Advancement Officer, Strategy & Operations

UNIVERSITY OF ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE JOB OPPORTUNITY

PROFILE

The University of St. Michael’s College is one of the oldest and most distinctive post-secondary institutions in Ontario and one of three universities federated with the University of Toronto. Founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil from Annonay, France, St. Michael’s offers undergraduate students full access to the complete range of courses offered by the University of Toronto, as well as its own unique academic programs. St. Michael’s is home to over 5,000 undergraduate and 250 graduate students, who live and learn in the heart of Canada’s greatest research university. St. Michael’s offers a close-knit and inviting community that maintains its Catholic identity while welcoming people of all backgrounds.

St. Michael’s is supported by a loyal and generous community of over 40,000 alumni and friends. Their commitment to our past, present and future is creating exciting opportunities to expand and strengthen alumni involvement, advocacy and financial support. As we look forward to our 180th anniversary in 2032, we are operating with a strategic plan titled St. Mike’s 180: Rooted in the Future. The plan, which imbues all aspects of university life, is built on three pillars: academics, community, and sustainability—all stemming from the University’s commitment to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

The Advancement Officer, Strategy & Operations supports the Executive Director, Advancement, in development and relationship-building responsibilities, and plays a key role in stewardship and communications.

JOB SUMMARY

The University of St. Michael’s College is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Advancement Officer, Strategy & Operations to support the Executive Director, Advancement. This role plays a key part in development, donor stewardship, event and meeting preparation, and managing day-to-day operations within the Advancement Office. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, an excellent communicator, and comfortable handling confidential information. With at least four years of experience in fundraising or in the non-profit sector, the Advancement Officer, Strategy & Operations will help strengthen alumni and donor engagement as St. Michael’s prepares for its 180th anniversary in 2032.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Executive Director of Advancement in their fundraising activities, ensuring effective use of Arbor for portfolio management and the timely reflection of plans and actions.
• Prepare materials including briefing notes, donor research, and stewardship packages for donor meetings and events involving the Executive Director and/or University President.
• Draft and assist in the preparation of content for fundraising and stewardship, including donor correspondence, communications materials, and proposals.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of the Executive Director’s donor and prospect interactions within Advancement’s electronic filing system.
• Manage the Executive Director’s calendar, travel, meetings, and correspondence to optimize strategic engagement and efficient time use.
• Serve as the primary liaison on behalf of the Executive Director with internal and external stakeholders, including communicating directly with donors and alumni.
• Lead and coordinate the Executive Director’s stewardship efforts, ensuring timely and personalized donor engagement.
• Conduct periodic reviews of donor funds, highlighting areas requiring attention or follow-up.
• Act as a liaison between the Advancement and Registrar’s Offices on matters related to donor-funded student awards.
• Undertake a review of the terms related to existing donor-funded awards and prepare updated Award Records; upload records to Financial Edge for reference by the Registrar’s Office when managing the Awards portfolio; maintain updates on an ongoing basis.
• Following the annual endowment payout by Finance, review expendable accounts to proactively address any questions related to donor-funded awards and notify the Registrar’s Office when the process is complete.
• Cross-trained to monitor and respond to shared Advancement inboxes.
• Provide logistical and communications support for special initiatives and Executive Director-led projects.
• Support budget tracking, invoice processing, and expense reporting for the Executive Director.
• Cross-trained in core Stewardship Associate functions, including gift processing (data entry in Arbor, acknowledgment letters, and charitable receipting).
• Develop working knowledge of endowment reporting and planned giving administration to provide backup support when needed.
• Support Advancement-related projects and perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• University degree, Fundraising Certificate, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in a fundraising or not-for-profit environment.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Familiarity with Financial Edge is an asset.
• Experience working with donor databases; familiarity with Arbor is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including editing and proofreading.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset.
• Discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment when handling sensitive and confidential information.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

The University of St. Michael’s College is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal people of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, people who take a religiously informed view of human experience, and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you require accessibility accommodation, please contact Human Resources at 416-926-1300 ext. 7191 or hr.stmikes@utoronto.ca.