Job ID

74778

Job Title

Senior Development Officer (DeGroote School of Business) 2 Year Appointment

Regular/Temporary

Temporary

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

03/12/2026

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

03/25/2026

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

DSB Advancement

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Salary Grade/Band

Band J

Salary Range

$69652.00 - $104478.00 (annual)

Job Code

006244

Hiring Range

$69652.00 - $91331.00

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Newly Created Position

Target Number of Openings

1

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

The DeGroote School of Business at McMaster actively fosters interdisciplinary thinking and evidence-based management to transform business and society. The DeGroote Advancement team plays a key role in advancing this mission by building meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, and industry partners who share a commitment to the School’s future.

Through strategic engagement with our alumni community and deep connections with the business sector, the Advancement team works to translate DeGroote’s world-class research and teaching into opportunities for collaboration, investment, and impact. Together, we envision a future where the Faculty is ranked among the top tier business schools in Canada and globally recognized as a leader in research, teaching, and community-building—particularly in areas such as healthcare management and the management of digital innovation.

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, McMaster is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and employment equity in the workplace. We encourage qualified candidates to apply from equity-seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons who identify in the LGBTQ2S+ community, and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

McMaster University fuels curiosity, inquiry, and discovery. Every day, we push the boundaries of knowledge through our world-class, interdisciplinary research and our ground-breaking approaches to teaching and learning. Our students, researchers and staff are among the best and brightest.

Our vision is: Together, we enable McMaster to advance human and societal health and well-being.

Our mission is: Inspired by McMaster’s tradition of collaboration and innovation, we strengthen relationships, reputation, and resources in pursuit of our goal to be the best.

Our approach to realizing our mission and vision reflects these core values and principles: Integrity, Quality, Respect, Service, Strategy and Teamwork. We support a culture that embraces bold, interdisciplinary thinking; drives the creation and application of evidence-based knowledge; and expects collegial activity undertaken with integrity.

Job Description

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm (Hybrid schedule)

Education Level

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study.

A McMaster degree is an asset

Career Level

• Requires 5 years of relevant experience
• Experience in strategy development and implementation
• Experience working with Advance is required
• Experience managing volunteers
• Demonstrated experience meeting individual and team financial and activity goals
• Demonstrated experience closing complex, major gifts (>$1M)

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Development Officer is responsible for securing significant and ongoing financial support for McMaster and consistently enhancing the pool of future funders to ensure growth in both the traditional and non-traditional revenue received annually by the University.
This position is responsible for making a positive commitment to University Advancement’s mission, vision and values, and principles: Integrity, Quality, Respect, Service, Strategy and Teamwork.
Due to the nature of this position, some evening and weekend work as well as travel is required.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Individually and together with their leader, develop new strategies to build and maintain a competitive position for securing gifts and maximizing giving opportunities. This enables the achievement of, not only the Senior Development Officer’s personal financial / activity / portfolio-based goals and broader Development operation goals, but also the overarching objectives of University Advancement and McMaster University.
• Responsible for meeting ambitious financial and activity-based goals, set on an annual basis.
• Conduct major gift calls and visits to individuals, funders, corporations, and foundations both independently and with faculty, staff, and volunteers.
• Oversee and manage the day to day operations of a diverse funder and prospect portfolio of significant individual and organizational funders and sustain a program of donor stewardship activities.
• Work with a broad array of internal stakeholders (such as students and Deans) as well as external stakeholders (such as alumni and corporate leaders) on various revenue vehicles, ranging from cash and pledge commitments, to charitable bequests, to other forms of revenue (e.g corporate research funding, in kind).
• Conduct prospect research to identify new potential funders such as individuals, alumni, corporations, foundations, and organizations.
• Remain current with post-secondary education activities and trends in demographics and giving activities in the corporate sector and advancement in the methodologies and vehicles of fundraising.
• Work closely with the research team within University Advancement as well as internal and external colleagues and volunteers to keep apprised of trends in giving, methods of identifying and evaluating potential donors and time sensitive opportunities as they arise.
• Keep apprised of new and leading edge fundraising vehicles and methodologies throughout the development cycle from potential donor identification through to stewardship.
• Use judgement, tact, and sensitivity to secure funds for a variety of University priorities and to move funders through the donor cycle from discovery through to stewardship.
• In collaboration with the leader, develop business plans to identify ambitious fund-raising goals for project and potential funder driven initiatives, ensuring full integration with other teams within University Advancement and the Faculties / Units, but also permitting latitude as unanticipated opportunities arise in a global and rapidly changing marketplace.
• Create dynamic and fluid action plans out of the business plans which focus on the achievement of significant dollar and donor acquisition goals as well as the ongoing stewardship of new and existing donors to ensure their continued commitment to the University.
• Engage in the regular evaluation of efficiency and results of the plan, seek input from colleagues and share information of relevance to other fund-raising portfolios and activities.
• Interact and communicate consistently with key members of the internal community in order to ensure their appropriate involvement and awareness of fundraising activities.
• Represent Development, University Advancement and McMaster University to the internal and external community, by being informed, articulate and enthusiastic about the mission and work of the Institution.
• Facilitate meetings with internal and external constituents such as funders, allied professionals and volunteers.
• Understand tax implications of gifts to potential funders and existing funders.
• Negotiate with funders and the appropriate University parties when drafting gift agreements and terms of reference, using templates whenever possible.
• Monitor and report on a budget specific to the portfolio’s budget needs and expenditures.
• Consult with both internal and external parties on specific policies and procedures relating to specialized portfolios.
• Actively seek out and analyze demographic, psychographic, and giving data as well as legislative information pertaining to charitable giving and effectively employ this information in the development of fund-raising plans and strategies, in collaboration with Research.
• Establish relationships within the collegial network of fund-raising professionals and establish a presence as a participant in the profession by way of attendance at professional conferences and involvement in professional associations.
• Keep apprised of University initiatives, events, faculty and staff, policies and issues.
• Remain up-to-date and informed of activities within the international business community and industries with specific alignment to education such as information technology, communications and commerce.
• Gather, calculate, evaluate, and understand statistics related to donor giving patterns.
• Analyze and evaluate individual and corporate financial information for the purpose of determining net worth and capacity for donating.
• Apply business acumen to enable the development of tailored gift illustrations and proposals.
• Plan and coordinate a variety of events and expenditures in order to minimize cost and staff time and maximize existing University-wide and University Advancement opportunities.
• Write a variety of documents such as business plans, correspondence, contact reports, and briefing notes.
• Create gift illustrations indicating the benefit of matching donations at a variety of gift levels and pledge periods.
• Prepare and deliver presentations for both internal colleagues and external parties on a variety of subjects related to development and fundraising.
• Update, verify, and maintain all relevant information related to fund-raising activity and ensure that all information complies with University and provincial and federal policies and legislation.
• Participate, as required, in a leadership role in University Advancement activities such as small project teams that will be established for specific fund-raising initiatives.

ASSETS:

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and negotiation skills
• Excellent proposal writing skills are required.
• Extreme professionalism, excellent judgement and decision making abilities, as well as display tact and sensitivity
• Strong organizational skills and integrated approach
• Strong computer skills and experience with databases (ADVANCE)
• Excellent customer-service skills and strong service orientation
• Time-management and multi-tasking abilities
• Knowledgeable about McMaster University policies and guidelines; and University Advancement policies and procedures

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Travels significant distances throughout the province on a regular basis to attend events and cultivate donor and potential donor relationships

WHAT WE OFFER:

In addition to joining a top ranked university, McMaster offers a very competitive total compensation package that includes but is not limited to:

• Employer Paid benefits such as Extended Health, Dental, Emergency Out-of-Country Travel Coverage & Basic Life Insurance.

• Participation in a Group Retirement Savings Plan.

• Training, coaching and professional development opportunities

• Employee tuition assistance for continuous development and education

• Opportunity to be a part of an academic environment working alongside professionals who share a passion for learning

• Progressive paid annual vacation plan

Pay Transparency Statement

The posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.

Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.