Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts

Senior Development Officer

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential.

We acknowledge, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minhrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Metis Nation of Alberta, Rocky view District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.

The Opportunity

In service of Banff Centre for Art and Creativity’s mission, vision and strategic priorities, the Development Office generates revenue to meet or exceed annual and/or campaign targets, assists its private and public supporters with meeting their giving objectives in line with Banff Centre’s strategic priorities, and builds strong and lasting relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

The Senior Development Officer has specific responsibilities and accountabilities in the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition and stewardship of supporters/prospects with the goal of securing commitments (annual and multi-year) within a specific portfolio for identified fundraising priorities (annual and campaign). The Senior Development Officer manages relationships with donors, sponsors and other supporters to maximize Banff Centre’s ability to raise funds on a sustainable basis. The Senior Development Officer will focus on a national portfolio that advances the mission of the Banff Centre.

Roles and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, Major Gifts, below are some key accountabilities:

• Cultivate relationships with a portfolio of newly identified supporters in the qualification stage, with the goal of building Banff Centre’s supporter base.
• Secure donation and sponsorship commitments toward a Major Gifts target by leading and managing an assigned portfolio of prospects and supporters through a proactive contact and solicitation program.
• Personally manage an active, high-value pool of roughly 75 to 100 (and occasionally up to 125) qualified prospects and donors.
• Represent the organization at regional events (on and off Banff Centre campus), community stakeholder meetings, and provincial (and occasionally national) outreach initiatives.
• Achieve and / or exceed revenue goals for the assigned portfolio of prospects and supporters by developing, maintaining and implementing a robust and sustainable rolling 3-year pipeline plan from qualification to cultivation to solicitation to stewardship; in line with team standards, continually track the status of pipeline projects and tasks within the database; maintain call reports, strategy notes and prospect files in the Tessitura database and use other fundraising processes and systems as required.
• Work collaboratively with the Development Writer to write and submit professional, meaningful and appropriate supporter communications (i.e. proposals and letters) and meet with prospects and supporters to solicit financial support toward fundraising priorities; work with the Director, Grants, Awards and Operations to prepare supporter agreements.
• Work collaboratively with the Manager, Stewardship, Research and Events on stewardship delivery, including best practice donor stewardship and sponsor activation.
• Regularly audit and adapt related development activities to ensure goals are met; develop strategies to ensure sustainability and growth of revenue; increase supporter engagement and maintain high supporter retention rates.
• Continuously develop and foster relationships with supporters of the Arts and Leadership communities in line with high professional standards and the fundraising code of ethics; expand Banff Centre’s base of friends, advocates and supporters, and its profile in the Arts and Leadership community.
• Participate in Development’s overall planning and implementation processes with respect to achieving annual campaign goals and other team objectives.
• Manage and coach fundraising volunteers through regular meetings, communications and training in prospect and supporter engagement.
• Plan, prepare and brief Banff Centre leadership (up to and including the Executive Team and Board), and key volunteers in preparation for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship meetings and calls; work with Arts and Leadership programming team to develop, sustain and optimize relationships with prospects and supporters.
• Monitor, manage, execute assigned portfolio and other annual goals, reporting and presenting on progress toward agreed milestones.
• Identify aligned prospects for fundraising priorities through a variety of tactics including but not limited to research, analysis, assigned portfolio management, and qualification.
• Develop and execute fundraising plans for assigned portfolio and using a variety of fundraising tools such as Chart of Standards (as applicable) and others implemented within the Development team to manage the portfolio for success.
• Implement, monitor, manage, and adjust fundraising plans in support of approved and priority fundraising projects, including designated and undesignated funding.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge on fundraising sector and best practices within sector to ensure continual professional growth.
• Ensure the ethical handling of confidential supporter information.

• As designated, lead and / or advance other projects and strategies that support the priorities of the Development Office and Banff Centre’s overall strategy, including support of government relations (on an as requested and as required basis) and alumni relations programs.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, CFRE, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum eight years of successful experience with proven track record in campaigns and portfolio specific areas of fundraising preferred.
• Experience working in arts and culture is an asset.
• Ability to work occasional evening and weekends as required. Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle an asset.
• Goal and success oriented.
• Strong technical skills (MS Office Suite, fundraising databases (Tessitura preferred) and other tools)
• Excellent customer service skills with proven ability to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with supporters, volunteers, Board members, vendors and staff members. Confident and comfortable working with senior positions and Boards.
• Demonstrated experience and success in building, leading and executing fundraising plans and strategies to deliver on (or exceed) set goals.
• Understand supporter needs and perceptions and ability to adapt to them accordingly to align with organization’s fundraising priorities.
• Outstanding interpersonal, written and oral/presentation communication skills and an ability to work cooperatively with, motivate and influence, a broad range of individuals.
• Demonstrated tact, diplomacy and creativity. Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality at all times. High ethical skills in context of a Development Office including conduct at events and representing an organization.
• Meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational, time management and analytical skills, and ability to work under pressure and independently.
• Experienced at multitasking with strong project management skills and a proven ability to manage and balance large workloads, projects and portfolios.

Employment Terms and Benefits

• In accordance with the terms of employment governing Management/PSP employees, this is a salaried, full-time position, subject to a 6-month probationary period.
• The salary range for this position is $82,455 to $122,451, based on experience.
• The successful candidate will enjoy twenty paid vacation days and four personal days annually, extended medical and dental benefits, and participation in an employer-matched pension plan.
• Benefits of working at Banff Centre are:
  • Professional development
  • Hybrid work environment (3 days in the office, 2 days remote). A remote work schedule may also be considered.
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Health care spending account
  • Staff cafeteria and restaurant discounts
  • Onsite fitness facility at a discounted rate – first month free for new staff!

Application Process

• Please submit your cover letter and resume in one PDF document
• We are accepting applications for the Senior Development Officer position until a suitable candidate is found.
• Candidates offered a position with Banff Centre, in this capacity, will be required to obtain a criminal record check verifying a clear record before a final job offer can be finalized.
• Visa Requirements: Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Banff Centre is unable to assist candidates in obtaining Canadian work authorization.