Director of Advancement

Job summary

Director of Advancement Modern People Solutions (MPS) is a Fractional HR and Recruitment Advisory firm. We specialized in working with companies in the heavy equipment industry, not for profit and professional services. Our goal is to connect amazing employees and candidates together for long term success. We are proud to support a mission-driven international not-for-profit organization, Operation Eyesight, in the search for a strategic and results-oriented Director, Advancement. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, communications…

Job details

Director of Advancement Modern People Solutions (MPS) is a Fractional HR and Recruitment Advisory firm. We specialized in working with companies in the heavy equipment industry, not for profit and professional services. Our goal is to connect amazing employees and candidates together for long term success. We are proud to support a mission-driven international not-for-profit organization, Operation Eyesight, in the search for a strategic and results-oriented Director, Advancement. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, communications, and brand strategy to support long-term revenue growth and mission impact. The Director, Advancement will work closely with the CEO, senior leadership, and Board to strengthen donor relationships, diversify income streams, and enhance organizational visibility, while ensuring advancement strategies are aligned, data-informed, and deliver measurable results. The Opportunity Operation Eyesight is a global, Canada-based nonprofit working to eliminate avoidable blindness by bringing sustainable eye care to underserved communities across Africa and South Asia. For over 60 years, the organization has partnered with local hospitals, governments, and communities to deliver long-term solutions — not just short-term aid — through vision centers, surgeries, training, and community health programs. With a strong focus on prevention, capacity building, and system-level impact, Operation Eyesight is committed to creating lasting change and improving quality of life for millions of people around the world. What Does the Opportunity Look Like? The Director, Advancement is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the organization’s fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, communications, and brand efforts to ensure sustainable revenue and long-term mission impact. Reporting to the CEO, this role provides strategic leadership across all advancement activities and plays a critical role in strengthening donor relationships, growing diversified income streams, and enhancing organizational visibility and credibility. This position works closely with senior leadership, staff, and the Board to ensure advancement strategies align with organizational priorities and deliver measurable results. Key responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Revenue Growth • Develop and execute a multi-year advancement strategy aligned with organizational priorities. • Drive growth across revenue streams including major gifts, annual giving, institutional funding, digital, and legacy giving. • Translate strategy into annual plans, targets, and campaign priorities. • Monitor performance and trends, providing insights to leadership. Fundraising & Donor Engagement • Manage and steward key major donors and strategic partners. • Build long-term, trust-based donor relationships. • Support the CEO and Board in donor cultivation and stewardship. • Ensure a professional, transparent, and ethical donor experience. Marketing, Communications & Brand • Lead marketing, communications, and brand strategy. • Ensure clear, consistent, and donor-focused messaging. • Strengthen digital engagement and campaign performance. • Protect and enhance organizational reputation. Performance & Accountability • Set KPIs and track revenue, retention, and campaign performance. • Use data to guide decisions and continuous improvement. • Partner with leadership to address gaps and refine strategies. Team Leadership & Development • Lead and develop a multidisciplinary advancement team. • Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture. • Provide coaching, clarity, and effective workload management. Governance & Compliance • Ensure compliance with regulations, donor requirements, and policies. • Support audit readiness and transparent reporting. • Contribute to Board and leadership reporting. What’s In It For You? • Opportunity to lead and shape the organization’s advancement strategy and long-term impact. • A senior leadership role with influence across fundraising, brand, and communications. • The ability to build and diversify revenue streams that directly support global impact. • Collaboration with executive leadership and Board members. • A dynamic, strategic role where your leadership drives measurable growth and mission success. What Are We Looking For? • Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, nonprofit management, or related field. • 10+ years of fundraising experience, including 3–5 years in a leadership role. • Proven success leading comprehensive fundraising programs and managing teams. • Strong experience managing major donor relationships and securing significant gifts. • Financial acumen with experience managing budgets, targets, and performance metrics. • Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills Nice-to-have qualifications include a CFRE designation (or equivalent), experience with digital fundraising, CRM systems and data analytics, exposure to governance-heavy nonprofit environments, and a track record of fundraising for complex social impact or humanitarian causes. Location: Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto (Job is located in Calgary, hybrid work arrangement) Apply Here: https://mpeoplesolutions.com/jobs/director-of-advancement/

What you’ll do

The Director of Advancement is responsible for driving fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, communications, and brand strategy to support long-term revenue growth and mission impact. This role involves developing a multi-year advancement strategy and managing key donor relationships.

Requirements

Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and over 10 years of fundraising experience, including 3-5 years in a leadership role. Strong communication, leadership, and financial acumen are essential, along with experience in managing major donor relationships.

Listed skills

• Marketing Communications · Preferred
• collaborative · Preferred
• Recruitment · Preferred
• Organization · Preferred
• Collaboration · Preferred
• Leadership · Preferred
• Compliance · Preferred
• Brand Strategy · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred
• Coaching · Preferred
• Audit · Preferred
• Fundraising · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Fundraising
• Donor Engagement
• Marketing
• Communications
• Brand Strategy
• Leadership
• Relationship Building
• Data Analysis
• Budget Management
• Team Development
• Strategic Planning
• Performance Tracking
• Compliance
• Digital Fundraising
• Major Gifts
• Public Relations