Position:                    Development Director

Hours:                        Full-time (40 hours)

Starting Salary:         $52,000 and up, depending on experience

Closing Date:            22 April 2018

Start Date:                 As soon as possible

Wildlife Rescue Association of BC is seeking an energetic, highly organized, and multi-talented Development Director. The Director plays the primary role in planning, organizing and tracking sustainable revenue streams for Canada’s busiest wildlife rehabilitation centre. Leadership, confidence, relationship building and taking initiative to make Wildlife Rescue’s development program highly effective, are essential to this role.

Wildlife Rescue’s primary fund development programs include Planned Giving, Corporate and Business Partnerships, Major Donors, Monthly Giving and Public Campaigns, all contributing to the sustainable growth of the organization’s one-million-dollar revenue budget. Donor event planning and relationship building are key components to our success.

The Development Director is responsible for:

• assisting the Board and Executive Director in strategic fund development planning;
• managing fund development operational structures and data management systems;
• establishing sustainable levels of funding for the organization that facilitate growth;
• enhancing the annual campaign schedule and the Major Donor, Planned Giving (legacy), Corporate Sponsorship, and Employee Giving/Matching Programs;
• design and implementation of reporting and communication structures;
• building positive working relationships with current and prospective donors;
• nurturing corporate and community partners for the purposes of maintaining existing sources and identifying increased funding opportunity; and
• supporting a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization, assisting board members, staff and volunteers to initiate and participate in fund development activities.

Qualifications

Education

• University degree in a related field or a combination of education and professional experience related to the position

Experience

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in fund development
• Demonstrated experience in creating sustainable revenue streams through avenues such as major donors, planned giving, corporate sponsors, campaigns, grant writing, events and marketing
• Experience in change management and cultural development
• Demonstrable success in social media strategies for fundraising
• Experience of building systems, processes and standard operating procedures
• Experience of using a fund development database

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of fundraising management
• Highly skilled inspirational writing and story-telling abilities
• Fundamental understanding of capital campaign management
• Knowledge of federal and provincial legislation affecting charities
• Knowledge of the Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability guidelines
• Knowledge of using social media and mobile technologies in fund development
• Basic knowledge of foundations and grants, including gaming grants
• Knowledge of special events planning and management
• Knowledge of the management of volunteer resources engaged in development activities
• Familiar with processing bequests
• Exceptional multi-mode communication skills
• Financial planning and budgeting skills
• Resource coordination and event planning skills
• Keen ability to create informative reporting systems
• Natural affinity for networking and comfort in working with corporate and non-profit sectors
• Highly adept communication management abilities
• Advanced adaptive and relationship management skills

Proficiencies

• Computer operations and software systems including Microsoft Office and fundraising software (such as DonorPerfect)
• Budgeting and financial management strategies

Professional Characteristics:

The Development Director should demonstrate competence in the following areas:

• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve the finances of the organization and to create new opportunities
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices and ensure own behaviour and the behaviour of others are consistent with these standards and align with the values of the organization
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques
• Focus on Donor Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of donors to meet or exceed their expectations within organizational parameters
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Working Conditions

• The Development Director works in an office environment with occasional visits to the Wildlife Hospital where specific safety regulations and conditions are in place.
• The Development Director works a standard work-week, and occasionally may work evenings, weekends and overtime to accommodate activities such as Board meetings, general membership meetings, public events and development and fundraising activities and initiatives.

Wildlife Rescue Association offers an employee benefit package and professional development support. Only applicants who are invited for an interview will be contacted. Please send a resume and cover letter in a single pdf file to recruitment@wildliferescue.ca