Senior Director, DAE, Athletics & Recreation

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Development & Alumni Engagement, Level F

Job Title

Senior Director, DAE, Athletics & Recreation

Department

Senior Leadership 2 | Development | Development & Alumni Engagement

Compensation Range

$12,418.42 - $18,613.67 CAD Monthly The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

October 12, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

One of the most iconic and highly decorated varsity sports programs in Canada, UBC Athletics and Recreation has 26 teams across various sports. In terms of prowess in competition, it is among the very elite. While their outstanding performance in competition is well-documented, our student athletes are well-rounded individuals who can excel in academics as well as athletics. In 2025, the Thunderbirds had 241 student-athletes honoured as Academic All-Canadians and counts 20 Rhodes Scholars among the ranks of their alumni.

As Senior Director of Development & Alumni Engagement, Athletics and Recreation , you will be responsible for creating and operationalizing fundraising strategies to ensure that the Faculty’s strategic objectives are met. While spearheading a multi-year campaign in support of UBC Athletics and Recreation, you will manage a development and alumni engagement program with an annual goal of ~$5M+ annually. You will be responsible for moving leadership gift account strategies forward where a high degree of senior administration involvement is required. You will work in partnership with senior University administration and UBC Athletics’ leadership team to facilitate maximum private sector support and build upon and expand the strong alumni connections that already exist. You will also provide leadership to a team of management & professional employees.

The incoming Senior Director of Development & Alumni Engagement will be responsible for leading the execution of the long-term strategy for Development within UBC Athletics. The ideal candidate will bring considerable depth of experience in fundraising, strategy development and inclusive behavior practices. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, discretion, and sound judgment are required.

The Senior Director will serve as a member of both Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) as well as UBC Athletics leadership and be supported by specialized functions and teams in the Development office.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Responsible for leading the execution of the long-term strategy for a complex Development & Alumni Engagement (DAE) program responsible for fundraising $5 million to $12 million. To formulate and execute short and intermediate term plans; ensuring alignment with the department as well as UBC’s overall DAE strategy. To ensure continued growth of DAE programs, to maximize operational efficiencies and resource development activity and to cultivate exceptional stakeholder and employee satisfaction.

Organizational Status

Reporting to the Executive Director, Development, this position has primary accountability for Development within a DAE program and as such is responsible for developing strong working relationships with:

donors, alumni, outside community group leaders and corporate executives;

key stakeholders, strategic partners and senior University administration such as the University President;

senior management within DAE as well as other related disciplines (i.e., AVP and VP level);

the Dean and / or senior management of the faculty or program they are responsible for;

DAE peers and direct reports; and

UBC faculty and staff involved in DAE activities.

Work Performed

To develop and operationalize Development strategies for a complex DAE program and to ensure the department as well as UBC meets strategic objectives.

Formulates and executes short and intermediate term strategies for a complex DAE program responsible for fundraising $5 million to $12 million annually;

Ensures strategies are concretely linked to the department and UBC’s long-term strategy;

Manages program growth leading to the successful fulfillment of strategic objectives;

Ensures solicitation conversion rates attained at the industry measured norms of 65% and that gift conversion rates will have a low composition of revocable gifts and a high pledge fulfillment rate Provides fundraising advice and strategy to senior University administration and faculty;

Assesses donor characteristics and creates a donor appropriate plan.

Manages the human, financial and operational objectives of the program including:

developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for identifying, cultivating and stewarding major gift prospects and donors as well as for implementing major gift strategies (e.g., strategies range from a minimum of $100K up to multi-million gifts);

coaching and motivating staff and volunteers to achieve program objectives (e.g., fundraising goals);

understanding and successfully navigating the philanthropic industry (i.e., locally, regionally and globally);

contributing to the DAE’s objective to maximize private and public sector support for the University;

developing and implementing a targeted donor communications, recognition and stewardship program; and

developing proposals for key fundraising initiatives and priority projects as appropriate.

Formulates the annual operating budgets for the program consistent with UBC’s established financial guidelines and business planning process;

Implements DAE and UBC related processes, policies, systems and practices within the program that maximize operational efficiencies and competitive advantage;

Oversees the delivery of alumni activities / objectives that impact the success of the program; and

Responsible for personally developing and managing a major gifts portfolio in support of funding priorities and meeting fundraising goals.

To lead and manage a team responsible for executing the Development strategy within the program.

Identifies strategies and key performance goals and acts as an advisor to direct reports (as well as supporting staff and volunteers); works to overcome challenges and barriers and minimize risk;

Sets performance targets and measures, monitors and manages overall performance of the program and direct reports;

Ensures there is a comprehensive and effective succession management strategy in place for the program; identifies succession role requirements and high potential talent and actively develops key talent;

Builds the capabilities of the team to enhance ability to achieve financial and operating strategy; hires appropriately, leverages the talents of the function and takes corrective action where necessary; and

Other duties as required, within the classification of this position.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Position is considered high profile for the department and is a critical point of contact for donors, alumni, community leaders, staff, volunteers and strategic partners as well as for UBC senior management, executives and key University administration (e.g., University President) as it relates to Development and