Prospect Development Researcher (2 positions), Toronto Metropolitan University
Position Numbers: 10001645 (2-year term)
Reports To: Senior Director, Prospect Development
Vacancy Type: Term - 2 years
Employee Group: OPSEU
Location: Hybrid work (in-person/on-campus & remote)
Start Date: ASAP
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Grade and Step: 12
Salary Scale: $78,272.15 - $99,152.84
Talent Acquisition Specialist: Laurie Shemavonian, lshemavo@torontomu.ca
About Toronto Metropolitan University
At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.
TMU welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us in realizing the benefits of embedding these values into the work at every level and in every unit of the university. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada and to bring lived experiences to the work, we encourage applications from members of equity deserving groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada, First Nations Peoples in the United States, racialized people, Black people, persons with disabilities, women, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. Preference will be given to candidates with lived experiences as people from equity deserving groups, as well as experience working with these communities with which the University works every day. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and we welcome newcomers and immigrants to Canada.
In April 2022, the university announced its new name of Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn more about our next chapter.
About University Advancement
University Advancement (UA) is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise serving the priorities of TMU’s academic plan. Our mission is to build lifelong relationships, engaging alumni and friends, faculty and staff, and corporations and foundations, and matching their interests with the needs and priorities of the university. University Advancement at TMU is a dedicated team of professionals, committed to collaboration, diversity, and integrity, and to being trustworthy stewards of our donors’ investments.
University Advancement especially welcomes applications from individuals who self identify as women, Black, Indigenous or a racialized person, who will be integral towards serving our highly diverse student population. If you identify as a member of one of these groups, we encourage you to let us know in your cover letter. We are building a culture of recognizing and celebrating diversity and welcome you to join us.
The Opportunity
The Prospect Development Researcher will provide prospect development services including sensitive advancement research, prospecting, prospect management, pipeline analysis, reputational reviews, VIP records management and discovery activities to help qualify leads for University Advancement, to secure donors for University’s fundraising projects and initiatives and to forge closer ties with the alumni and broader communities.
Responsibilities
- Provide advancement research services for the University’s initiatives by designing and implementing specific research strategies to support the University’s fundraising projects and initiatives
- Build engagement capacity through proactive prospect identification and pipeline management activities and provide insight and actionable ideas to engage prospects through prospect strategy sessions.
- Mobilize donor/volunteer engagement through outreach and discovery opportunities, including, identifying potential leads, preparing background details to shape an engagement strategy and initiate contact at events to evaluate potential interest in further engaging with the University
Qualifications
To help us learn more about you, please provide a cover letter and resume describing how you meet the following required qualifications:
- Successful completion of a post-secondary degree is required to provide superior research, analytical and communication skills
- A minimum of 4 years of experience in a research development environment (post-secondary education/academic, non-profit or corporate) with the following requirements:
- Experience in providing client-focussed services in advancement research/prospecting, fundraising programs and information services, including experience in using common fundraising database, subscription and online tools
- Experience in working closely with fundraising clients, understanding their advancement priorities, developing customized prospecting strategies to address their requirements, completing the prospecting research and providing advice on engaging those surfaced prospects.
- Expert level advancement research and analysis skills, prospecting skills and abilities to surface leads and ideas
- Excellent knowledge and proven track record of executing various prospecting strategies
- Experience in engaging prospects, donors and/or volunteers, including communicating to donors and funders on the phone, over email and in person
- Experience in providing advice, insight and research to support a fundraising campaign preferred
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Solid understanding of the role of advancement research in fundraising; understanding the role of VIP records management in an Advancement operation
- Solid oral and written communication skills to prepare and deliver presentations, briefing materials, gift proposals and correspondence with potential donors.
- A commitment to client service, especially in responding to inquiries from donors, alumni and departments as appropriate.
- Strong interpersonal skills and an aptitude and ability to organize the discussion with the prospect and make ongoing adjustments to the conversation in order to draw out the prospect’s interests in TMU and to ensure the conversation flows effectively, and capture details from the conversation to review and then strategize on next steps after initial contact.
- Superior judgment skills are required to execute research strategies that surface precise and accurate intelligence, in the most time efficient manner.
- Exercises excellent judgment and tact with the appropriate handling of confidential information.
- Strong decision-making skills must be demonstrated in determining which information will be distributed, and to which members of the divisional community.
- Ability to adapt to new changes as business priorities change.
- Proficiency in fundraising databases, such as Iwave, CharityCan, GrantConnect, Factiva and/or Relationship Science, as well as other tools as Google Suite & Gmail.
Additional Notes
Qualified OPSEU employees will be considered before members of other employee groups.
Please be advised, the recruitment and selection process could go to a 2-stage interview process.
As part of the selection process, candidates may be required to complete an occupational assessment as the first step in our selection process prior to being granted an interview.
Applications will only be accepted online through TMU’s career site.