Director of Faculty Development, College of Health Sciences

About this position

THE OPPORTUNITY
The University of Alberta is seeking a dynamic experienced leader for the role of Director of Faculty Development, College of Health Sciences. With a track record in closing transformational-level philanthropic support, the successful candidate will be a development expert who has held progressively senior leadership roles within complex multi-stakeholder environments.

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) is comprised of the University of Alberta’s health sciences faculties and schools, enabling exceptional interdisciplinary health science research and teaching that advances the full spectrum of human health and wellness in individuals and communities. This senior-level position is part of the Development and Alumni Relations leadership team as well as the CHS Dean’s leadership team.

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President of Development & Alumni Relations (AVP), and in partnership with Faculty Deans, the Director is responsible for leading the continued growth of fundraising within the faculties of the College of Health Sciences, maximizing development activity and cultivating exceptional donor experiences. In consultation with Deans and Assistant Deans (Development), the Director will oversee the planning and development of fundraising priorities and projects, including the development of prospect pipelines to support them. In 2024, $150 million was raised in support of research, programs, student supports, and facilities with $55 million of that raised and allocated to CHS faculties.

The Director will demonstrate exemplary team leadership abilities with a strong commitment to inspire, support, coach and empower an existing team of high-performance advancement professionals to new heights of achievement.

With an understanding of the opportunities for fundraising within the College of Health Sciences, the Director will work closely with the AVP Development & Alumni Relations, Deans, and Assistant Deans (Development) in the CHS faculties to foster and enhance relationships within and outside of the University to expand fundraising results. The Director will hold an active donor portfolio, managing complex relationships with multi-interest stakeholders. In addition, this position serves as a key advisor on significant and transformational gift strategies, including leading strategy and participating in engagement-related visits and events with the Vice-President External Relations, AVP Development & Alumni Relations, Deans, and other senior officers as appropriate.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an appreciation of academic culture and the ability to collaborate effectively and respectfully with scholars, scientists, researchers, and staff, and will have a deep commitment to ensuring philanthropy contributes to the University’s teaching and research mission, including an outstanding experience for its students.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
The University of Alberta is one of the top teaching and research universities in Canada, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering, and health sciences.
With 5 campuses in two cities - Edmonton and Camrose, the U of A offers over 200 undergraduate programs and over 500 graduate programs attended by over 40,000 students from 156 countries around the world.

MISSION: Within a vibrant and supportive learning environment, the University of Alberta discovers, disseminates, and applies new knowledge through teaching and learning, research and creative activity, community involvement and partnerships. The U of A gives a national and international voice to innovation in our province, taking a lead role in placing Canada at the global forefront.

VISION: To inspire the human spirit through outstanding achievements in learning, discovery, and citizenship in a creative community, building one of the world’s great universities for the public good.

The U of A economic impact report released in April 2023, demonstrated that the University of Alberta generates $19.4 billion a year for the province’s economy, contributing more than five percent of Alberta’s GDP. This means that every year, the U of A and its grads combined add up to $155.8 billion to the provincial economy.
As reflected in the university’s new strategic plan, Shape, the University of Alberta is now poised for ambitious enrolment growth and even greater research impact. In recent years, the new university-wide operating model has allowed for a significantly higher proportion of the university’s resources to go directly into the university’s core mission of teaching and research.

Through these changes, the university has continued to advance in international rankings, including rising 15 spots among the world’s top 100 in the 2024 QS rankings. The University of Alberta ranked sixth globally and first in North America in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, which assesses universities’ impact in relation to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
The College of Health Sciences brings together the combined strength of all our health sciences faculties and schools, enabling a new level of interdisciplinary health science research and teaching that advances the full spectrum of human health and wellness in individuals and communities around the world.

The College of Health Sciences portfolio includes the Office of Education, the Office of Research and the Health Sciences Education + Research Commons, and consists of six faculties, over 770 faculty members and over 7,200 graduate and undergraduate students.

Office of Education
The Office of Education in the College of Health Sciences works collaboratively with Faculties to develop, enhance and amplify interdisciplinary learning opportunities for Health Sciences students. The development of interdisciplinary learning opportunities will draw on the expertise of faculty and staff across the College. It is designed to benefit and enhance the learning opportunities for students and enhance the academic experience through the provision of common administrative tasks and to facilitate and promote interdisciplinary work in the College of Health Sciences.

Office of Research
The Office of Research within the College of Health Sciences is established in consultation with the Vice President (Research and Innovation) and in coordination with the Research Partner Network and faculties within the College. The Office of Research aims to foster interdisciplinary health research and support shared infrastructure, improve grant success, and support all investigators.

Health Sciences Education + Research Commons (HSERC)
The Health Sciences Education and Research Commons (HSERC) is both an academic and a physical space where interprofessional education curriculum is researched, developed, evaluated, and delivered.

Our suite of specialized simulation learning environments supports a range of team-based learning activities and interdisciplinary research. We also house a secure clinical exam space used for a variety of practical exams.

Six Faculties:

• Kinesiology, Sport and recreation
• Medicine & Dentistry
• Nursing
• Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Rehabilitation medicine
• School of Public Health

DEVELOPMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA AND COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Development is a part of the External Relations portfolio at the University of Alberta. External Relations formulates strategies and undertakes initiatives that advance the University of Alberta’s reputation to its stakeholders and the public. This includes building relationships and enhancing engagement with the community, government, alumni, donors, and other audiences and stakeholders through communications, marketing, digital strategies, government and community relations, development, and alumni relations.

The AVP Development and Alumni Relations leads the University of Alberta’s Development and Alumni Relations function, overseeing all fundraising and external engagement activities across all five campuses, three colleges, and eighteen faculties.

Philanthropy has been an essential ingredient in the University of Alberta’s success over its 117-year history. The Faculty Development team at the College of Health Sciences plays a pivotal role in nurturing enduring relationships which foster meaningful engagement, financial support and leadership among alumni and other stakeholders globally.   

The uniquely integrated structure of Development and Alumni Relations at the University encourages each Faculty Development team to bring its particular strengths and expertise to the common cause of advancing the University of Alberta’s relations with alumni, donors, and friends.  In this structure, the College of Health Sciences’ Director of Faculty Development reports to the AVP while the Assistant Deans, Development of each Faculty dually report to the Director and their Dean. As a result, the work culture is one with an emphasis on collaboration and teamwork.
Donations to the College of Health Sciences and its 6 faculties fuel transformative educational experiences and groundbreaking research. In 2024, $55 million of the $150 million raised by the University of Alberta in support of research, programs, student supports, and facilities was raised and allocated to CHS faculties.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• About UofA
• College of Health Sciences Website
• Facts about UofA
• 2023 – 2033 Strategic Plan
• 2023 – 2024 Annual Report
• 2023 – 2024 Financial Statement
• 2023 – 2024 Annual Budget
• EDI Strategic Plan
• News and Notices
• Donor Impact Report 2024

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Program and Operational Leadership

• Serves as a member of the Development Leadership Team and as a member of the Dean’s senior leadership team at the College of Health Sciences.
• Works with AVP, Deans, and faculty development leadership team to define fundraising operational plans in alignment with the strategic direction of the University, the College of Health Sciences and its Faculties. Implements action plans based on these objectives by assigning the right resources to achieve concrete results and respond to organizational priorities.
• Establishes clear performance expectations for the area of Faculty Development at the College of Health Sciences. In collaboration with Deans, jointly measures success factors and provides leadership to faculty development teams to inspire accountability, success, continuous development and professional growth. Ensures accountability, intervenes as needed and motivates or removes barriers.
• Applies broad University policies, precedents and procedures to make decisions within areas of accountability which may require interpretation and balancing between competing priorities.
• Creates an environment that encourages innovation and enables change.
• Designs and implements solutions to operational challenges. Makes continuous improvements to services, programs or operations to increase performance and deliver results.
• Encourages feedback on operations, services and processes from across the University.
• Analyzes complex situations to find solutions. Gathers, interprets, synthesizes and evaluates information from a wide range of sources and perspectives.

Strategic Influencer

• Oversees the engagement of Deans and academic leaders in the cultivation and solicitation of major gift donors, including ensuring they are appropriately briefed and that the results of their interactions are properly followed up on.
• Works with Deans, academic leaders, and senior development teams to develop philanthropic giving priorities and opportunities, including overseeing and ensuring funding priorities are approved.
• Contributes expertise and insight to advancing the University, the CHS Faculty Development portfolio and area strategies.
• Champions the development of proactive strategies or initiatives. Educates the university on emerging trends in the area of expertise.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to identify joint objectives and initiatives.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Provides strategic leadership and direction to fundraising teams to drive increased development activity and total philanthropic contributions to the university.
• Designs strategies and coordinates programs necessary to ensure continued fundraising success by providing advice, analysis, and recommendations to the AVP and senior leadership on prioritization, planning, and policy issues in the area of development.
• In consultation with Deans, oversees the planning and development of fundraising priorities and projects, including ensuring effective communications and marketing requirements are identified and implemented in building compelling cases for support.
• Accountable for all gift and solicitation strategies and major gift proposals developed within CHS.
• Oversees strategy development, plans, activity, and supporting materials to ensure an excellent donor experience.
• Ensures the planning and implementation of donor stewardship and recognition to demonstrate the impact of donor support.
• Creates teams to support the execution of fundraising strategies and initiatives related to cross-faculty priorities and research priorities within the College of Health Sciences.
• Leads annual fundraising goal setting for faculties while proactively and systematically expanding philanthropic revenue for the University.
• Collaborates with the AVP Development and Directors of Development to ensure coordination and support are effective in meeting donor engagement, stewardship and fundraising goals.
• Serves as senior fundraising lead on projects and initiatives identified as priorities by the AVP Development and VP External Relations.
• Responsible for advancing an active donor portfolio and managing complex relationships with multi-interest stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Inspire, motivate, and lead a team of high-performing individuals.
• Develops the talents of staff; builds capacity and capability.
• Sets and communicates clear performance expectations for staff.
• Creates an environment where ideas and achievements are recognized, rewarded and celebrated.

Relationship Manager

• Develops and maintains positive long-term donor relationships, based on integrity and trust.
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships with university leadership, faculty, staff, colleagues, volunteers, alumni and other leaders, and in doing so, advances the culture of philanthropy across the diverse University community.
• Identifies key influencers and creates internal networks. Uses networks to shape objectives and build support for ideas, initiatives and directions.

Communicator

• Works closely with the University’s communications and marketing units to develop persuasive development communications materials that project a compelling vision for the College of Health Sciences and its Faculties’ unique strengths and opportunities.
• Demonstrates persuasive, engaging, clear and credible communication to gain support and commitment in varied situations from a wide variety of audiences.
• Ensures communication plans are developed for area initiatives and implemented so stakeholders are informed in a timely, consistent and accurate manner.
• Reinforces a positive work environment through promoting transparency and open dialogue.

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

• Fundraising experience will include direct involvement in securing and stewarding complex and transformative gifts (7-figure level or more) as well as demonstrated extensive knowledge about all aspects of the donor cycle and across all giving vehicles.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, including proven broad and substantive senior leadership experience in leading development programs.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience with a significant portion in direct management of programs, staff and budget in a complex organization.
• Experience in fundraising for health education and research-related priorities and initiatives is strongly preferred.
• An understanding of the research enterprise with a large academic institution.
• Proven experience successfully leading and coaching a team of development professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to strengthen relationships with faculty, staff, and alumni to establish a culture of philanthropy and encourage a cooperative approach to meeting engagement and revenue goals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills as well as skilled decision-making, including making decisions with the appropriate level of consultation and transparency expected in an academic institution.
• Able to employ integrity, diplomacy, discretion and sound judgment while navigating sensitive or highly confidential issues.
• An Undergraduate degree at minimum; a Graduate degree will be considered a strong asset.

Work Location and Travel Requirements:

• Staff are currently working within a hybrid model. 
• Office location for this role is at the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue NW, Edmonton.
• This position has an expectation to be in the office on average three days per week, and/or as required by project responsibilities.
• Travel to meet with donors is also required. While this will be primarily in the Greater Edmonton Area and occasionally in other Alberta regions, the Director, Faculty Development will also be building relationships with donors across Canada and internationally.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle required.
• Valid passport for international travel is required.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of University of Alberta. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Sylvie Battisti, Senior Vice President, KCI Search + Talent, or Mia Gardiner, Senior Consultant, KCI Search + Talent via email at UofAHealth@kcitalent.com.

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. Interested candidates should send resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by February 7, 2025.

To view the full Executive Brief, please visit:  www.kcitalent.com.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require any accommodations, please notify the Search Consultants.

The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis, and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs, and research stations are primarily located on the traditional territory of Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, and Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe nations; lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit nations.