The Alumni Development Officer, School of Optometry & Vision Science works with the of the University’s Office of Advancement and reports to the Associate Director (AD), Advancement, School of Optometry & Vision Science, within the Faculty of Science. Under the direction of the AD, the incumbent is responsible for developing new initiatives and strategies to strengthen the strategic integration of two primary advancement programs - development (fundraising) and alumni engagement with direction and support from the Senior Director, Alumni Relations.        

Overall advancement and fundraising goals are met through fostering and strengthening ongoing relationships between the School, its graduates and external stakeholders. The incumbent will work with internal staff to plan, coordinate, manage, implement and evaluate strategic and successfully integrated alumni and development programs and activities. Specifically, the incumbent will develop, maintain and engage a pool of connected alumni, friends and stakeholders who assist the School through volunteerism, financial contributions and opening doors to potential supporters. The incumbent will provide oversight and peer support to co-op and work-study students involved in these activities, where applicable.

Alumni and Friends Engagement

• Strategically participates in the development of the annual advancement strategic plan, offering new innovative ideas and strategies for alumni engagement and fundraising activities
• Develops and maintains an excellent working knowledge of the School’s activities, priorities and needs in both teaching and research and a thorough working knowledge of priority fundraising projects
• Creates, implements and measures the development of an effective strategic plan to implement an innovative and integrated alumni and external stakeholder engagement program that aligns with major gift fundraising goals, and evaluates and adjusts tactics as required
• Supports industry engagement through implementation of sponsorship programs for Continuing Professional Development and student initiatives
• Identifies, recruits, manages and stewards volunteers (alumni, corporate volunteers, UWaterloo friends, faculty and staff) for the purpose of supporting the School’s goals and initiatives including fundraising projects and programs as required
• Maintains good working knowledge of provincial and regulatory authorities in optometry, and supports overall professional relationship strategy through engagement of board and council members of these authorities as appropriate

Development (Fundraising)

• In conjunction with the AD, develops personal annual fundraising target and goals, including size of prospect pool, number of meetings and dollars raised
• Develops, implements and evaluates fundraising strategies in conjunction with the AD for corporate, foundation, individuals and alumni sectors, including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities   
• Maintains a portfolio of prospects (alumni and friends) assessed as having the ability, or potential, to make gifts between $10,000 to $50,000
• Coordinates special projects, stewardship activities and customized plans for prospects and donors as needed
• Acts as the primary liaison and program manager of the class campaign program, including communication, reporting and recruitment of additional fundraising campaigns to support the School’s initiatives
• In coordination with Central Advancement policies and procedures, creates donor gift agreements, endowment and stewardship reports as required

Alumni Programs 

• Develops, maintains, promotes and evaluates a strategic alumni plan and all associated alumni programing
• Strategically implements alumni programs including measurement against best practices, KPI’s and engagement metrics.
• Strategically creates, implements and promotes a variety of alumni outreach and engagement programs to deepen the connection of alumni with the school and support for continuing education programs   
• Manages the School’s Alumni Award program from conception to successful awarding of recipients
• Engages School alumni in centrally run programing such as the Reunion, convocation and other University-wide opportunities.
• Serves as an active member of the Alumni Professionals Group and acts as the liaison for the School to Central Advancement
• Provides team support as required to School student and alumni activities and events

Data Management and Reporting 

• Ensure correspondence and reporting related to relationships with alumni, prospects and donors are managed and recorded in accordance with Office of Advancement systems
• Complete follow up correspondence, briefings and updates to alumni, prospects, donors and internal stakeholders in a timely manner

Communication 

• Participates in the development of the School advancement communication plan
• Supports the creation of effective alumni and friends engagement and fundraising material for presentation to prospects/donors/alumni by coordinating content from School staff and faculty and working with central Advancement and additional university departments such as Creative Studio
• Develops solicitation proposals for projects tailored to the specific interests of prospects
• Actively strengthens the UWaterloo and School brand through the integration of, and adherence to messaging, strategies and processes
• Proactively and consistently communicates with internal and external stakeholders, including students as required

• University degree or equivalent education or experience
• USG 9: 1-3 years of progressive fundraising experience and relationship development
• USG 10:  3-5 years of progressive major gift fundraising experience in securing major gifts, relationship management and volunteer recruitment and management
• Demonstrated experience with developing, overseeing and evaluating alumni programs in as university environment preferred,
• Experience with the full scope of development activities including identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition and stewardship at the major gift level required
• Experience with the full volunteer management cycle and working with volunteers to support program development, advisory boards and fundraising activity such as cultivation and solicitation strategies is a strong asset
• Experience fundraising in a university environment considered an asset
• Successful track-record of developing and implementing strategy for major gift solicitation with demonstrated success in personally securing and closing major gifts
• Superior working knowledge of alumni programs, relationship management, budgeting and research is an asset
• Excellent communication skills, written and oral, including expertise in creating donor-focused and impactful proposals
• Proven competence in project management, multi-tasking, planning, analytical and organizational skills
• The ability to work in a fast paced, highly complex and demanding environment, managing and collaborating with multiple partners, from across campus and externally
• Proven political acumen and problem-solving skills 
• Goal oriented, self-motivated with demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently and effectively as part of a team with a broad mandate in a fast paced, highly computerized and challenging environment
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with all levels of staff, internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, across an organization
• Hands-on experience with a relational fundraising database such as Raisers Edge/Blackbaud software is a strong asset
• Strong understanding of applicable federal and provincial legislations (privacy and anti-span regulations) is an asset
• Specialized work with minimal supervision, acts in collaboration with advancement staff across many units
• Networking and social engagement is required
• Must be comfortable working with a variety of stakeholders including political and community leaders, executives, industry partners and volunteers
• Willingness to travel within Canada and internationally and work extended hours as required (some evening/weekend work required)

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.