions with requests for alumni information, event suggestions, and on campus visits.
• Work closely with the Communications and Marketing Specialist on matters related to or of specific interest to alumni and provide support as needed e.g., website updates, newsletters, etc.
• Update alumni database(s) or seek the help of the Advancement and Donor Services Officer as needed.
• Attend monthly VCAA meetings.
• Take a leadership role in organizing the biennial Hall of Honour Induction and Reception.

Other:
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement

Education/Experience
• Familiarity with and commitment to the Mission of Vancouver College and/or comfort working in a Catholic, faith-based environment.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma and a minimum of seven years’ experience in advancement/development/outside sales, preferably major gifts work and preferably within a school environment, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Experience working with sensitive information and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Skills/Abilities
• Strong interpersonal skills to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Self-motivated (a “self-starter”); innovative and ability to work with independence within the context of a team environment.
• Flexible in approaching complex situations and relationships.
• Results-oriented and goal-driven.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and manage data.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities, giving careful attention to detail.
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or similar donor database and skilled in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Second language proficiency in Mandarin would be an asset.

Vancouver Colleges seeks candidates who not only have the professional qualifications required for the role but are further able to model the faith-based values espoused by Blessed Edmund Rice as articulated by the school's Essential Elements.

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to forward a letter of application and résumé by Monday, September 25, 2023, to Ronith Cogswell, Director of Advancement, at hroffice@vancouvercollege.ca. Please include the job title in the subject line of your email.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Title: ADVANCEMENT AND DONOR SERVICES OFFICER
Status: 1.0 FTE
Term: Permanent
Submit Application by: September 25, 2023
Reports to: Director of Advancement

Preamble:
Vancouver College’s legacy is a testament to the generous support from generations of families, alumni, staff, and friends since the day it opened in 1922. Everything we have is a reflection of the generosity of those who came before us.

Vancouver College’s first Capital Campaign in the early 1920’s (led by Brother Lannon and Father O’Boyle) was for the construction of a new school on the present site in Shaughnessy. Since that time, several more Capital Campaigns have followed, along with annual fundraising campaigns in between, all serving to illustrate the Vancouver College community’s rich heritage of giving. Most recently, Vancouver College focused on a campus renewal project prompted by seismic challenges and ageing buildings. The $43 million project was funded by the Our Next Century Campaign that raised $40 Million from July 2014 to June 2021. The campaign’s success led to the construction of Manrell Hall in 2018, followed by the new Lannon Hall and Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel in 2020.

Since the Our Next Century Campaign, Vancouver College continues to raise funds through an Annual Giving Program that supports the Financial Assistance Program, educational resources, and the school’s emergent needs as determined by the Senior Leadership Team. It is anticipated that another campaign will soon be launched to fund improvements for the school music program. The endeavour may involve a complete renovation of the current site or construction of a new structure on a site within the campus. A decision in this regard will be made by the Board of Directors by January 2024.

On behalf of the Vancouver College and the VC Millennium Foundation, the Advancement Office leads and coordinates all fundraising initiatives in conjunction with the Vancouver College Alumni Association and Vancouver College Parents Association in furtherance of our shared goals.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

VC’s Advancement Office is seeking a dynamic team member to serve in role of Advancement and Donor
Services Officer whose primary responsibilities include:
• Ensuring the effective development and management of information on prospective donors and current donors to ensure accuracy in database management, receipting (CRA compliance), reporting, stewardship, prospect research and other functions.
• Managing and implementing all aspects of Vancouver College’s integrated direct response program.
• Overseeing advancement-initiated activities and events.

Donor Services
• Provide database management support in all aspects of Advancement including data entry/import following data integrity guidelines, segmentation, and analytics using Raiser’s Edge.
• Prepare records relative to the collection and processing of gifts and all donor records at the direction of the Director of Advancement.
• Perform queries on the database, generate lists for various purposes, and compile reports.
• Manage follow-up of pledges, recurring monthly giving, and coordinate/reconcile with the Business Office.
• Coordinate the interface between Raiser’s Edge, Online Express and the Business Office’s Quickbooks.
• Generate charitable tax receipts and ensure CRA compliance.
• Analyze and report on the results of solicitations and campaigns.
• Prepare and create donation forms on Online Express.

Advancement Services:
• Organize/coordinate/attend Advancement events.
• Take a leadership role with the stewardship program and materials preparation including thank you letters and donor gifts.
• Work with Director of Advancement/Assoc. Director of Advancement on recognition opportunities including design of donor plaques.
• Review new prospects to ensure the ongoing development, expansion, and renewal of the prospect base, to which the school will turn for current and future support.
• Prepare detailed and up-to-date research briefings on prospects for solicitors as needed.

Other:
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement.

Education/Experience
• Familiarity with and commitment to the Mission of Vancouver College and/or comfort working in a Catholic, faith-based environment.
• Strong data management skills utilizing fundraising database software, preferably Raiser’s Edge and knowledge of Online Express and NXT an asset.
• Demonstrated accuracy and keen attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (mail merge and spreadsheets) and experience with web-based applications and payment services.
• Track record in effective constituent segmentation and in integrating annual giving into an overall advancement program.
• Experience working with sensitive information and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma and a minimum of three years’ experience in advancement/development/outside sales, preferably in data management and/or annual fund work or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Skills/Abilities
• Strong interpersonal skills to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Self-motivated (a “self-starter”); innovative and ability to work with independence within the context of a team environment.
• Flexible in approaching complex situations and relationships.
• Results-oriented and goal-driven.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and manage data.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priori\es, giving careful attention to detail.
• Second language proficiency in Mandarin would be an asset.

Vancouver Colleges seeks candidates who not only have the professional qualifications required for the role but are further able to model the faith-based values espoused by Blessed Edmund Rice as articulated by the school's Essential Elements.

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to forward a letter of application and résumé by Monday, September 23, 2023, to Ronith Cogswell, Director of Advancement, at hroffice@vancouvercollege.ca. Please include the job title in the subject line of your email.

• Develops and writes and/or edits content and publishes printed and electronic communications for internal and external stakeholders, including, but not limited to:
  • weekly school e-newsletters
  • monthly alumni newsletters
  • Social media channels
  • Parent Handbooks & Student Agendas
  • Advertising for school initiatives, HR/recruitment needs, Open House, Easter, Christmas, Graduation, etc.
  • Application/Registration requirements and Open House materials in coordination with the Registrar
  • School events materials (ex. Remembrance Day, President’s Honour, Graduation, etc.)
  • Annual Report
  • Fundraising materials
• Develops content and maintain the school’s website.
• Manages and coordinates the school calendar in coordination with Administration.
• Executes communications projects and manages implementation to ensure success.
• Coordinates and manages brand standards to uphold school’s image.
• Provides communications support to the Advancement Team for fundraising initiatives.
• Participates in the management of mailing lists, ensuring compliance with CASL.
• Ensures timely dissemination of communication materials to different constituents.
• Develops communications plan in cooperation with the Administration Team and implements accordingly.
• Participates in and monitors integrated marketing strategies for website/email content, social media, print, advertising, and events.
• Works in partnership with students and staff, the Parents Association, and Alumni Association to provide communications support.
• Participates in the coordination of video projects while managing sharing platforms.
• Participates in school events and special projects and provide support as needed.
• Supports the Administration Team in the execution of crisis communication strategies and plans including related procedures and systems. Supports Finnegan Summer Program, including its promotion, updating/managing the registration platform, and acting as point of contact. Recommends policy and practice to enhance positive communications, promotions, and public relations.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with the community and key constituents.
• Complies with the school’s privacy policy and the federal and provincial protection of privacy legislation.

• Three to five years communications experience and/or post-secondary degree/diploma in communications, marketing, or public relations
• Attention to detail and superior writing, editing, and proof-reading skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
• Experience with graphic design tools/programs such as Canva, Photoshop, and InDesign
• Familiarity with filming, editing, and/or live streaming of videos an asset
• Comfort with content management systems and social media applications
• Demonstrated ability to manage different projects simultaneously and work as part of a team
• Efficient, flexible, and proactive
• A second language considered an asset
• Experience with non-profit organizations or faith-based school environment an asset